{ spring }

Spring is a marketplace, cooking school, gourmet deli, coffee shop, restaurant and emporium of delectables (their sweet treats are to die for) all rolled into one.

Brisbane's newest CBD eatery opened late last year on the corner of Mary and Felix St and lucky for me it is just around the corner from my day job (I'll admit I'd been patiently waiting for it to open - glimpsing in the windows, watching it come to life). Even luckier for me: they stock a range of heavenly lunch options. There's eggplant caviar and mint chutney sandwiches, pisaladiere and a range of salads to choose from.

I don't have a penchant for coffee but am squarely a lover of hot chocolates. And their hot chocolates have my tick of approval: creamy and silky smooth.

Their cooking school will be run by chef Joshue Lopez and the classes will allow for lunchtime cooking lessons. Something I'm looking forward to trying out.

There's been a shortage of CBD coffee spots and I'm hoping Spring kicks off a city cafe revolution.

(spring)

{ where and wear } sono

It's officially 2012 and I was lucky enough to ring in the new year with my nearest and dearest at Sono, Portside Wharf. A prime position for fireworks (my favourite are the gold glitter ones that 'pop'), easily accessible via public transport (no 4 hour cab waits for us) and my favourite food (Japanese) it was the perfect way to say sayonara to the year that was and konnichi wa to what I am positive is going to be a stellar 2012!

Where:

Sono, Portside Wharf is arguably one of the best Japanese restaurants in Brisbane (and I think I am a bit of a connoisseur). It's traditional Japanese food, unlike some of the more modern twists you will find at some Japanese restaurants in the city. The menu can be a little overwhelming, with pages of sashimi, seafood and my boyfriend's favourite, wagyu steak, so we opted for the tasting menu. Six courses of the best the chef has to offer, we also loved that we could choose anything off the a la carte menu, despite it being New Years Eve. Throw in a couple of bowls of edamame and a few bottles of sake and we were pretty happy campers. Not only was the food to die for, the timing of the tasting menu was perfection. We were seated at 9, just in time to see the fireworks, and finished our last dessert course just before the clock struck 12, leaving us with ample time to pay our bill and head out under the stars to see the start of 2012.

Wear:

It was all glitz and glamour - there's no other way to celebrate, is there? I was planning on being sensible and pulling out one of the many party dresses already in my wardrobe, but at 4pm on Saturday afternoon, I decided 'nuts to that' and went on a whirlwind shopping spree. I picked up a new dress, new shoes and a new necklace - not good for the budget but I felt like a million bucks as we watched the shower of fireworks at midnight. I picked up the Nine West pumps (just the right nude - more pinkish rather than that beige colour nude) on sale for half price and they'll be perfect for my classic work wardrobe when I head back to the office next week.

...

Where did you ring in the New Year? What did you wear? Have you made any habit shifts (instead of resolutions)? What did you learn in 2011?

(sono, fireworks)

{ where and wear } hellenika

Well hello there lovely readers. I've been a little distracted of late - some layoffs at work (luckily not me) have had me chugging the rescue remedy and neglecting our posting schedule! But never fear, I did manage to squeeze in a much needed night out with the girls on the weekend and can bring you this where & wear straight from the sunny Gold Coast!

Where:

Hellenika has been around on the Gold Coast for ages, but for some reason I hadn't had the chance to visit until last weekend. The place was heaving and was still chock-a-block when we left at 11. And it's easy to see why it's so popular. Owner Simon Gloftis has had plenty of practice with other Gold Coast institutions, Three Beans (did anyone else spend hours here in between classes at uni?), Little Beans and Piccolo and his foray into Greek tapas is equally delicious.

We ordered way too much food, starting with the warm bread and zucchini chips (heaven in chip form, sprinkled with feta and crisped to perfection) and finishing up with the vege moussaka and spinach and feta filo pastries.

We couldn't even make room for turkish delight for dessert, but instead enjoyed more than a few glasses of wine alongside the exposed brick bar and basking in the warm light thrown by the chandeliers.

Wear:

Perfectly pedicured tootsies! I've decided nothing beats a pedicure. We visited Neonails at Marina Mirage where we sat in the massage chairs, read magazines and gossiped about celebrities. I'm loving my dark purple toenails (disclaimer - the feet in the pic are not mine ;)

...

What's your favourite way to destress after a crazy work week?

(hellenika, pedicure)

where and wear { pho vietnamese }

Where

The girls at work and I celebrate what is known as ‘Fantabulous Tuesday’. I’m not sure where the tradition started, but it’s ended up as a weekly girls lunch (I work in property and time with just the girls is a pretty rare occurrence!) where we throw diet to the wind and try a new Valley restaurant each week - just because it's Tuesday!

Last week, my boss recommended we try Pho, a traditional Vietnamese restaurant located on Wickham St. As with all the best Asian restaurants, the décor was average but the place was pumping – we practically had to step over people to get to our table. Thinking this was a pretty good sign, we ordered what seemed to be the most popular dish of the day – roll your own rice paper rolls ($11, unless you are super lazy and wanted to pay an additional $2 to have the rolls pre-assembled. But where’s the fun in that?). What came out of the kitchen was a huge plate laden with coriander, mint, cucumber and carrot, a bowl of pre-soaked rice paper rolls and an array of dipping sauces. There was hardly enough room on the table and we ended up practically having to peer at each other through bunches of greenery as we were talking! Not only did it look delicious (and healthy), but it tasted it too. Paired with a bowl of veggie fried rice (that didn’t even get touched), this was the perfect mid week meal. 

We’ve been back four times since.

Wear

A pair of colour blocked heels with a black shift dress. Love the thick wooden heels on these babies – perfect for speeding around the streets of the Valley in search of my rice paper roll fix!

{ where and wear } harajuku gyoza

Where

My name is Claire and I am gyoza obsessed. Okay, this may not come as a surprise to those who know me, and my friends may still remember the sad day when I became a vegetarian and could no longer savor these parcels of crispy / silky deliciousness due to their frequent association with pork. But hoorah! I am no longer resigned to a gyoza-less state, now that Harajuku is on the scene.

You would have seen in my last Where & Wear post that Harajuku is the brainchild of two former Brisbane Mad Men, who enlisted the help of poster boy for the Brisbane restaurant scene, Ryan Squires, to assist in the creation of the perfect dumpling. With this sort of a pedigree, you'd be expecting something pretty fantastic - and Harajuku doesn't disappoint.

I ventured out for a Thursday lunch with a colleague and while we had to line up at the door, the wait time was short and we were quickly seated at the bar which overlooks the kitchen. We ordered some grilled vegetarian dumplings, the waitress demonstrated how to concoct the perfect dumpling sauce using the small bottles of vinegar, soy sauce and chilli and we were away!

The meals were out within minutes and were amongst the best I've tasted. Crunchy, golden base and juicy filling topped off with my favourite condiments, the dumplings were inhaled in a matter of minutes. My colleague tried the chicken dumplings, and by the delighted groans coming from her bar stool I think she was just as impressed as I was. Now, if dumplings aren't your thing, they also serve 'izakaya dishes' of the likes of chicken karange and agedashi tofu. We didn't have time to sample the only dessert on the menu, apple gyoza with icecream, but I guess that's a good excuse to go back!

When it came to the decor (yep, it took me this long to notice the decor - I was starving!) it's all wood paneling, comfy red bar stools and walls covered with Japanese plate designs. The prices were cheap ($8 for a plate of 5 gyoza) and I'll definitely be back.

Wear

Triangles are the shape du jour. I'm seeing them in jewellery everywhere and I have to say, thinking outside the square is leading me straight to Pythagoras. Loving these new drop earrings I picked up on a weekend shopping trip with the girls.

...

If I've made your mouth water and you simply can't wait to head to the Valley for a gyoza fix, check out this recipe on 101 cookbooks for vegetarian gyoza (found via Fizzle Out - check out her post on the recipe for her amendments to the recipe). Yellow split peas are my new best friend!

(harajuku gyoza)

where and wear { places I'd rather eat }

This week has been a quiet one - apart from a lovely breakfast at the Gunshop Cafe with Catherine from The Spring, not a whole lot of eating out has been happening. So this week for Where & Wear, we're talking about all the places we have on our must-visit list.

Harajuku Gyoza

Previously the founders of ad agency Junior, owners of Harajuku Gyoza opened the restaurant this week after a trip to Japan where they developed a love of gyoza. Ryan Squires (of esquire fame) has been consulting to create the perfect combination of wonton wrapper and juicy filling. And don't forget the beer.

Where: 394 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
Wear: Comfy shoes because I think there'll be a line around the block for this one.

Stokehouse

Just opened in Brisbane this week, Stokehouse is a Melbourne institution. Part of the new River Bend development in Southbank and designed by Arkhefield, the asparagus, goats curd and roasted shallot tart with baby herbs and pecorino has my mouth watering!

Where: Sidon Street, South Bank
Wear: Glam it up - why not? There just aren't enough opportunities to wear sequins.

The Cardamom Pod
After opening their first restaurant in Byron Bay (can you believe the owners are also the creaters of Byron Bay Bliss Balls?) the owners recognised the need for a decent vegetarian restaurant. Their fit out was even featured on fab design blog, Desire to Inspire.  So instead of being the odd one out at dinners, I'm keen to try a venue where nothing on the menu is off limits! There are even vegan options… my mouth is watering.

Where: Shop 11/110 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
Wear: They are open for lunch, so I'd wear a one piece with a cute beach cover up after a morning swim!

Black Bear Lodge

Dark, moody and perched atop the Brunswick St Mall, the space that was previously the Troubador has reopened it's doors. With regular live music and an intimate feel, you'll want to stay long after last drinks are called. Apparently the fit out was done by the owners themselves, with a long bar and rustic vibe.

Where: Level 2, 322 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley
Wear: Your vintage band t-shirt and black rats.

Brisbane's really coming in to it's own, food-wise, and I for one couldn't be happier!

...

Which venues are on your must-visit list at the moment?

(outdoor dining)

Where and Wear { Brisbane Fashion Bloggers Meet Up }

Where
Jas and I descended into Brunswick Social last week for the Brisbane Fashion Bloggers Meet Up, hosted by Maddy of WikiFashion. There were definitely a few things I learned from the event – not the least of which was that rockin’ bright lipsticks, balayaged hair and all black ensembles are the outfit du jour for a fashion blogger!

Passion is Contagious
Bloggers are such a cool bunch of people and are all so passionate about what they do. Day jobs were barely even mentioned as conversation flowed around HTML, heels, photoshop, and the best coffee for late night posting. Speaking of coffee, we met Emma who has recently opened a cute little coffee shop in Fortitude Valley (also called Emma, and next door to her boyf’s hair salon, Tristram). We asked her why she decided to open the shop and her response was ‘why not’? I definitely need more of that attitude in my life – being around passionate people is contagious!

The Faces Behind the Blogs
We were finally able to meet face to face with The Spring’s Catherine, and is she ever one interesting girl! She’s working towards a PhD which might not be something you would know from reading her blog. It really got me thinking that the bloggers I relate to the most are the ones who have passions and interests outside their blogging world that shape the way they write, the things they see and their perceptions of the world. Definitely inspired me to work out what else I want to study (it’s on my 12 by 2012 list) and to keep reading as much as possible – as Steve Jobs said in his Stanford address “it’s impossible to connect the dots forward” which I take to mean you never know when what you’ve learned and exposed yourself to is going to come in handy!

Always, always take a camera (and business cards!)
This is a lesson I really should have learned by now. Jas and I both forgot our cameras and our business cards because we’d switched to smaller clutches for the night. Rookie mistake. There were DLSRs flashing everywhere and we were kicking ourselves! Six months in to blogging, we’re still not used to lugging our bulky cameras but our mission from now on is to photograph everything – sorry in advance to our friends and family! I’m also reading Linchpin by Seth Godin at the moment, in which he talks about the value of human connections. I’m only just starting to really enjoy the networking game, but am learning a lot in the process. Networking 101 – take business cards!

Wear
I wore my first ever fake tan! I’ve been sporting pasty white all summer and felt it was time to get glowing. I’ve never had a spray tan before, so was more than a little nervous about potential tiger stripes when I ventured down to Beauty In Style salon. Instead of risking a dodgy exfoliation job (which I’ve heard makes the difference between a good fake tan and an average one) I got the full body exfoliation and spray tan package, which resulted in a subtle, golden hue. In the next few days I had around 10 people (including some of the very unobservant boys I work with) come up and ask me if I’d done something with my hair or was trialling some new makeup – I took this to mean the tan wasn’t super obvious and without that typical Jersey Shore orange tinge. I’ll definitely be going back for more – I think I may actually be addicted!

…

Following the success of the event, In Spaces Between and I have decided a Gold Coast / Brisbane Bloggers Meet Up is in order. Given the value of meeting other bloggers face to face and learning from each other (as if a bunch of girls need an excuse to catch up for cocktails…) the Gold Coast / Brisbane Bloggers Meet Up (yikes, will need to think of a better name!) will be held on Thursday 19th January at the Stingray Lounge on the Gold Coast. Check out the Facebook invitation and make sure you RSVP. We’re looking forward to putting names to faces and maybe making this a regular event!

...


Also keep your eye out for a special giveaway on the blog this afternoon!

(social)

{ peasant } where & wear

Where

Claire and I recently made our way to Peasant at the Barracks for a mid-week catch up. Peasant is a spanish tapas bar owned by Jamie Webb and Andrew Bataro and the sibling of French-Vietnamese Libertine and the newly opened oyster bar Cabiria, all at the Barracks.

When we arrived at Peasant for a night of nibbles and chatter communal tables welcomed us. On arrival we were taken out to the courtyard - the balmy spring weather perfect for outdoor dining. 

The food? The menu is small but packed with variety and it is presented on a mini blackboard (Claire and I both commented on how we loved this concept - so easy for the chef to change the menu seasonally). Looking through what was on offer we were tempted by staple starters such as warm olives with sherry, spicy nuts and bread with roast garlic. We wanted to keep room for the range of tapas on offer so settled on the bread to start with.

Moving on to tapas we sampled cerviche of ocean trout with saffron and chilli, spanish tomatoes with basil and seasonal vegetable sofrito with goats cheese stuffed zucchini flowers. The portion sizes are generous, larger than some of the other tapas bars we frequent.

The food has a rustic simplicity and the restaurant doesn't take itself too seriously - overall a great night.

Oh - and I have to confess I couldn't resist the churros with chocolate sauce for dessert!

Wear

We arrived separately and found we were both in head to toe black. Definitely a sign we both need to go shopping for some statement colour pieces.....

(peasant)

where & wear { canvas }

Where
Last Sunday, it must have been almost a year to the day when Jas and I first visited Canvas, lured by it's status as Best New Bar in map magazine. 365 days later, we wondered just what had taken us so long to return. For this week's Sunday afternoon session, which replaces end-of-the-weekend-blues with cocktails and nibbles, we headed to the hidden away end of Logan Road. The place was packed but luckily there were a couple of seats at the bar, which we perched on just as the night's entertainment began. And despite not playing our request of Elton John, the musicians really are what make this place. Just the right volume to still allow for a chat (even inside and right next to the pianist, as we were) but with enough atmosphere that we caught ourselves swaying and humming along on more than one occasion.

I always love a place that will give me a great recommendation. Wine is not my forté (not for lack of trying), so I'm always up for a bartender giving me their opinion when I pick an option that's not necessarily stellar. Not only did our bartender pick our wines, we also gave him carte blanche on the food. Sardines, artichoke dip, goats cheese (I ask you - is there anything better than goats cheese?) and when this wasn't enough, the new-to-the-menu Ploughman's Platter which featured delicious soft and hard cheeses, gourmet onions and crispy bread.

Wear
Jas wore bracelets from Milan with tiny coloured and gold beads similar to the ones above (from The Vamoose)

Sunday afternoons are fast becoming the best part of the weekend.

...

Have you been to Canvas? What were your thoughts? Any other recommendations for a Sunday session?

(Photo from Canvas Club)

where & wear { bazaar }

Where

One of my close girlfriends lives on the Gold Coast and she's been saying to me for a while now "you have to visit and try out this great new buffet restaurant 'Bazaar.'" My initial thoughts were - how good could a buffet restaurant be?

My husband and I recently made a trip to the Gold Coast to check out Bazaar and we weren't disappointed. 

Bazaar is located in the newly renovated QT Gold Coast and is nothing like any other buffet restaurant I’ve been to – it has food from every destination, Morocco, the Mediterranean, and Asia to name a few. Head chef, George Francisco uses seasonal produce and the result is a delectable array of meals. My favourite dish on offer? Soft-shell crab, which was made to order (the salt crusted barramundi came in a close second!).

There is an interactive feel to the restaurant with chefs on hand to answer all your questions and the food set up in stalls and souks.  Did I mention there’s a fresh seafood bar? And straight out of the oven pizzas? There is something to suit every palate!

The only negative I could find was that there was so much on offer for the main course (my husband managed to get through steak, confit duck, lamb shanks....!) that I had little room left for dessert.

Lucky for me the desserts are petite sized – perfect to sample a variety of what’s available. My plate was filled with red velvet cupcakes, mini cheesecakes and macaroons, and a few strawberries thrown in to help me feel a little less guilty about all the sugar I had just consumed.

Bazaar is the best dining experience I have had on the Gold Coast and one I will happily recommend. Check it out next time you are on the GC and let me know what you think!

Wear 

I wore my go to dress of course :)

(Bazaar)

{ where and wear } esquire

Where
Opening to little fanfare (on purpose) a few short months ago, Esquire is the latest edition to the Brisbane degustation scene. Ryan Squires, of Buffalo Club, El Bulli and WD-50 fame, is head chef and co-owner extraordinaire.

You can choose the full degustation of around 12-14 courses or a smaller tasting menu of around 10, but trust me - get the full degustation. We paid around $140 for 14 morsels of utter deliciousness. And if you're really not that keen on hanging around for a full degustation, they also do great cocktails. Pimms = yum.

The best part about degustations is that every course is a surprise and you're often exposed to flavours you would never normally consider. And there's usually a whole lot of wine involved.

Open lunch and dinner Tuesday to Friday and for dinner on Saturdays, I'd probably suggest you don't leave a message when trying to book. I left two and ended up having to send the BF to book at the restaurant itself. But despite this momentary lapse in service, Esquire was a delicious night out.

Wear

Lots of sparkles and some bright coral lipstick were definitely on the menu.

Have you been to Esquire? What were your thoughts?

(sparkly necklace, tokito top, coral lipstick, asos jeans, nude heels)

where and wear { olé }

Where

Olé had been open for a mere three days when we headed over the Goodwill Bridge for a mid week meal. But despite it's newbie status, the food, the service, the cocktails - all delicious with a capital D. 

Olé is a Spanish restaurant (if you couldn't pick it up from the name) that specialises in tapas. Small shared plates filled with patatas bravas, white anchovies and blue cheese and chickpea fritters kept finding their way to our table, all washed down with a glass of white wine sangria.

The staff were all gorgeous with thick accents and an in depth understanding of the menu and the interior (which is really the exterior - tables spill out onto the footpath along Little Stanley St) was all dark wood and hanging pendant lights. Tables are long and high - you feel like you're perched at a bar specifically designed for people watching - which makes it perfect for checking out what the people next to you ordered. Trust us, you'll be asking the waiters to bring you a plate of 'what that guy is having - the delectable looking tomato thing'.

Another surprise - the bill. For a mere $30 each, Jas and I had a cocktail, a dessert and a mountain of food that left both our palates and our wallets satisfied. 

Olé doesn't take bookings so get there early - this addition to the Brisbane restaurant scene is really not something you want to miss out on. And if you get nothing else, get the churros. There are no words.

Wear
Mid week dinner called for a bit of colour. Jas wore her new orange skirt from Witchery and tried out a bit of colour blocking by pairing it with a turquoise necklace.

(1. skirt 2. basic white tee 3. wedges 4. necklace)

where and wear { the brunswick social }

Where
Dumplings and cocktails – possibly the perfect mix for a Friday night, as Jas and I discovered when we headed to newly opened bar The Brunswick Social last week.

Hidden below street level in the space that was previously home to Lucid Laundry, it’s all exposed hanging bulbs, concrete walls and intimate spaces that form the perfect backdrop for a post work (or post dance) snack.

I always struggle to choose drinks, meals and where to sit when going to a new place – one wrong move and my whole experience could be tainted. So instead, Jas and I deferred to restaurant manager, Toby, who was more than willing to recommend the prawn and coriander dumplings, vegetable dumplings and (slightly off theme) olives to pair with our cocktails. Toby’s choice of drinks included the Appletini and the Brandy Alexander (which regulars Wolfmother are purported to down).

The dumplings could only be described as divine and as the place filled up the vibe started to buzz. Even when we were the only guests (we did arrive straight from work at 5.15), it hardly felt cavernous and deserted thanks to the warm wood and potted plants that formed part of our tucked away table.

Leaving with a complimentary fortune cookie (mine read: “you are full of hopes about your future” – why yes, yes I am!) and a very reasonable bill, we stumbled off into the night to join our bfs (and husbands) at the slightly less glamorous Pig and Whistle for the tail end of the rugby.

Brisbane is now starting to join the rest of the world in the realm of late night dining. Open til 3am, we really enjoyed our visit to The Brunswick social and will definitely be heading there again.

Wear:
Jas channelled 70’s glam (like the look above), wearing high waisted navy flares and a (faux) fur vest and while I was in my work clothes I did manage to pick up a nautical theme striped maxi from Universal over the road in the space of about 7 minutes while waiting for Jas to arrive.

(flares, brunswick social)

where & wear { sardine tin }

Where:

We tend to head to New Farm, Eagle St or Paddington for a good glass of wine and yummy nibbles so we were excited to try Sardine Tin, a relatively new tapas bar on Little Stanley Street in South Bank.

This little bistro was opened by Simon Livingstone (the owner of Piaf) and offers a relaxed atmosphere (think a smattering of aluminium chairs and a beaten metal bar) which is exactly what Claire and I were looking for after a long Monday at work. 

Though it's small (offering seating for only 32 people) and has a limited menu it's the perfect place for wine, tapas to graze on and good conversation.

Claire and I shared some home cut fries with aioli, warm bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and gnocchi with roast garlic, spinach and goats cheese. The food was simple yet sublime (yes - it was that good!).

Wear:

We had come straight from yoga so we weren't dressed to impress but Claire was rocking the new blue-pink Viva Glam Gaga lipstick from MAC which is definitely worth a mention (you know how obsessed we are with lipsticks here at SL&ST!).

jas x

P.S Remember to comment on our giveaway to be in the running for one of two Napoleon lip palettes!

Images via Sardine Tin

{ where and wear } fashion week and jellyfish

 

Where:

Have you ever seen a barramundi this ginormous? Well neither had we. Starved after a day of prepping for MBFF and watching stick thin models work the runway, Jas and I were in need of sustenance.

Enter Jellyfish, one of Brisbane's best seafood restaurants. It's pretty amazing this place is up and running again, considering it was under several metres of water in the January floods - lucky for us the kitchen was well and truly recovered and available to serve us the delectable meal above.

While we were originally planning on separate meals, our waiter Richard recommended we try the barramundi two ways (can't see it on the menu on their website - maybe a special?). One side is filleted fish topped with a Vietnamese salad, the other side is deep fried and left on the fish. You'll see on the left side of the image, we also ordered the crispy potatoes but truth be told we didn't even touch them, we were so absorbed in the fish.

The heaters were warm, the wine was cold - all in all, a delicious way to spend a Saturday night!

 

Wear:

Jas wore red J-Brand jeans and her new babies - YSL strappy heels. I wore a bright blazer in of-the-moment orange and high waisted black Stevie jeans from Sportsgirl.

Anyone else headed to MBFF this week? Where will you be headed for much needed fuel, before or after the shows?

(p.s. we're headed to the Emerging Designers show tonight so stick around for our thoughts - or follow us on Twitter @sweetlimeblog or our new facebook page)