Working as a civil engineer in Brazil seems a far cry from distributing coffee in Brisbane. Tiago Cruz agrees, taking a chance not only at a whole new country, but at a whole new lifestyle.

OneHome Coffee is the brainchild of Brazilian-born Tiago and his brother Mateus, who both saw an opportunity to break into the home-delivered coffee scene in Australia. An opportunity that not even Covid-19 could stop.

How did this idea launch from dream pipe to reality in not only a brand new country, but at an unusual point in history? 
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Let’s find out.

It’s no secret that there is many a Thai restaurant Brisbane town. No matter which suburb you enter into, chances are there will be a Tom Yum on offer somewhere. 

With competition this high, to be classified as a good Thai restaurant is serious kudos indeed.

West End's Gala Thai is a good Thai restaurant. 

So what makes their massaman a massa-have?

Lets find out.

Degustation dinners are usually a fancy affair.

A candelabra would not be entirely out of place in the middle of a linen-decked table, as a black and white cuff artfully arranges a diminutive plate of food at a 45 degree angle to it.

At New Farm’s Allium though, there is not one white tablecloth in sight leaving the food to stand on its merit alone.

So how does the dressed-down degustation experience compare to its starched-up counterparts?

Let’s take a look.

​The term “whole foods” traditionally speaks to an unprocessed, unrefined plant-based food item. Like a raw carrot. 

Healthy? Yes. Mouth-watering? Not exactly in its current form. 

I really do enjoy eating healthy, but I have to admit that I need my healthy foods to be zhooshed-up a little. 

Enter Miss Bliss and her Whole Foods Kitchen in West End. 

Using the concept of whole foods and healthy eating as a basis for the menu, I was hoping for some creativity for getting my five-a-day, within the one meal sitting.

How did I go? Let’s take a look. 

• Having grown up in Brisbane, I remember the days when the main strip of West End was easily the go-to place for a good coffee and creative meal. Well, things have changed a bit since my early 20s (despite that being just a few years ago… obviously… *cough*).

These days, you need to meander off busy Boundary road to find such a café, but once you know where to look, you’ll be seeing West End again with new eyes. 

Tucked away on Browning Street is Duo Bar and Restaurant, which is exactly the type of innovative and trendy café you’re looking for when you visit West End.

But does the food actually taste as good as the menu suggests? Let’s take a look. 

Busy Sandgate Road probably isn’t the first place you think of when looking for a little oasis in the inner-burbs, but it’s exactly here that you’ll find one.

At first you may just see an overgrown hedge from the main road, but look again and behind the expansive vines and shrubbery you’ll spot My Mistress Café. 

Is it worth taking a detour for a coffee here?
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Let’s find out.

​Brisbane’s dining scene has seen a great deal of change over the past couple of decades.

​Restaurants have come and gone, and there’s definitely a lot more pulled pork on plates now than there was in the 90s. 

One restaurant that has remained a constant is Mariosarti, which has been a stalwart of Toowong, for over 20 years. 

Recently though, Mariosarti has been placed under the care of a brand new owner. So does its food still stand the test of time?

Let’s find out. 

I have four words for you: Ricotta Blueberry Breakfast Dumplings. 

When I heard these were on offer at our local Nordic-inspired café, I was there faster than you can say blåbær. 

Lokal + Co at West End offers a very innovative menu which puts the old plate of bacon and eggs to shame. But does this creativity translate into deliciousness?
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Let’s go and find out.

Ever wonder what other people around the world are eating right now? No? Ok, I do on a regular basis, so go with me on this. 

Using recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation, and original sauces imported directly from Thailand, P’Nut Street Noodles has made a name for itself as offering some truly authentic Thai food in Brisbane. 

With restaurants in South Bank and Bulimba, there’s a brand new local P’Nut that has opened up at Windsor.
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So what are people eating in Khon Kaen at the moment? Let’s go to Brisbane’s northside to find out. 

It’s been three years since I last wrote about a dining experience at Brisbane’s Aria, where I found the food, and river-front views, and all that to be, you know, tolerable.

Ok that’s a lie. I loved it.

As such though, I had great expectations to love it again this time around, because things only get better with age, right? Apart from Germaine Greer.  

Sometimes though, setting the bar too high is the perfect way to be disappointed, so there is always a bit of a risk involved with the return visit to a much loved restaurant.
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How did Aria’s fare fare this time around? Let’s find out.