Festa Italiana is taking over Howard Smith Wharves for two weekends of feasting
Get ready to eat, sip and celebrate Italian-style as Festa Italiana rolls back into Howard Smith Wharves for two weekends of pure indulgence. From May 29 to June 8, the riverside precinct will transform into a sun-soaked slice of Italy, complete with authentic eats, spritz bars and Italo-Disco beats. Guest chef Orazio D’Elia of Sydney’s Da Orazio will be leading the food offering with his distinct Neapolitan flair, slinging juicy pollo al mattone chicken rolls and porchetta-stuffed focaccia, as well as his famed pasta dishes like the saucy strozzapreti. Chef Carmine Guarino will be dishing up Roman-style pizzas and natural wines with a side of old-school disco tunes, and nearby at Ciao Papi, executive chef Dean Anning will be serving a special set menu of bold Italian eats across both weekends. An authentic salumi bar will take over The Greenhouse, serving artisanal charcuterie, crispy fried calamari and deli-style goods, with live mozzarella-making demonstrations to delight passersby. A dedicated spritz bar will be pouring fun sips like Lambrusco spritzes and white peach Aperol slushies, while Felons Brewing Co. is set to join the action with an exclusive Italian lager brewed just for the festival. The third annual Festa Italiana will run from Thursday May 29 to Sunday June 1, and again from Thursday June 5 to Sunday June 8.
The Dish: Brisbane food news you might have missed this week
There’s a lot happening in Brisbane these days, almost too much to keep up with. The Dish is a rapid-fire rundown of Brisbane food news – quick taster-sized tidbits to keep you in the know and, perhaps, tickle your taste buds.
The Hideout Specialty Coffee launches cocktail nights
One of The City’s best coffee joints is dipping its toes into nighttime trade, with The Hideout Specialty Coffee expanding its operating hours into the evening on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for a dedicated cocktail service. As always, The Hideout will be putting flavour first, offering an after-hours drinks menu featuring an assortment of coffee-infused concoctions. Leading the offering is a five-strong selection of unique espresso martini riffs, each crafted to highlight a different coffee flavour profile. Options include cocktails inspired by chocolate, Jaffas and Cherry Ripe, with a single origin and decaf variation also available. In addition to this, The Hideout’s menu also features a cappuccino sour and a cinnamon doughnut-inspired cocktail, plus classic cocktails and a tight selection of wine and beer. A short food menu will be added into the mix soon – keep your eyes peeled for more details.
Truffle Dinner at The Fifty Six
While we love the cooler change that the winter months bring, the best thing about the middle of the year is the onset of truffle season. The Fifty Six at Naldham House is wasting little time celebrating our favourite fungus, arranging a decadent five-course truffle dinner on Wednesday June 25 – hosted by Lady Truffle herself, Debs Oliver. The evening will see guests treated to a sumptuous selection of dishes, from Hiramasa kingfish with grapefruit and rosemary truffle soy, Bay lobster congee with yellow wine sabayon with caviar and truffle, King River purebred wagyu with burnt cabbage and truffled house oyster sauce, and burnt milk semifreddo with sesame and truffled gula jawa – all for $150 a head. For an additional $90 per person, each course can be accompanied by a matched wine. This event will likely sell out – be quick and nab a booking here.
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Yum Cha Sundays at Southside
Fish Lane favourite Southside is giving diners something a little bit different on Sundays. The East Asian-inspired restaurant has just launched a new yum cha service on Sundays, offering a refined take on the lunchtime staple. Promising a lively and flavour-forward dining and drinking experience, Southside’s Yum Cha Sundays will showcase an assortment of handmade dim sum – think pork-and-chive wontons with spiced vinegar and chicken and shiitake siu mai with sweet soy and spring onion – alongside Southside’s established favourites. For $99, guests can enjoy a yum cha banquet as well as two hours of bottomless beverages, including house wines, tap beers and cocktails like the Mando Spritz (a $59 non-alcoholic package is also available). Click here to make a booking.
Gum Bistro takes on weekend brunch with its Up Before Noon service
Now well established as one of Brisbane’s best restaurants, the team behind Gum Bistro in West End is setting its alarms a little earlier, with a brand-new morning service set to launch over the Easter weekend. On Good Friday and Easter Saturday, Gum Bistro will open at 8:00 am for Up Before Noon, serving a bang tidy menu of unfussy fare that bridges the gap between breakfast and lunch. The menu will be available until 2:00 pm, and will feature the likes of eggs (your choice of soft boiled, fried or souffle style) on Riser sourdough, soldiers with soft-boiled egg and gravlax, 2GR wagyu strip with boudin noir, fried egg and petit hashbrown, and salad sandwiches. There’s also a clutch of Gum Bistro signatures if you’re dining closer to lunchtime, plus great filter brews from Light Coffee, mimosa spritzes and mezcal-laced bloody Marias. Head to the Gum Bistro website to make a booking.
Hungry for more? Keep up to date with Brisbane’s most anticipated openings with Pavement Whispers.