The fact that the Brisbane dining is on the up is vindicated by the very exciting results of GT 2011 Restaurant awards. Congratulations to Simon Hill and the team at Ortiga for winning the coveted gong of New Restaurant of the Year for their Iberian dream themed restaurant and bar. Also taking out top place in the awards, Woolloongabba's 1889 ENOTECA, which won the apt award of wine list of the year. Exciting indeed. EAT ME has not had the privilege of dining at the enoteca however had a very pleasing time at Ortiga, whose wine list is also totally divine.

For me Ortiga's upstairs bar is a quintessential Brisbane Friday night experience, take your favourite person, add a delicious glass(es) of wine and graze the bar menu at your leisure as you get cosy for the night. I totally recommend snacking on Char-grilled chistorra – whole artisan Basque country pork sausage while quaffing the divine ‘Orobio’ by Artadi Tempranillo. Also a trip to Ortiga is made worthwhile by sampling the lovely cured meats and Jamon.

Enjoy
Ortiga @ urbanspoon

1889 Enoteca @ urbanspoon

Hanaichi is a consistently good, value for money sushi bar with a convienient CBD locale to boot. I'm kind of always baffled how there aren't many good casual dining options in Brisbane's CBD- the choices are so limited.

Luckily - Hanaichi offers quick, tasty and satisfying japanese. My highlights here are the salmon, avocado, onion nigiri, those weird octopus balls, the mini sashimi plates (perfect dining alone option)and the fish tempura nigiri.

My only consistent gripe is how they cut the tuna for the sashimi, it's not always cut in a way that's pleasing to eat.

Service here is pleasant and exceptionally efficient. Be prepared to queue at lunch time, this place is always busy..

Simple and delicious "Nonna" inspired Italian - I like everything about Arriva at New Farm. This neighbourhood gem has an avid and loyal customer base and as such it can be difficult to get a table- so bookings are best to avoid disappointment.

So what is it that keeps me and a throng of others coming back to Arriva? The answer is simple, it is the best Italian in Brisbane. The menu at Arriva is as you'd expect- starting with breads, antipasti and favourites such as calamari. Crisp salads, pastas, pizza, risotto and classic italian dishes such as scaloppine beg for your attention as you browse the menu.

Without fail I always order the Calamari- perfectly seasoned in a light crisp batter and served on a bed of rocket - simple and delicious and tender.

On this occasion Mr Eat Me Brisbane and I were in a pizza and red wine mood. We decided to order a mushroom and truffle pizza and a prosciutto, mozzarella and basil pizza. The verdict; both delicious- and arguably the most important element of the pizza- the base, was spot on thicker on the crust and a perfect flavour cradle on the base. Not at all doughy and not too thin.

On previous visits to Arriva i've had the Risotto ai funghi and the Gnocchi Gorgonzola- both dishes were very pleasing. The gnocchi here is almost perfect.

Arriva is both licensed and BYO- the wine list here is short however the Italian Reds on offer by the glass are both very quaff worthy.

I was lucky to receive this book for my birthday 3 years ago and I find it to be one of the most useful books for both recipes and techniques relating to thai food.

The book is penned by the powerhouse team of Helen Brierty and Annette Fear whose Spirit House thai restaurant at Yandina has become a foodie mecca.

This book is a comprehensive guide to Thai cuisine, covering all elements of the thai pantry, thai sauces, thai curry pastes linking the freshest produce to the most delectable plated outcomes.

My favourite concept of this book unlike many other thai tomes is that you can find inspiration for any ingredient one might acquire as the repertoire is not limited to satays and red duck curries. For example if you happened upon cuttlefish at the market- the spirit house book has the answer (Cuttlefish, Snake Bean and Cashew salad with Chili and Coconut dressing). Have some yum steak in the house but don't want boring old mash and vege? Whip up a massaman inspired sauce and voila a modern oz nod to the delicious curry.

I have made several items from this book my favourites are Thai rare beef salad, Carrot and Kaffir Lime Salad (this is to die for). As you'd expect there is a rather large curry section - i must say my favourite from this is the Penang Chicken Curry with Green Peppercorns and Pumpkin.

Thai food is particularly inspiring for its use of fresh and vibrant flavours- I picked up some delicious live mussels from the market yesterday. I turned to the spirit house book for inspiration and found a divine recipe for Steamed Shellfish with Garlic, Coriander, Peppercorns and Basil.
It was simply perfect for the mussels. I've included the recipe below.


Steamed Shellfish with Garlic, Coriander, Peppercorns and Basil.


1/2 teaspoon of white pepper
2 red chillies , chopped
4 cloves garlic
1 tlbs chopped coriander root (i used a bit of stem too)
3 tlbs vege oil
1 tlbs oyster sauce (i omitted this)
1 kg black mussels
1/4 cup of chicken/fish stock
1 teaspoon palm sugar
1/2cup of basil leaves

optional:
I also added
3 strips of lime rind
a handful of snowpeas
chopped coriander leaves

:make a paste out of pepper chillies, garlic, coriander root and lime in a mortar and pestle
:heat oil in wok, add paste-fry til fragrant
:stir in fish sauce and sugar
:add the mussels and toss in the pan so to coat with the paste
: add chicken stock, cover with lide and steam until the mussels have opened.
Discard any that haven't!

Garnish with coriander and a good squeeze of lime juice. I served the mussels over rice and poured the broth over. yum!

It was with great delight that I read in Brisbane Times this morning that Brisbane is destined to have a fixed fresh food market a la Paddy's Market in Sydney. The planned location is the old Myer building in Coorparoo. The building has been abandoned for 3 years and will receive a refurb and face-lift prior to the establishment of the market. The first floor of the building will be dedicated to gourmet food- delicious fruit and vegetables accompanied by delicatessens, fishmongers and butchers. Do I hear a Hell Yeah?

The markets are scheduled to open in September with trading hours reported to be from 7am to 6pm Thursday through Sunday.

Excellent!

The best coffee in Brisbane! Go here if you don't you clearly don't like good coffee. The long blacks here are perfect-full bodied, rich aroma and deliciously smooth. Therefore i'm certain the milky delights would also represent the perfect cup.
When next you find yourself in the James St Precinct-bypass campos and come here. Tasty toast, biscuits and a daily selection of pastries are on offer too.

Jamie's Espresso Bar
Cnr James & Robertson Streets
Fortitude Valley, 4006
tel: (07) 3257 1010

What a debacle! Sister Eat Me Brisbane and her husband set off to south bank surf club for lunch. Having arrived at 11am they were promptly served drinks and presented with menus. The drinks arrived in good time, after pouring over the menu they decided it was time to order. After finally getting the attention of the waitstaff- they asked to place an order- only to be told that there was a break in service and the lunch menu could not be ordered from until 12. To which they asked if breakfast was still being served -they were informed that it finished at 11am. Sadly they were seated at 11 and presented with menus and the waitstaff didn't inform them of the break in service.

We will all have to go back to see if the food is any good - however this preliminary report puts me off going- as the staff clearly need better communication. This is not the only report i've heard of average staff. So lets hope a good concept won't be bought to its knees by bad first impressions before its even found its feet.

Why pay between $8-25 for Naan (yes Naan!), exorbitant amounts for Asian inspired Tapas (ie Yum Cha items), when one can happily feast at a proper yum cha establishment for the price of one dish at Siana? I mean come on 4 pork buns for $25, are they kidding?

Sure the food is executed well at both establishments and the concept is great- inspired fresh eating to compliment your tasty drinks. However, I despise being ripped off.

If you don't mind getting ripped off, go here. Any tastiness of the food for me is well and truly neutralised by the outrageous pricing. Get a grip Brisbane, you deserve better. Or at least a free genie with purchase!