There’s a huge space in my heart for earth mothers. You know the sort of woman I mean – the one who’s the hub of her family; who makes everyone feel welcome, holding their well-being close to her heart. She’s the matriarch apparent. When we first meet Rochelle Smith, I know that she’s the beating...

It’s ironic, given our sub-tropical climate, that we see little Pacific Rim food on the Gold Coast. Tupe-Aloha Bar and Grill goes some way towards remedying that. Hawaii meets the Caribbean in this live music venue. Step in off our famous Kirra Beach and you’d be mistaken for thinking that you’d stepped into a tiki...

Located on The Village Green at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Sanctuary Markets focuses on local and international food. Every Friday night the Village Green is filled with street food from Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Brazil, South Africa, Chile, India, Italy, Turkey and Greece. Fresh fruit and vegies are for sale in the spacious car park. Arts...

It has long been recognised that Mr Inder Jaiswal is one of the best Indian chefs on the Gold Coast. After arriving in Australia in 1971, Inder opened restaurants in Melbourne and the Gold Coast: House of India in Broadbeach, The Indian in Robina (2004), and Agnee Indian (2010) in Robina with his son Arjun....

You know how it is… you’ve tried to choose a healthy meal, only to find you’re half starving at the end of it. Perhaps you’d decided on a couple of share plates and drawn the shortest straw, or maybe that plate of sashimi cost $28 for five pieces of fish? Then you weren’t at Wazen....

UPDATE 2018: Easy Street Diner has new owners. To all those loyal Instagram followers out there who waited patiently: You asked for it and now you’ve got it! It’s time for Easy Street! Opening first as a street food market stall, Erin and Lucas Schranz developed a fan club of enthusiasts, continuing their support when...

UPDATE January 2015: 26,000 pizzas and counting! The Star Gold Coast’s own Italian restaurant Cucina Vivo has ticked off two milestones this month with the famed wood fired pizza oven churning out its 25,000th pizza coinciding with the venue’s first birthday. While the Prosciutto e Arugula is the most popular pizza, the Nutella pizza has...

Dressed up for date night, coiffed, perfumed, accessorised. Should I pack my camera? It’s our fifth wedding anniversary and The Main Squeeze has managed to keep the venue a secret. “Be ready at 5pm,” was all he’d said. I cast my memory back to our first date. Dressed up, coiffed, perfumed and accessorised, I’d anticipated...

“Memories framed on the wall last a lifetime in our hearts.” I’m really interested in the concept of others being ‘observers’ of our lives. Our close friends and family, who have known us for a long time, understand the hurdles we’ve vaulted or staggered over. They do not judge us at face value, but know...

“There was a time when people went out just to enjoy a really good meal. Restaurants’ reputations were built on the quality of their food. That’s all changed. Now, restaurants must provide the whole package. It’s not just about the food. We’re in the entertainment industry. We have to give someone a great experience. Bad...