Joy fine dining chef takes on salads and sandwiches at new Fortitude Valley cafe

Her restaurant is one of the hardest to book into in Queensland, but now this top chef has turned her hands to more humble fare for a new gig.

From fun homewares to sandwiches and salads prepared by a fine dining chef, welcome to NUG General Store.

Kitchen Confidential first brought you news of the collaboration between interior gurus Jarrod Applebee and Shane Phillips and star chef behind Brisbane degustation-only restaurant Joy, Sarah Baldwin, in February, but now the curtain is set to be lifted on the new cafe/deli/grocer/homewares store in Fortitude Valley.

NUG will open in The Valley’s Bakery Lane, off Ann St, on May 29, as a one-stop-shop for all your entertaining needs.

That means locally grown and produced groceries, such as fruit and veg from Brisbane’s small-scale Neighbourhood Farms, bread from bakery to the stars Danny’s Breads in Teneriffe, cured meats from The Valley’s Saison Small Goods and pasta from its sister operation CJ’s Pasta. There will also be the likes of cheeses, plus specialty pickles, relishes and chilli oils made by Applebee, Phillips and Baldwin.

Meanwhile, in the cafe section of the venue, diners can expect a small collection of salads and sandwiches, including gluten-free, vegan and FODMAP options each day, using top-notch breads and ingredients.

“With salads, we want to offer more than just your standard leafy variety, like fun takes on potato salad and chicken salad and caesar salad, and then a couple of classics sandwiches and then some funky flavours all done in a really fun and homely way,” Applebee said.

There will also be coffee from Brisbane’s Semi-Pro roastery, and the cafe's own pre-bottled cold brews, with two varieties available daily.

Wine will come into play about a month in, with plenty of local biodynamic and organic varieties available, which will rotate regularly.

Guests will be able to dine at the cafe’s 12-seater indoor communal table, or outside in the venue’s own herb garden.

Finally, the homewares element will be focused around the dinner table and kitchen, with everything from crockery and cutlery to candles, seedling kits and gifts.

“It’s stuff that’s funky and different, but brings a smile to people’s faces,” Applebee said.