DolceBunnie

Showing posts with label Cheap Eats. Show all posts

Paper Fish | Brisbane, AUSTRALIA

I think I just found my favourite fish & chip joint. I mean, it’s not the stereotypical fish & chip joint with minimal design, fishy smell that lingers even after your visit and greasy chips with every order. This place is mmm… *insert emoji hand gesture showing the index finger and thumb touching to make an open circle*.

Paper Fish is on the top of my list right now. I love it. I love the location, the light and breezy fit-out, the simpleness of the menu and not to mention, their delicious granitas, especially on a hot day. Taking up a sizeable space on Little Stanley Street, Paper Fish offers both indoor and al fresco dining options. Find a table to sit at, place your order at the counter, et voila, dig in when the food arrives at your table. It’s that simple.

My favourite item on the menu at the moment is the Shipsterns ($19.50) which comes with a generous portion of grilled salmon, crinkle cut chips with Paper Fish’s secret seasoning, and a fresh, daily-made salad (Caesar, cucumber or Greek salad, take your pick!). If you’re in the mood for something light to snack on, then perhaps you would like to try some fish tacos filled with snap-fried spiced fish, fresh radish, coriander & lime salsa ($5.50) or calamari rings ($7.50).

Being only a stone-throw away from the Picnic Island Playground at South Bank Parklands, I can’t wait to bring Minibun George here for a feast, which I am sure he will love!

Disclaimer: with thanks to Paper Fish for welcoming me to the property as a guest, please note that my opinion is as always, my own.

Vapiano Garden City | Brisbane, AUSTRALIA

When I was working in the city, Vapiano was one of the hot spots frequented by my colleagues and I. What's not to love about this place? It's the perfect spot for a group gathering, it's spacious, it offers an interactive dining experience, you never have to feel awkward about the bill situation, and best of all, the food is on point.

I was recently invited to check out the new winter menu at Vapiano, Westfield Garden City and there was no way that I was going to say no. Located at the Town Square Dining Precinct of the shopping centre, Vapiano takes up quite a large space. The decor is welcoming and minimalistic; I love the olive trees and the fact that every table has a live potted herb. The ground floor is where all the action happens. You'll find the pasta manifattura at the rear of the restaurant where fresh pasta is made daily along with an interactive kitchen where you can watch salads being tossed, pizzas being cooking in the oven and cheese being grated onto made-to-order pasta. We were greeted by a cheerful waitstaff as soon as we stepped in the door, who handed us a menu and advised us that our table was ready upstairs.

The food options include all the classics that you would want; everything from antipasti, to pizzas and pasta, to gourmet salads and desserts together with new winter warmers like pumpkin soup and Nutella fondue. Topped with crispy croutons and shaved parmesan cheese, the pumpkin soup was incredibly creamy and flavoursome. We started with some refreshing mocktails (strawberry & ginger was my favourite) while waiting for the mains to arrive, which didn't take long at all despite the busy crowd at the restaurant. The other travel bunnie oped for his usual - pasta all'arrabbiata with added salami, a delicious option made with simple ingredients including onions, garlic and Vapiano's spicy homemade tomato sauce. I decided to go with the risotto funghi - creamy risotto, mushrooms, onions, garnished with nutmeg and parsley topped with parmesan, and it was the exact comfort food that I was after. Vapiano also offers a range of food options catering for little ones which I think is brilliant.

I found the portions to be incredibly generous which makes it excellent value for money. We finished the meal with the current winter special - Nutella fondue. Served with fresh strawberries, marshmallows and bite-sized chocolate brownies, it felt like such a decadent indulgence dipping each item into the warm chocolate Nutella sauce.

The only downside to our lunch? I wanted to curl up and have a kitten nap after all the food! It was a delicioso experience!

Disclaimer: with thanks to Vapiano Garden City for welcoming me to the property as a guest, please note that my opinion is as always, my own.

Junk Coorparoo | 9/300 Old Cleveland Road, COORPAROO QLD 4151

Get your tummies ready because Junk Boat has a new location with a new menu to impress!

I have no doubt that Junk is a lot of Brisbanites’ favourite joint for Asian food. And why not? The atmosphere is always super fun and the zero-fuss menu is filled with so many delicious dishes that are perfect for sharing… or not.

Anchored at the newly opened Coorparoo Square, we were invited to Junk’s opening night and I literally looked forward to dinner all day like a kid eagerly waiting for Christmas morning to arrive. I had tried the new menu prior to its release and so I had a pretty good idea of what’s good (trust me, your tummy is going to be very very impressed) and that’s the problem because I wanted to order everything. #nojudgement.

The system is simple. Once you’re ready to order, just head over to the counter, order, pay and you’ll get a numbered rattle drum. As you can imagine, the place was packed! It felt like the entire neighbourhood had gathered at Junk and surprisingly, food didn’t take long to come out at all as these guys are running a very smooth operation.

What to order, you ask. I would start the meal with some crispy prawn crackers which come with Junk’s own sweet soy dip and some pretty ah-mazing pork bao’s - made with pork belly, the actual bun itself it’s extremely fluffy and then you get the crunchiness from the crushed peanuts and that sweet, sticky soy sauce… The grilled king prawns with Singapore chilli sauce and crispy mantou buns are a must but so are the scotch eggs - those panko crumbed tasty morsels with gooey centres will have you wanting more. Truth be told, there’s something for everyone here at Junk and that’s what's cool about this place, it’s like being at a food market that’s filled with dishes highlighting Asian influences.

Now let’s break some fortune cookies and get eatin’.

Disclaimer: with thanks to Junk for welcoming DolceBunnie as an invited guest, please note that my opinion is as always, my own.

Night Noodle Markets 2017 | Brisbane, AUSTRALIA

Food lovers, get excited! Clear your calendar because as part of the Good Food Month, Night Noodle Markets is here again and it’s better than ever.

From July 19 - 30, the Cultural Forecourt South Bank will be transformed into a vibrant hawker-style market decorated with lanterns, neon-lit bamboo steamers, thousands of fairy-lights and the spectacular Brisbane CBD skyline as its backdrop. With over twenty food stalls including Gelato Messina, Black Star Pastry x N2 Gelato, Hoy Pinoy, Poké Bear, Harajuku Gyoza and plenty more, you will definitely need to get your tummy ready for a serious nomming session. If you are wondering whether you can get your hands on the insta-famous strawberry watermelon cake from Black Star Pastry, the answer is yes! But in addition to that, you can also get your hands on their new raspberry and lychee cake.

Honestly, there are so many options available, I was in food heaven when the team at Night Noodle Markets brought out an array of mouth-watering dishes. If you are like me and prefer to have a food strategy, check out the menu for the Night Noodle Markets below (click on the image to zoom in) to help with the planning process.

A little hack - skip the queues and head to Menulog’s At Home Zone. You can have your food delivered to your table (heaters and fairy lights included). Simply pick a spot and wait for Menulog’s on-ground green team to take your order. It’s really that simple. And the best part? It’s completely free to enter with a complimentary delivery service. You know people say if it’s too good to be true it probably is? Well… Myth busted!

Eat till’ your tummy’s content!

Disclaimer: with thanks to Fairfax Events and Menulog for hosting me with a fantastic night filled with delicious food! Please note that my opinion is as always, my own.

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