Luke Ridden is a bright star in the world of spirits. Australia’s youngest commercial distiller, co-owning Granddad Jack’s with his father David, Luke is the youngest person in the world to win a gold medal in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Not only was Granddad Jack’s Barbershop Coffee Liqueur awarded World’s Best Coffee Liqueur,...

For a culturally ‘mish mash’ dish, ramen is unrivalled in its ability to gain fans. Talk ramen and its converts will espouse the beauty of their favourite bowl, not to mention their preferred ramen house. Among its lovers is former Japanese professional rugby player Hiroshi Takeyama, whose dream of opening a ramen restaurant in his...

The love of fine pastry is a passion which not only forged love between Sophie and Richard Le Deunff, it has also taken them halfway around the world in a journey that has led to the Gold Coast. Aux Fines Bouche, meaning ‘In good taste’, first opened in Adelaide twelve years ago but, for the...

There was a time when Sunday nights meant fish and chips for dinner, the aroma of salty chips escaping from their butcher’s paper wrapping. With Good Friday fast approaching, here are some of the region’s ‘must try’ fish and chipperies, open for takeaway and/or delivery during COVID-19: The Inky Squid, Terranora Owned by ex-Taverna Head...

From a working man’s dish in China to Japan in the 19th century, to being given ‘haute cuisine’ status in America by chef David Chang, ramen has journeyed along trade routes and survived world wars. Despite being a cultural ‘mish mash’, ramen is unrivalled in its ability to gain fans #noramennolife. Talk ramen and its...

When you’re looking for food on the run, poke bowls are one of the healthiest, most convenient fast food meals in town. The name ‘poke’ (pronounced ‘po-kay’, and written without an acute accent on the ‘e’) comes from the Hawaiian word meaning ‘to slice’ or ‘cut crosswise into pieces’, referring to the leftover pieces of...

Where do foodies go to buy that special treat? We give you five places to buy the food of local and international artisan producers. Be warned: you’re likely to leave with your basket full! Ambarella Fine Foods, 1 Santa Maria Court, Burleigh Waters The concept of a market square with shops scattered around the edges...

Suited perfectly to the Burleigh dining scene, Light Years opened to much fanfare late in 2019, owners Kim Stephen and Stephen Filipovic extending their holdings of sister restaurants in Byron Bay and Noosa. Named after ‘the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one Julian year’, it’s ‘light years’ away from the food beachgoers...

Golosi Food Emporium is one of the most impressive specialty food shops on the Gold Coast. Established in March 2013 by Selena Quested, the passion for fine food has been continued and expanded by new owner Donna Harrison, who also owns Burleigh Bar and Bites, also in James Street. The shop may be small, yet...

The back streets of Japanese cities are filled with tiny eateries, each specialising in different dishes. They’re the inspiration for travellers who have gone home to create their own version of Japanese culture with ramen and yakitori bars, sushi and teppanyaki restaurants, shabu-shabu and izakaya popping up around the world, the latter being one of...