Here’s the GC’s best foodie trail

THOUGHT you knew the Gold Coast? Think again. Dig into a taste of this new foodie mecca, where the bronut is in, but cronuts are out.

Tuna Tataki

THOUGHT you knew the Gold Coast? Think again. Dig into a taste of this new foodie mecca, where the bronut is in, but cronuts are out.

THERE are good restaurants, and then there are the restaurants worth flying for. It seems we’ve almost come back full circle to days of throwing another shrimp on the barbie, Paul Hogan-style. Never before has travel and feasting complemented each other so well. And what better reason to travel than food. It’s a defining obsession for us travellers; we hop from one plate to the next, searching for the next gastronomic experience that will give you bragging rights to come for years. If your idea of a Gold Coast foodie trail starts with a can of XXXX and ends with deep fried prawns, let this be a culinary awakening.

The truth is the Gold Coast has steadily been growing its reputation as one of Australia’s hottest food destinations. The past couple of years has seen an explosion of organic cafes, farmers’ markets and hatted restaurants, all clamouring for their spot in the sun. World-recognised chefs are tripping over themselves to work in a place where freshly-caught seafood is complemented with cheerful holiday weather and dangerously good surf. Adam Dundas-Taylor (ex Nobu), Ben Armstrong (ex three Michelin star Ooh lá lá in Paris), Jon Hizola (ex Santori group of restaurants), and Grant Parry (Head Pastry Chef for Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s) have all opened their doors here. With the GC now in safe cooking hands, the place is positively buzzing, and the vibe is decidedly relaxed. Here’s the Gold Coast’s ultimate foodie trail, as recommended by local foodies.

Where to find a seriously good coffee

You can judge a place based on the quality of the coffee, can’t you? Good news for caffeine addicts, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with these coastal cafes.

“It's been wonderful seeing the GC food scene 'grow up' a bit,” food blogger Ali (Relish Food and Life) says. “There’s now much better coffee and lots more choices. When I first started blogging, making a 'Best Coffee on the Gold Coast' post was easy, but now there are too many great cafes. I love that.”

Top picks for the GC’s finest roasters include Social Brew (Burleigh), Blackboard Coffee (Varsity Lakes), Skull and Bones Espresso (Mermaid Beach), Paradox Coffee Roasters (Surfers Paradise),  Café D’Bar (Coolangatta), Iron and Resin (Currumbin), Dust Temple (Currumbin Waters), Cafe D’bar (Coolangatta) and Barefoot Barista (Palm Beach).

Where to enjoy a cocktail with a view: Surfers Paradise

First-timers to the Gold Coast will usually stick to Surfers Paradise, where eating out spans the entire spectrum – from the cult burger joint, Betty’s Burgers, to the award winning Japanese eatery Yamagen at QT Gold Coast.

Sandbar [https://www.facebook.com/sandbargc/ ]

Previously known as Surfers Sandbar -- one of the Coast’s older watering holes -- the Sandbar has emerged with a new look and refined menu. Instagrammers can rejoice: Sandbar’s smoothie bowls are worth the investment for the #foodporn alone. Gourmet burgers are washed down with craft beer or complemented with something sweet from the extensive cocktail list. Part Seminyak’s Potato Head, part Bondi’s Bucket List, Sandbar is an example of how investment to reinvigorate prime waterfront venues is helping Surfers Paradise find its cool again.

The Island [The Island]

With its popping retro-styled rooftop and infectious holiday vibes, The Island is one of the trendier places to down tasty cocktails. This place is buzzing throughout the week with special sunset sessions and live music. For something more than just cocktails, the adjoining Italian-inspired restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all served with an ocean view.

Where to find the trendiest new cafes: Palm Beach

Palm Beach is shrugging off its old and stuffy reputation to become a hot foodie haunt. Here you’ll find everything from organic farm-to-plate restaurants to tasty Nutella crepes you'll keep coming back for.

The Collective [http://www.thecollectivepalmbeach.com.au/]

“I’m sure you’ve heard of The Collective,” Popular Instagrammer and local Lauren Bath says. When she’s not travelling the world -- with the added benefit of getting paid to do so -- Lauren uses her downtime to seek out the Gold Coast’s coolest cafes. Very popular among locals and tourists, The Collective features five restaurants and two bars (one of those on the rooftop) in a breezy, industrial-type space with quirky details in every corner. “If I am down in that area, I am there because it is amazing,” Lauren says. “Being a foodie, I’m always really fussy because I want a bit of this and a bit of that. Having five different kitchens and five different menus to choose from means I can get a nice bowl of broccoli, and a nice salad and a bowl of tacos if I want! It means you have what you like and that’s what I really like about it. The plates are not expensive, and it’s all very “sharey” -- it’s just a really fun eating experience.”

8th Ave Terrace [https://8thaveterrace.com.au/]

Awash with salty sea breezes, and decked out with luxe beachy finishes, 8th Ave Terrace is the spot to soak up the sun. “It was also important to create a space that could be enjoyed by all, be it a lazy afternoon of beers and share plates on the open-air terrace or an evening grazing through our menu with a bottle of wine (or two) in our dining room,” owner Shannon Baier-Dry says.

The menu offers hearty favourites such as lamb rack, slow-rendered and accompanied with a sweet potato and pancetta mouse, designed to be washed down with wine sourced from regions in Argentina, France, Spain, California, and closer to home.

Shannon says the best time of year to visit the Gold Coast is Spring, although all year round the weather is unoffensive. “The vibe is palpable, and everywhere you go people are out eating and drinking and acting like it’s already the summer holidays.”

Where to head for the best beachfront dining: Broadbeach

Just a stone’s throw south of Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach is the curious epicurean’s mecca, with everything from Bavaria to Middle Eastern, through to high-class Japanese and vegetarian on the menu.

BiN 89 [http://bin89.com.au/]

If you’re into sharing, pull up a seat at tapas restaurant BiN 89. It’s a slick dining experience where you can expect to beautifully curated soy pork belly and Kingfish sashimi tapas. This is the Gold Coast’s trawler-to-table feasting at its best. There are BiN iterations also in Mermaid Beach (inside Pacific Fair Shopping Centre), Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta, all offering delicious tapas dishes.

Hideaway Kitchen & Bar [http://hideawaykitchen.com.au]

Lit with neon signs, walls smattered with graffiti street art style koi fish, and decorated with bikes and colourful umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, Hideaway delivers Asian food boldly. Hideaway’s head chef Jon Hizola hails from a global dining institution, Nobu, where he has crafted an Asian street food menu using the freshest locally-sourced ingredients that are designed for sharing. Smack-bang in the middle of Broadbeach, it’s not so much a “hideaway” type of place but more a destination restaurant.

“Hideaway’s inspiration came from all my trips to Asian countries and my love for eating straight from the street vendors in Asia. The flavour of food over there is something else, so I wanted to bring the taste of Asia to the Gold Coast,” owner Scott Imlach says. “I had the design in my head of different pictures and things I’d seen in Asia. The umbrella idea is from Gilli T Islands in Bali, the swings at the bar are from Koh Samui in Thailand, the cocktail list is my favourite cocktails I drink when on holiday in Asia.”

Mamasan Kitchen and Bar [https://mamasanbroadbeach.com/]

Another restaurant boasting Asian swagger, Mamasan offers a sophisticated dining experience.

“At the time we opened there were only a few modern Asian restaurants on the Gold Coast and we saw an opportunity to bring some of what we had experienced abroad back home,” owner Lauren Mitchell says. “We aimed to take authentic flavours from multiple cuisines – Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Thai, to name a few – and present them in a modern way.” A large portrait of Mamasan watches over diners who chow down Australian-sourced produce such as beautifully spiced Byron Bay pork san choy bau, or Hervey Bay scallops, or wok fried Tasmanian Cape Grim eye fillet.

Kiyomi [https://www.star.com.au/goldcoast/restaurants/kiyomi]

Lead by Chase Kojima, one of the top sushi chefs in the country, Kiyomi is a contemporary Japanese restaurant intent on bringing the sophisticated tastes of Tokyo to the Gold Coast. Nestled inside The Star Gold Coast  – but don’t let that put you off – it’s the type of world-class dining you’ll remember for the rest of your life. The menu packed with the likes of lightly seared scampi with foie gras, wagyu tenderloin and melt in your mouth sashimi.

Where to find the best craft beer

Gold Coast’s love for craft beer borders on an obsession. Whether you’re a seasoned beer swiller or occasional social sipper, there are plenty a spots to quench your thirst

Balter Brewery [http://www.balter.com.au/ ]

Legendary local pro surfers Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Bede Durbridge, and Josh Kerr, together with long-term mates launched their first beer — the Balter XPA — in early 2016, and it is now one of Australia’s most recognised boutique beer brands. The Balter Brewing Company’s Currumbin-based cellar door is open to the public Friday through to Sunday afternoons, with their Sunday Sessions being one of the Coast’s best ways to farewell the weekend.

Burleigh Brewery [http://burleighbrewing.com.au/]

Burleigh Brewing Company is a place where Hawaiian and Australian beer and surf collides.  Founders Brennan and Peta Fielding brought their successful Hawaiian beer brewing skills back to Peta’s homeland, settling in Burleigh Heads, where the village atmosphere breathed life in the Burleigh Brewing Company. Visitors can take a tour of the brewery to learn everything you’d ever want to know about beer.

Where to head if you want to get away from it all: Mermaid Beach

Backed by the Gold Coast’s most exclusive address, Mermaid Beach is a near-empty stretch of sand where you can get away from it all. And if you’re hungry, Mermaid Beach packs a punch, minus the crowds.

Little Truffle [www.littletruffle.com.au/]

Famed chef Daniel Ridgeway’s first restaurant remains Mermaid Beach’s go-to fine dining establishment. And as you would expect, the food is top notch: beetroot and goat's cheese salad, shaved candied walnuts and sherry vinaigrette to start, fresh Moreton Bay bug and prawn tortellini with sweet mustard fruit beurre blanc for main, and a signature vanilla bean pannacotta for the finale.

Etsu Izakaya [www.etsu.com.au/]Look out for an illuminated red lantern and an inconspicuous white barn door, left ajar. Just like a typical Izakya in Japan,  it feels like you’ve fallen down a rabbit hole and landed in foodie heaven when you come across the inconspicuous entrance. Serving modern Japanese tapas, fresh seafood is paired with an effortlessly cool service. You’ll be fighting over who claims the last salmon usuzukuri or the meltingly tender pork belly with crisp crackling.

Skull & Bones Espresso Boutique [https://www.facebook.com/SkullAndBonesEspressoBoutique/]

Step aside cronut,  didn’t you hear bronuts are in? A cross between brioche, croissant, and donut, the Skull & Bones bronut is melt-in-your-mouth layers of buttery goodness.

Originally published as Here’s the GC’s best foodie trail