The belly rules the mind. -Spanish Proverb

Not too many creative Spanish eateries on the GC so if you're feeling like some Sangria and Mediterranean tapas then you must head to Espana in Broadbeach.
This is a tiny bar, with a few bench like tables, so its cosy and al fresco dining on Broadbeach mall. It's turn up only so expect to wait a little while during the summer months. In saying that they take your name and number and you can go and have a few drinks at a nearby bar.

The whole concept behind the restaurant is "sharing plates." You can start with a few and order others as you go, all the while sipping on Spanish Tempranillos or Spanish beer and watching the chefs cook, especially if you are seated at the bar.

You can choose form the specials on the board (which constantly change) or off the  small menu.


They have the classic  patatas bravas dish: grilled potatoes, topped with a tomato and herb sauce. If you've been to Spain then this is a classic favourite.

Other classics that are equally great are the ham and cheese croquettes and you can get manchego cheese plates and cured meat, serrano ham and prosciuttos. We had one of the specials that was sourdough bread with freshly carved cured ham and drizzled with olive oil. It was like being back in Europe. They also have the lovely thick white anchovies that I love so much too. It's European flavours at its finest.









Then there's beef cheek slow cooked in a bean and chickpea tomato sauce…if you love meat, then this dish will satisfy you as it is hearty and tasty- a great winter tapas.  The chorizo with black-eyed bean dish is one of our favourites, just because it has chorizo and we love it.

This time we also tried the quail- not one of my favourites. It was lemony and I think there are better dishes on the menu, such as the meatballs. 

Our absolute favourite is the octopus on a pomme puree, drizzled with oil. Its thick pieces of octopus leg that is incredibly moist and juicy.

We sat at the bar and so due to the red lighting the photos are quite red. The servings are small and a little expensive so be prepared to spend around 100 for 2 with wine.

If you have a comment you'd like to leave please do so.

GC food authority eating her way around the Gold Coast again.

Oh I am hunger's fool- Romeo and Juliet

MEMO

Attention:  all Gold Coastarians!
Subject: New eating haunt coming right at you- "The Office" in Palm Beach.



1) It's a quirky themed night time modern Italian cuisine restaurant with tapas, pizzas and pastas.

2) Go up the hidden stairs on top of the BWS on the Gold Coast Highway, convienent as it is BYO. You also can sit at a bar that faces the highway and looks out on the night, amongst the array of vintage lamps and candles.

3) You'll want to explore every nook and cranny as it is set out like an "old school office" with black board walls, bookshelves lined with folders and books, communal desks to eat on, lockers, filing cabinets and great photos and signs adorning the walls. Each room is set up differently and attention is paid to detail so your experience will change each time, depending if you're sitting at the bar, or on the lounges, in the library or in the office room.

4) Ask questions to the super friendly waiters dressed in black and white corporate outfits, adorned with the ultimate accessory of glasses- inspired my work wardrobe look!

5) Order the tapas that come in little lunch boxes- huge selection and tasty. Reasonably priced with a selection of fresh antipasti ingredients.

6) Do share with someone a pizza and a pasta as it is hard to decide which to choose. The CEO pizza was a meat lovers heaven with salami and a gorgeous home made base that is the right thickness. The Steve Jobs carbonara was the best I've had outside of Italy- no cream used but instead the authentic use of oil, egg and parmesan cheese, just like the Italians do. All other dishes are inspired by "business names" to carry on the theme. Think the likes of Trump or Treasurer.

7) Save room for dessert- the chocolate lava cake is a popular option and is a gooey choc pudding. I'm looking forward to tasting the cannoli next time I go! See the scissors on the plate?

8) Do reserve as it is getting to be a little hot spot. Plus the reservation card is cute, but I won't spoil it for you.

9) If you haven't heard of it, don't be alarmed as it is relatively NEW! It's owned by Little Saint Kilda and is their night time rendezvous. See my other blog on this spot for lunch.

10) Do eat there and let me know what you think. This little girl will definitely be going back for more.

GC food authority keeping it real!
End of subject matter

"if food be the music of love, eat on"

ca·fé also ca·fe  

n.

A coffeehouse, restaurant, or bar.

n

If you're looking for an unpretentious spot for a casual lunch then you can't beat Little St Kilda in Palm Beach. It's right near the beach so its a relaxed atmosphere filled with beach goers after a swim or a surf, or locals just lazing on a chair reading the newspaper in the sun. You can sit outside and people watch on the bench like seats, under striped colourful umbrellas, or sit inside at the bar. It's a tiny, retro quaint little cafe filled with 80's memorabilias and posters, even using jam jars for cocktails and water. It's very reminiscent of something you'd find at Bondi Beach or Coogee, or even ironically, St Kilda.
The food is finger-lickin good, satisfying all those naughty cravings. There's your wraps and salads, burgers and souvlaki, all day breakfast options and apparently they make a good coffee. Thus it scores on the popularity card with the locals.


Today, after my 10km Gold Coast marathon run, I felt like carbs. So I wasn't going to go past the BLT on Turkish bread with fries option. Crisp bacon with lashings of aioli on a bed of rocket accompanied with crunchy shoe string fries for no extra cost? And just $ 12? Yes please. 

BLT and Chicken Burger

Thumbs up for this new eclectic establishment. Cannot wait to eat at their other new restaurant- The office! The Gold Coast has always needed some trendy cafes to counter the fast food franchise industry with wholesome tasty food, and this little cafe fills its little niche quite snuggly. 


Watch this space for more food taste tests as I will definitely be eating here again! Till next time.....

                                                                                                            GC food authority signing out

I'll give this ark a miss

Redbull consumption = 0  Food blog= 1   Weight= the same  Marking= 0  Exercise= none :(

This girl can eat. This girl loves to eat. So the food journey once again led us to the doorstep of Nobby's Arc beach bar cafe, which just popped up two weeks ago at Nobby's beach.

 It's name is exactly what you will receive. Think  pizzas (we had the pork belly), chicken souvlaki skewers, meatballs with yoghurt dressing, pork belly and haloumi- it's DUDE food! You're not going to get fancy schmancy meals here, just unpretentious home cooking. No surprise that there were so many groups of men sharing a meal together and a few drinks (great spot if you're single). Coming in two by two perhaps?
The wide variety of beers may have had something to do with this as the range is quite broad (Coopers range, Burleigh local beers, Boutiques such as Stone n Wood), as well as their wines, as they even having matching Pizza wines.
It was a food mecca for those wanting simple flavoured, easy comfort food with some acoustic music playing in the background, without the hefty price tag. A funky casual spot that would be good for a Sunday session to relax with friends and share some food and beverages!

Staff were extremely friendly and prompt. No shortage of waitresses around or smiles. We were surrounded by candles, though the lighting was so low it was hard to read the menu at times and I'm not sure I like sitting my curves on a small metallic stool. It's a "pubby" feel so it is quite loud at times with people at the bar and large groups seated. Yet, it's close to home and flexible with its options, though I still feel it's trying to grasp its identity and figure out where it is heading. It's a little mis matched for me. Yet it seems to be quite popular already with the boys, the young and the baby boomers.

Sitting in the dark at the back of the restaurant!

Not my cup of tea! This girl likes lots of flavour and pretty dishes in a nice romantic surrounding. I mean if I'm going to go out I don't want to eat what I can make at home!

Go check it out and let me know what you think!

GC food authority signing out!

Black Coffee Lyrics

Another GC foodie review coming at you....


There's this little spot I like in Surfers, tucked away down a little arcade, a flight of steps and hugging a corner you have Black Coffee Lyrics. It has an old red door and little windows with Victorian chaises inside and out, vintage decor and ecclectic paintings and posters and customers alike. Very quaint with card games while you are waiting and a licensed bar, with nooks and cranny's you can sit amongst. It's small and cosy and a local hot spot. I love the ambience! Apparently they do a pretty mean breakfast, though I've never had it and they have some great Vegetarian/Vegan  options. My husband swears by their coffee.


The last time we went we had this "pork belly" special pizza and shared some nachos. Savoured every mouthful and it was ridiculously great for a spot of lunch, washed down with some wine. Fairly decently priced in this economic crisis too! We went this weekend and the menu had changed (seasonal) and this time I was a little disappointed with the options on offer. There were some nice looking salads with duck, goat's cheese, figs and other yum yums...but after a night with friends I felt like something a little more wholesome. We had the panini's with rosemary fries- ordered two different ones and shared (best of both worlds). They were nice and had flavour but I couldn't help but feel disappointed that we had driven all that way to have something I could have made at home. I wanted something that excited me a little, something I didn't have all the time. Doh- just when I thought I had found a little niche cafe.....I hope they bring it back to what it was!


I still recommend you give it a go- even just to sit with the girls on a "Sex in the City" expedition or to read the paper and  have a winter warmer. I just hope that when the menu changes they 'spruce' it up a little and bring back some of those great weekend lunch ideas that they had. I'll be sure to re-post my experience the next time I go.
Leave feedback about what you think if you've been!

Just let them eat pizza!

Another restaurant review below....... tell me what you think and where should I go next?

So on the hunt for Mr Darcy- yes Colin Firth is in town girls- we went to Justin Lane Pizzeria Bar (a sure likely spot for celeb spotting me thinks)!
It's this New York chic, warm trendy Sydneyesque bar that spills into the adjoining alley with its seating! Upon arrival (there's always a wait due to its high popularity) GRAB a seat at the bar and tuck into their cocktails- the bar tenders choice is a must or the blueberry cocktail. You can order some bite size snacks while waiting for a table and interact with an eclectic mix of young and old trendy, blazer wearing, high society fashion "Gold Coastarians." Try the Pork and fennel juice meatballs or a personal favourite, the king of sausage (chorizo) with caramelised onions and peppers.
Seating is in the alley way and a room at the back- expect candles, low lighting and lots of old school globes hanging from the ceiling.
We've tried a few pizzas- personal favourites being the pork belly, the mushroom and Parmesan and the margarita. The flavours and wood fired bases compliment each other perfectly. No wonder you have to line up for a spot 6pm onwards! Bookings only taken for 6 + people.


Great spot in Burleigh and great value for money. Support local businesses and maybe we can get more of these Soho style gourmet boutiques popping up!
 (Margarita pizza below)