Pavement Whispers: Volume 504 April 22
From news of Libertine’s new greatest-hits menu to a new Southeast Asian restaurant in Kenmore, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know. When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out …
Libertine turns 20
French-Vietnamese-inspired restaurant Libertine has celebrated a massive milestone, with the Petrie Terrace institution turning 20 years old. To mark the occasion, the restaurant is revisiting some of the most popular items to grace its menu over the past two decades. The Libertine crew is inviting long-time fans and newcomers to pop in to try its revamped menu, which features 20 of its greatest-hits dishes – including a mix of shareable hawker-style plates. Stand-out options from the menu include Coral Coast barramundi ‘en papillote’, Moreton Bay bug and prawn toast with lime mayo, oven-baked Hokkaido scallops, ‘cracklin’ twice-cooked free-range pork belly, beef brisket and Vietnamese garlic noodles, and steak frites. Later in the year, Libertine will look to give its interiors an aesthetic refresh. “It has been our absolute pleasure to put together a menu of the most popular and uniquely Libertine dishes from the last 20 years,” says Libertine owner Andrew Baturo. “Our food is a fun and modern combination of French and Vietnamese cuisine, with a nod here and there to other Southeast Asian cultures.” Head to Libertine’s website to make a booking.
BoscoNero Italian
In May, Mitchelton locals will celebrate the arrival of a brand-new restaurant specialising in homemade Italian-inspired cuisine. BoscoNero Italian is taking shape on Blackwood Street, with a group of enterprising locals banding together to turn the old Miss Kay’s location into an approachable, family-friendly eatery that also doubles as a refined and intimate dining destination. The menu will be recognisably Italian, and while pizza and pasta dishes will feature, the BoscoNero crew is eager to broaden its culinary focus to offer a suite of snacks and antipasti dishes (think garlic bread, arancini and charcuterie boards) as well as some sensational large-format mains, gelato and a range of decadent Italian-style desserts. In addition to this, BoscoNero will also serve a selection of Italian subs and takeaway salads during its lunch hours. Dietary limitations will be catered for, with a plenty of gluten-free options on the cards. On the beverage front, BoscoNero’s bar will dispense a tidy wine list featuring Italian, Australian and New Zealand vino, a curated cocktail list (including a dedicated spritz menu) and a tight array of Italian and Australian beers. A five-week fit-out process is underway, with the team putting work towards implementing an approachable aesthetic across its interior and alfresco dining spaces, including a lounge and bar area inside. BoscoNero is slated for a late-May opening – keep your eyes peeled for an up-close look soon.
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Brisbane City Markets Queen Wharf
Next month, the team behind Brisbane City Markets will expand its footprint, launching a new market at Queens Wharf on Thursday May 8. Located within Queens Wharf’s George Street foyer, the market will sell everything from gourmet street food and local produce to fresh flowers and handmade, one-of-a-kind wares from local artisans. Each week, the Brisbane City Markets will also boast live entertainment and pop-up activations, giving inner-city workers extra incentive to step away from the office during their lunch break. After its debut, the Queens Wharf markets will run every Thursday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.
CHERN
In case you missed the news last week, Nail Saengin and Garfield Pachnoi of Chapel Hill restaurant Chalong are expanding their culinary vision with CHERN – a new restaurant set to open in May in Kenmore. While Chalong quickly gained a loyal following with its blend of heritage dishes like soy-braised pork belly and Southern Thai chicken skewers, CHERN will pivot toward contemporary Asian cuisine with a creative, fusion-driven menu. Behind its jewel-green façade, the 30-seat restaurant – designed by Clui Design and Lowry Group – will feature a modern interior of green-and-white tiles, timber, and concrete, plus additional outdoor dining. Garfield will lead the kitchen, turning out bold dishes like slow-cooked beef ribs with green curry, barbecue wagyu skewers, dumplings and bao buns, paired with a curated wine list and select cocktails. Where Chalong celebrates tradition, CHERN will embrace the spirit of hospitality, aiming to offer authentic Asian cuisine prepared with modern techniques and heartfelt service.
If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].