The Dish: Gold Coast food news you might have missed this week
A lot is happening on the Gold Coast (and surrounds) these days, it’s almost too much to keep up with. The Dish is a rapid-fire rundown of the coast’s food news – quick taster-sized tidbits to keep you in the know and, perhaps, tickle your taste buds. This week we’ve got word of some seriously drool-inducing new menus, a spicy culinary showcase and a delightfully wicked high tea.
Delight your taste buds with Elk Espresso’s incredible new autumn menu
Generally speaking, black pudding isn’t the first thing you expect to see on a breakfast menu, but then again, Elk Espresso isn’t afraid to do things a little differently. In true Elk style, the meaty morsels are prettied up with beetroot gel, blobs of whipped goats cheese and fried eggs. If that’s not your vibe, some of the other flavour-packed new dishes include Korean eggs, black-sesame crumpets and ‘Super Shrooms’. For an egg-stra special Easter treat, there’s also The Carrot Patch, which features brioche French toast, chocolate and strawberry ‘carrots’, hibiscus strawberry creme patissiere, chocolate soil, fresh berries and a chocolate bunny.
Image credit: Brooke Darling Photography
Munch on ‘Fancy Toast’ and bacon-filled hoagies at Sunnyboy Espresso
For those who are a little late to the party, Sunnyboy Espresso is Elk’s little sibling in Mermaid Beach. Opening late last year with its debut summer menu, this is the first seasonal change we’ve seen from the team and oh boy, is it something. For the toast lovers, there’s a selection of regular toast as well as ‘fancy toast’, which is loaded with stracciatella and heirloom tomatoes with a drizzle of smoky honey and crispy chilli oil, or beetroot whip with cashew, harissa tofu, dukkah and pomegranate. Moving on, there’s a classic brunch hoagie that’s loaded with double-smoked bacon, eggs and sticky chilli jam, and fig and mascarpone hotcake with lemon-myrtle curd. As we said, it’s really something. Do yourself a favour and get amongst it post haste.
Devour BBQ beef-brisket Reubens and chilli-prawn eggs at Cabukee
If it’s been a minute since you last ventured into Emerald Lakes, let this beef-brisket Reuben at Cabukee cafe be the reason to swing by. The bustling local haunt has just dropped a brand-new menu for breakfast and lunch featuring the likes of ricotta-lemon hotcakes and chilli-prawn eggs for breakfast, alongside crispy-skinned barramundi, Thai-style yellow chicken curry and, of course, the aforementioned Reuben, for lunch. Wash it down with an iced pistachio matcha, or if you fancy something a little stronger, they’ve just launched a bottomless mimosa brunch for $59, which is available every day. Oh, and if you love pasta (who doesn’t?!), Cabukee is hosting a $15 Pasta Night on Friday April 11. You needn’t tell us twice.
Three Blue Ducks unveils pioneering new sea-fed beef
If you’re a fan of a great steak, you’re probably familiar with terms like grain-fed and grass-fed. Now, there’s a new steak variety in the mix – sea-fed beef. The innovative team at Three Blue Ducks is leading the charge with the pioneering low-emissions steak, where grass-fed Black Angus cattle are supplemented with a seaweed-based feed called SeaFeed, developed by the innovative folk at Sea Forest. This natural addition, formulated from native red seaweed, has been proven to reduce methane emissions by up to 67 percent. Dubbed the world’s first low-emissions steak, the Three Blue Ducks team confirmed that the prime seaweed-fed cuts maintain the same tenderness and rich flavour that diners are used to, while mitigating the environmental impact of livestock farming. Keen to try this groundbreaking, sustainable steak? Three Blue Ducks is now serving the sea-fed, free-range Black Angus beef at its Byron Bay and Rosebery locations.
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YOMG drops a decadent Easter dessert so hop to it
Cult-favourite burger and self-serve frozen yogurt destination YOMG, is dropping an egg-cellent Easter dessert that will be available for two weeks only (or until sold out). The epic pistachio choc-fudge hot cross bun will be available from 5:00 pm Thursday April 10 and features a toasted hot cross bun slathered with pistachio sauce, piled high with a swirl of chocolate-fudge frozen yoghurt and topped with YOMG crumble (contains nuts). Get in quick, we have a feeling this one is going to be popular.
Indulge in an elegant high tea at Tweed River House
On Friday May 2, you are invited to experience an elegant high tea at the award-winning Tweed River House. Nestled on the banks of the Tweed River in Murwillumbah, this colonial-style plantation manor seamlessly blends old-world charm with modern hospitality, offering an unforgettable dining experience. For $90 per person, guests will delight in a beautifully curated high tea menu featuring ocean-trout gravlax with lemon-myrtle labneh, beef tartare on sourdough and delicate mini lobster rolls. Sweet indulgences include apple tartlets, banana parfait with gold wafer and a rich snicker peanut financier, all paired with Bastion Lane coffee or Mayde organic tea. Bookings are essential.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, what’s the most delicious high tea of them all?
This April, QT Gold Coast’s QTea High Tea is getting a magical makeover inspired by the new Snow White film, and it’s guaranteed to be the fairest (and most delicious) of them all. The award-winning culinary team has crafted an enchanting spread of sweet and savoury bites, including an activated charcoal choux pastry cauldron and The Enchanted Forest, complete with chocolate mushrooms and edible butterflies. And the pièce de résistance? The Poison Apple – a delicate chocolate shell hiding a ‘pomme verte’ compote that’ll mesmerise with every bite. For $69 per person, you’ll be treated to espresso coffee, tea or QT’s colour-changing cauldron tea, served hot or iced. Little ones (ages 5-12) can join the fun too, with their own special spread for $39. Don’t miss out on this spellbinding high tea experience! Find more information on the Enchanted High Tea here. To book email [email protected]
Embark on an odyssey of Sri Lankan flavours with Citrique’s new Chef Spotlight series
Ready your taste buds for an adventure. JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa’s signature restaurant, Citrique, has launched the next iteration of its popular Chef Spotlight series, which highlights the heritage, flavours and ingredients of regions around the world. Next on the culinary cruise is My Sri Lanka Spice Trail, created by renowned Sri-Lankan Australian chef Peter Kuruvita in collaboration with executive chef Paul Smart, explores the rich heritage, flavours and stories of Sri Lanka through vibrant, aromatic dishes. Guests can enjoy a range of indulgent offerings, from spiced roasted chicken and tamarind-glazed barramundi at the weekend buffet to a la carte options like Goroka-glazed beef-short rib and butter-poached king prawns. Complemented by a cocktail menu featuring Dilmah Watte tea infusions, the My Sri Lanka Spice Trail offers a sensory experience that connects diners to the heart of Sri Lankan cuisine and culture. This unique culinary journey is available until April 27, 2025. Book a table here.
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Calling all bougie boys and girls – The Langham has unveiled a pampered pet package
The Langham Gold Coast is rolling out the red carpet for four-legged guests with its new Pampered Pet Package, ensuring your very good boy or girl can enjoy a five-star stay alongside you. Starting Thursday March 27, for a pet fee of $220 per night, your pup will receive a plush in-room bed, bowls, valet parking, a premium $80 food and beverage credit and even a special take-home gift. Plus, the package is available across the majority of room categories (with the exception of the Chairman Suite, Presidential Suites and Penthouses) making sure pets feel just as pampered as their owners. And if that wasn’t enough, a Private Dining Dog Menu is also on the horizon! To book the Pampered Pet Package, get your paws over here.
Image credit: Sarah Paget
Oui oui! Le Petit Chef unveils a delicious new menu
Inspired by the romantic, candle-lit eateries of Paris, where indulgent French delights are served in intimate settings, Le Petit Chef’s new menu promises a similarly enchanting experience, blending classic flavours with modern finesse. Le Petit Chef’s new menu is crafted by Arthur Duvillier, whose 14-year cheffing experience infuses each dish with expert technique and culinary creativity. To start, guests can indulge in luxurious offerings like Caviar Perle Noire served on a spoon, foie gras paired with homemade gingerbread and cherry chutney, or a classic pate en croute, featuring duck, pancetta and pork wrapped in a golden crust. The entrees shine with delicacies like escargots au beurre persillé (snails with persillade butter) and a rich soupe facon Paul Bocuse, soup inspired by Paul Boccuse in 1975 with foie gras, wild mushrooms, truffle and chicken, hidden by a puff pastry). For mains, the signature beef rossini, featuring eye fillet topped with pan-fried foie gras and truffle beef jus, and duck a l’orange with truffle pomme puree and roasted baby carrots, are standouts. Each dish is designed to offer a taste of indulgence while embracing the French philosophy of savouring each bite and enjoying good company, usually with a glass of wine in hand. Ready to wine and dine? Book a table here.
Image credit: Selena Evison
Choose your own adventure with Pipit’s new a la carte menu
Pipit Restaurant in Pottsville is shaking things up with a brand-new a la carte menu, offering lighter, customisable options for lunch and Monday dinner alongside their renowned set menu. Known for showcasing the best of Northern Rivers’ local produce, sustainable seafood and wood-fired cooking, Pipit’s seasonal offerings now allow diners to choose their own culinary adventure, with dishes like smoked mahi mahi with finger lime, paperbark-smoked lobster dumplings and pasture-raised duck with delicata squash. With a focus on sustainability and fermentation, Pipit’s creative and unique flavours are all made from scratch, offering a true taste of the region’s vibrant ingredients. Whether you opt for the full set menu or go a la carte, you’re in for a memorable foodie experience.
Got a hot tip for us? Shoot us an email at [email protected], we’d love to hear it!
Elk Espresso image credit: Brooke Darling Photography