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.

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!

To celebrate a glorious Brisbane winter’s day replete with warm sun and a chill wind Mr Eat Me Brisbane, his mum, his nanna and I went to lunch at James St Bistro. The bistro is perfectly located on the James St precinct next to the Palace cinema and appreciably attracts the pre movie coffee and cake crowd. This is my fourth visit to the Bistro and I must commend them on being consistently pleasing. The food here is homely and well executed, the service is friendly, competent and efficient.

We were promptly seated and the waiter informed us of the specials – a tantalizingly tasty sounding rabbit ragout yum! First thing on the agenda though was wine! Although a concise wine list-, the key wine varietals are all represented and modestly priced hurray. I settled on a pinot grigio and my mother- in-law a sav!

The menu at James St Bistro is exactly what you’d expect from a modern Australian Bistro- a wide selection of meals designed to suit everyone’s palette with some more unique dishes to please foodies. I wasn’t ravenous so I had a squiz at the cabinet – there was a selection of freshly prepared wraps and paninis- I chose the Mediterranean vege panini. This was exactly what I’d hoped for plump marinated roasted vege with a yummy aioli- and not too oily as many med vege sangers can be!

Mr Eat Me Brisbane – satisfied his carnivore lusts with the Steak Burger- I had order regret as soon as I saw it – it was yum and the chippies with it perfectly seasoned and nicely crunchy!

M-I-L Eat Me Brisbane had the Peking duck rolls- which she loved- generous meat filling and the hoi sin was delish

Nanna Eat Me Brisbane decided on the Fish and Chips- the fish can be cooked to your desire- crumbed, battered or grilled. She chose battered- the batter was perfect and she declared she was happy.

We decided to take our coffee out into the sun and the bistro happily accommodated our wishes.

For a casual yet satisfying lunch with friends, great service and genuinely tasty meals- make your way to James St Bistro, I’d be very surprised if your disappointed.

James St Bistro

9 James St
Fortitude Valley, 4006
www.jamesstreetbistro.com.au

Weekends and yum cha go together like peas and carrots for Miss Eat Me Brisbane. This is our second visit to Beijing house for yum cha and I have concluded that it is the leading destination for yum cha in Brisbane and the Fortitude Valley. Located centrally in the upper Queen Street Mall, Beijing house is the perfect destination for weekend feasting, conveninently you can shop with your tummy full of goodness after.

Our yum cha staples and benchmarks are as follows, prawn and coriander rolls, scallop dumplings, bbq pork rice noodles, steamed dim sim and sticky rice. On all dishes Beijing house kicks it.

The prawn and coriander rolls- chock full of delicioulsy fresh steamed prawns with a generous smattering of coriander, coriander roots and a touch of garlic. I would die for these they are that good-as the steam boat are always filled with 3 there is always a mexican stare off and high end negotiation for who gets the lucky third!

Ditto for the scallop dumplings- beautiful translucent melt in your mouth dumpling wrapper scrumptiously full of prawns and scallops with garlic chives. Yum

The BBQ pork rice noodles were steamed to perfection- not too sticky nor were they dry and cracked- the bbq pork and vege filling was generous and very moorish.

The sticky rice here doesn’t disappoint either and it is huge, so if you’re not ravenous and you have other yum cha favourites- maybe stay away- this will put you over the edge. The sticky rice is infused with delicious smoky flavours, chicken, prawn , Chinese sausage and chives. It’s a very good realization.

The service here is efficient and the yum cha is reasonably priced.

It’s another well-known fact that cooler weather makes you (or is it just me?) so very very hungry!

Mr EatMe Brisbane and I set out to warm up and pig out. After being very cheerfully greeted by the wait staff at Dragon Inn we were given our choice of tables. We sat outside to enjoy the newly refurbished china town mall. I ordered jasmine tea to start off. It arrived promptly, however it did have a dishwater flavour to it. Bummer.

After a short wait, our starter, steamed dim sims, arrived. They are served in a cute metal steamer and are accompanied by a perfectly sweet and salty sesame oil and soy dressing. YUUUM. These are seriously good and seriously cheap. As you would expect of a dumpling they have an amazingly flavourful pork and herb filling.

The main course- we ordered the chicken, mushroom and black bean hot pot and mussels in XO sauce. The mussels arrived first and were perfectly cooked and seasoned. They were NZ green-lipped mussels that were scrubbed clean and stir-fried through XO sauce. They were succulent and flavoursome and the seafoody, garlicky, chilli quality of the XO is the perfect accompaniment.

Next up what we came for- the hot pot. In a word it is fabulous. Braised chicken with giant gloriously dark brown shitake mushrooms and button mushrooms glistening with spring onion and black beans. The slightly thick braised sauce with it has a delightfully delicate flavor that work oh so well together. This dish epitomizes savoury comfort food for me. YUM.

Before leaving we are given the ubiquitous orange as a refreshment. We leave full and happy. Every time we have been to Dragon Inn we are never disappointed. Great service , good food and cheap. The feast cost only about 40 dollars (honestly it’s enough to serve at least 3 ppl).

Dragon Inn Chinese Restaurant

Chinatown Mall

Fortitude Valley

(07) 3252 4770

Simply divine gelati. After a stroll through Rosalie, we settled on Gelateria Cremona. I'm a sucker when it comes to a mix of lemon and coconut. To my delight- Cremona had both. Two scoops will set you back $5.80, it was well worth it. The coconut gelati, was dreamy great coconut texture and flavour-not too sweet but delectably creamy. The lemon was sharp and perfectly sweet. The combination was fantastic. I will definitely be back.

Do not eat here.