Snack on skewers, sizzling prawns and Japanese-curry arancini at Mermaid’s Blessing of the Sun

JQ
Jade
Quinlivan
May 15, 2024, updated Dec 10, 2024
As society on the whole tends to lean into a bigger equals better mentality, when it comes to hospitality venues, it’s the smaller, hole-in-the-wall spots with one chef in the kitchen that capture our attention. If you too appreciate the little spaces with a big heart, add Blessings of the Sun to your must-try list. The quaint 26-seater has transformed the former Lovechild Kitchen + Bar premises in Mermaid Beach into the perfect spot for a date night and cocktail-filled catch-ups.

Blessing of the Sun is the realisation of a long-held dream for chef Kohta Iwamoto, who honed his skills at Nao izakaya in Otsu, Kyoto before making the Gold Coast home in 2013. Since then, Kohta has been on a mission to expand his culinary repertoire, tackling Spanish, Italian and modern Australian cuisines at Ridgeway Group (Bin 232, Little Truffle, Palm Beach Ave) and Glenelg Public House.

Although Blessing of the Sun is his first solo venture, Kohta has recruited a couple of seasoned hospo pals to help him out, including Cayle who oversees front of house. With the customer-facing side of things in excellent hands, Kohta can focus his efforts on the kitchen, where he is happiest. It’s a lot for one person, but that’s the way he prefers it. A true perfectionist, every plate that leaves the kitchen is cooked entirely by Kohta.

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“Blessing of the Sun is a reflection of my passion for cooking and my desire to create a welcoming space where people can enjoy delicious food,” says Kohta.
When it came to creating the menu, Kohta combined his skills across a range of cuisines to curate a succinct selection that is geared towards small plates to graze over a cocktail. The citrus-cured salmon with capers, white onion, dill and creme fraiche is an excellent place to start, followed by tsukune skewers, a sizzling skillet of garlic prawns and Japanese-curry arancini that are every bit as delicious as they sound. There’s a couple of larger plates, including a seasonal mushroom gnocchi and pork-loin tonkatsu, alongside two desserts – a chiffon cake that is chef Kohta’s pride and joy, as well as a citrus creme brulee.

You won’t go thirsty, with Black Hops beer on tap, alongside a clutch of specialty and classic cocktails. Cayle has worked his magic creating some interesting flavours on the tight list, including a yuzu highball and Kabosu Southside (Capricorn summer gin, Kabosu liqueur, fresh lime and mint). Rounding out the offering is a scattering of wine covering red, white and rosé varieties.

With only 26 seats, Blessing of the Sun isn’t the kind of place you can get lost in a sea of diners. The intimate space is adorned with clean colours and pops of greenery, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. As the sun sinks and the cocktails begin to flow, the conversations get a little louder and more spirited, as does the music. The name is a nod to Kohta’s family, with his mother and brother’s names linked to the kanji symbol for blessing, and himself and his other brother with sun.