KIDS EDITION
SUrfers paradise / Event Guide / Art & Culture / Music & Entertainment / Food & Lifestyle
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Minions is a trademark and c opyright of Universal Studios. Licensed by Universal Studios L icensing LLC. All rights reserved.
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Cover Stories
FASHION, ARTS & CULTURE
06 Kids Week
12 What’s On
07 Minions in Paradise
14 Saturday Style Markets
18 A la Carte in the Park
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Music & Entertainment
SPORTS
24 Local Sound
13 What’s On
Food & Lifestyle
22 NetFest 2015
26 Ethnically Homegrown
23 Gold Coast International Festival of Kites
28 News Feed 30 Two’s company
PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
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Welcome Note Precinct Magazine, an initiative of Surfers Paradise Alliance Limited Official marketing and management authority for Surfers Paradise. spa@surfersparadise.com www.surfersparadise.com Published by Nude Publishing, a division of Nude Creative Pty Ltd www.nudepublishing.com.au Art Direction, Editorial & Production Nude Creative hello@nudecreative.com.au www.nudecreative.com.au National Advertising Manager Peter Wastie peter@nudepublishing.com.au Printed in Australia by Webstar www.bluestargroup.com.au Disclaimer. No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in any form by any means without prior written permission from the Publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Surfers Paradise Alliance Limited or Nude Publishing. Every issue of Precinct Magazine is prepared with careful attention to accuracy. Please use this magazine as a general guide. Precinct Magazine expresses the views of the authors and is based on the information available at the time of publication and it is not to be taken as advice. All prices quoted in this publication are correct at time of printing. All editorial material is accepted in good faith. We welcome editorial and photographic contributions.
Can you remember your first family holiday?
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very year in Surfers Paradise, we excitedly welcome thousands of families with young kids to the precinct. Each family arrives with a sense of escape and a craving for sandy feet, and we love watching the kids take the reigns on the itinerary. First stop, adventure!
Welcome
This is what Kids Week in Surfers Paradise is all about. Every September, the precinct comes alive with children’s activities that bring families together in a beachside paradise, to celebrate the delight of childhood. In this issue of Precinct Magazine, we bring you the low-down on Kids Week, from all the workshops, activities and games on the Foreshore, to the appearance times of the internationally loved and totally adorable Minions from the Despicable Me movies. Young fans (and parents!) can meet these guys for a cuddle and an awesome holiday snap! We also show you the best places to eat with kids in the precinct, and take you inside this year’s sponsor hotel, Surfers
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Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa. Get set for a huge week from 19-25 September. More details on page six. And of course the other big news – foodies pay attention – A la Carte in the Park returns for another year! The festival is an annual showcase of the city’s finest food, complemented by Queensland’s very own wine label, Sirromet, and set outdoors with live music and mouth-watering aromas. Take a trip around the world through your tasting plates, relishing in authentic dishes from the Mediterranean countries of Italy and Greece, all the way to Thailand (and many more along the way!) A la Carte in the Park is held over the weekend, on 8-9 August. See page 18 for more information. The Arts Centre Gold Coast is hosting an array of music, art and theatre shows throughout spring, including the Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Bolero, a world-class orchestral piece. Fashionistas and art lovers must also head to the Saturday Style markets at Vintage Velvet, where local creatives sell the fruits of their imagination. It’s all sky and sand this year in sport, with the inaugural Gold Coast International Festival of Kites taking place in late September, as well
as the first rounds of the Beach Volleyball Queensland and Gold Coast Beach Volleyball tours on our courts. Read all about NetFest 2015 for early October, and get pumped for the annual Australian University Games, when brains and brawn combine for a series of Olympic style events. Musical people, listen in on our local live music article, which reveals the best venues for catching some homegrown and national rock, funk and acoustic talent. We also chat with young Gold Coast-based musician Eleea Navarro about our emerging music scene. Our advice for foodies is grab the phrase book, because our food blogger Lizzy Keen is taking you around some of our best pan-Asian restaurants with the biggest, most exotic flavours. And while we’re at the table, check out the newest dining venues and food updates in our News Feed article, page 28. Childhood might seem worlds away, but the essence of being a kid never fades in Surfers Paradise. Whether it’s your first family holiday or not, we know you won’t forget it. Until next time. The team at Precinct Magazine
KIDS Edition / 2015
I
t’s September again, so we are about to see a seven-day change on the Surfers Paradise Foreshore.
All on the Foreshore!
RONALD MCDONALD AND FRIENDS Red, white and yellow can only mean one thing in kids’ food world. Ronald McDonald, the clown character of McDonald’s quick-service restaurants, is a universal symbol for ‘Happy Meals’ and represents a longstanding relationship between food and entertainment.
Kids Week
Tents and pastel beanbags dot the pathway, crowding the usual ocean view. Where tourists normally pose for photos, kids are playing with magic sand and paint. And don’t ride your bike too fast, for the entire stretch is busy with young feet.
But while Kids Week lends the Foreshore a particularly young appearance, it is an event that suits and makes the most of its surrounds– beach, park and city. Close to the best resorts, the tastiest eateries and endless recreational activities, Kids Week draws kids to its heart like a pied piper, uniting young families in fun. Seven days of Kids Week means less rush and more freedom to experience the action. The schedule accommodates to families attending weekdays and weekends, featuring hands-on workshops, games and performances everyday, with rotating live character appearances. Tuesday might start with a sweet breakfast at Pancakes in Paradise and a mid-morning stroll on the sand, where the kids bear their animal side with some face paint. Saturday, on the other hand, could begin after burgers at Hurricane’s Grill, whose elevated view lets kids negotiate a plan of attack – balloon animals, dancing and then an ocean dip. Each day is packed with delight. Bright-eyed, wild-haired kids aren’t the only ones immersed in the crowd. The Kids Week live character appearances always stir up some excitement, as children meet, greet and cuddle their favourite characters as they stroll along the Foreshore.
CHARACTER APPEARANCES MINIONS The Minions, Kevin, Bob and Stuart, whose bright yellow bodies are stacked on the front of this issue, are the most celebrated characters of 2015, especially following the recent release of their third movie, Minions. These addictively funny, ovular creatures will take some time off serving their evil masters to get close and personal with kids and parents.
At Kids Week, he will be arriving with his best friends, Birdie the Early Bird, the female flier of the group, Grimace, the big, purple creature, and Hamburglar, who always tries to steal all the hamburgers for himself. While the four friends usually kick back in McDonaldland, they will be bouncing around on the Foreshore to make more McDonald’s friends.
CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY’S BLINKY BILL Starting in a story book of the 1930s, moving into a film of the 1990s, and eventually into a classically Australian television series, Blinky Bill has been around the ‘Aussie’ bush a while. But such is the mischievous koala’s loveable behaviour and constant adventure; he has aired across over 80 countries, including Germany, Spain, Hungary and New Zealand. Nowadays on the Gold Coast, Blinky Bill makes daily appearances at the beautiful Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. But during Kids Week, he will venture north to Surfers Paradise so that kids can cuddle a koala bigger than they are!
Drax 4 Kids Just for Kids Week, Dracula’s vampire friends are leaving the dark, gloomy comfort of their castle to get groovy at the Drax 4 Kids discos. Drax 4 Kids are the Gold Coast’s most wicked children’s entertainers – a far cry from the traditional Coco the Clown types – and experts in mixing fun and celebration with gothic style. Drax 4 Kids are part of the much-loved Dracula’s Cabaret show in Broadbeach, one of the Gold Coast’s funniest and most popular tourist attractions for 30 years. Its wildly entertaining atmosphere will transcend the usual venue to entertain parents and kids on the Foreshore. Watch as kids bear their little fangs at the Drax 4 Kids discos on Saturday at 3.00pm, and Sunday after the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary show.
Enjoy Kids Week Sept 19 - 25!
Cover Story
The latest Minions movie is a prequel to the well-known Despicable Me franchise, and follows the story of how the Minions first came to serve the world’s most despicable masters in history.
Ronald McDonald has made live appearances for decades at hospitals, schools, social and corporate events, and McDonald’s stores all over the world.
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PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
KIDS Edition / 2015
A MINIONS’ PARADISE Kids W 19-25 S eek ept
Minions Sho 11am an w Times d 1pm Meet & gre at midd et ay
Energetic, adorable and internationally celebrated – Minions are the rambunctious characters of the Despicable Me and Minions movies, and after all their hard work for everyone else, it’s about time they had a holiday and made their way to Surfers Paradise! The creations of French designer Eric Guillon for Illumination Entertainment and Universal Studios, Minions have taken the world by storm. Loved by parents and kids alike, these cylindrical, bug-eyed creatures, who are loyal servants to the criminal masterminds of their films, have been described by film experts as ‘scene stealers’ because of their irresistibly funny nature. Despite the original Despicable Me arriving relatively lowkey to cinemas in 2010, the film enjoyed a huge runaway success, grossing over $543 million, and generating an enormous amount of global merchandise. Stuart, Kevin and Bob are at the heart of the Minions films. In Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2, they are
three of the enthusiastic but utterly clumsy servants of super villain Gru, who with the help of his evil colleague Dr Nefario, sets out to shrink and steal the moon. The three feature more prominently in the latest Minions film, which was released in June as the prequel to Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2. It shows how the Minions evolve from single-celled organisms in the beginning of time, and move from one evil master to another, each of whom they accidentally destroy. With no master to serve, the Minions fall into a depression. But Kevin has a plan to find a new evil boss with Stuart and Bob, and a great adventure unfolds. This September, the Minions will take some time off serving evil masters to come play with us at Kids Week. With live performances on the Surfers Paradise Foreshore, children and parents will be able to meet, greet and cuddle these world famous characters and enjoy a great photo opportunity.
Cover Story
Minions is a trademark and copyright of Universal Studios. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLC. All rights reserved.
www.surfersparadise.com
PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
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LITTLE MOUTHS, BIG APPETITES! Kids Meal Ideas for Kids Week 2015
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eing a kid is awesome, but it sure works up an appetite! Before you grab the map and begin the food hunt, read these suggestions and follow your nose to the best-value, kid-friendly restaurants in Surfers Paradise.
Helm Bar surfers River view and live music for the parents – check! A traditional kids’ menu to keep young ones at the table – check! Helm Bar Surfers is spacious and picturesque, with a waterfront deck to enjoy the view with a couple of plates and cold drinks. Pirate Pete’s Kids’ Menu offers fish and chips, ham and pineapple pizza and an all time favourite, chicken nuggets. And for dessert? Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream in different flavours – check! Everyday 10.00am – late Kids eat free Saturday and Sunday 5.30pm – 6.30pm 30-34 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise 07 5538 9677
The Groove Train Just the name is promising a great dining experience! With one of the grooviest kids’ menus on the Gold Coast, The Groove Train on Surfers Paradise Boulevard delivers flavour and satisfaction. The Groovy Pancakes for breakfast and Little Groover’s Chicken Burger for lunch are just the beginning. All meals are great value and come with a choc-topped vanilla ice cream for dessert, and to top it off, you’re just a short stroll from Kids Week. Everyday 11.30am – late Cavill Lane, Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise 07 5538 8121
Cover Story
Pancakes in Paradise This must be the ultimate idea of paradise for kids! Pancakes in Paradise is about traditional sweet and inventive savoury pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. While mum and dad try their luck on the Long Stack of American-style buttermilk
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PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
pancakes with maple and whipped butter, kids can tackle the macadamia, blueberry or sticky date pancakes with ice cream. The crepe menu offers Mexican taco, vegetarian and a seafood crepe with a side of chips and salad. Online ordering available. Everyday 8.00am – 8.30pm 3046 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise 07 5592 0330
Govindas Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurant Vegetarian families will find solace at Govindas, which offers casual buffet-style dining packed with Indian-inspired flavour! Coconut vegetable curries with long grain rice, sesame and tofu salad, rich lasagne with garden vegetables and fluffy pakoras – as well as a handful of raw and vegan desserts to finish. Try to catch their $12.90 all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner buffet special, perfect for feeding the whole family. Everyday 11.00am – 10.00pm 3120 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise govindassurfersparadise.com
Mos Burger Japanese creativity meets Australia’s love for burgers – Mos Burger is different to other quick service restaurants. The name (Mountain, Ocean, Sea) is said to represent the founder’s love for nature. The burger menu features unusual ingredients such as shrimp cutlet, seafood kakiage, kimchi pork and oyster mushroom, served on traditional white or Japanese rice buns. Grab a kids’ meal with burger, chips and a juice, or see how adventurous they are with the regular menu! Monday – Sunday 10.00am – 8.00pm Friday 10.00am – 9.00pm Soul Building, The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise 07 5570 2228
Central Lounge Bar & Dining Central Lounge Bar & Dining in the heart of Surfers Paradise is big on flavour and value. Everyday their lunch meal deal offers 27 different options for only $10, available from 11.00am to 5.00pm. While parents play with the extensive dinner and cocktail menus – we’re thinking deconstructed nachos – kids will enjoy classic schnitzel, lasagne, bolognaise or fish and chips for just $6. Flavour and value, indeed. Everyday 8.00am – late 27 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise 07 5592 3228
Surfers Sandbar It’s no secret that Surfers Sandbar serves up the best all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet on the coast. Every morning, locals and tourists crowd out the beachfront dining area with servings of frittatas, beans, eggs, pudding, pancakes and bowls of fresh fruit to sweeten things up. This generous deal is only $15 for adults and between $5 and $9 for under 12s. Get in early because, after all, this is the most popular breakfast in paradise. Everyday 6.00am – late Buffet everyday 6.45am – 11.30am 52 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise 07 5526 9994
Brooklyn Depot Next stop, the best burgers and hot dogs in Surfers Paradise. The newly opened Brooklyn Depot in the old Surfers Paradise Transit Centre, which has been recently renovated into a hip urban village called The 4217, delivers big American bites for every member of the family. Grab some ‘pimped’ chicken wings, a beef chilli bowl, a plateful of onion rings and sweet potato fries for a recipe of unstoppable flavour. The burgers – with ingredients like soft shell crab, cowboy caviar and truffle mayo – are unbelievably tasty, while the kids will dig the double waffle ice cream sandwich to finish. All aboard. Everyday 11.00am – late The 4217, 10 Beach Road, Surfers Paradise 07 5526 7666
Surfers Paradise Beach Café With its boat shed, beach house interior, hanging surfboards and coastal colour theme, lunch at Surfers Paradise Beach Café is like eating at an upscale beach picnic. The café is located right before the ocean and all the Kids Week activities, with a lot of space for big family and friend groups. Kids can snack on sandwiches, fish and chips or spaghetti before cruising straight over to Kids Week, while parents can sit and enjoy a shared seafood and antipasti plate. Everyday 6.30am – 9.00pm Soul Building, The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise 07 5527 6183
Hurricane’s Grill With arguably the best restaurant views that Surfers Paradise has to offer, Hurricane’s Grill is a memorable, high quality dining experience for the whole family. Firstly, the parents can get a little fancy with Roquefort salad, fresh-shucked oysters and prawns Villa Moura. Secondly,
KIDS Edition / 2015
the kids can too with a plate of salt and pepper calamari, barbeque chicken wings and corncobs to share. Watch the action of Kids Week below as you enjoy some fresh Queensland produce. Everyday 12.00pm – 10.30pm Soul Building, The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise 07 5503 5500
Oliver Brown One word: waffles. Whichever sweet craving you have, Oliver Brown Belgian Chocolate Café can fix it with a plate full of authentic Belgian waffles. Waffles with dark chocolate, sliced bananas and mixed nuts? Or maybe with maple syrup, mixed berries and crushed Oreo? No, wait! Waffles with milk chocolate, premium gelato and crushed nuts? There is no stopping the cravings now. We’ll meet you at Oliver Brown. Monday – Thursday 8.00am – 11.00pm Friday – Sunday 8.00am – midnight Soul Building, The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise 07 5526 8813
Starberry Fro-yo is the go during Kids Week! Starberry is Australian owned and operated, and committed to the highest quality ingredients to make the freshest and most exciting frozen yoghurt flavours. Apricot, blood orange and blueberry is the perfect mixture to welcome spring! Or if you’re feeling a little wicked, go all out with chai latte, peanut butter and pistachio! Everyday 10.00am – 10.00pm Monte Carlo Centre, Elkhorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise 07 5538 8558
San Churro How good is your Spanish? No matter, because everyone understands the language of churros! Warm, fluffy, deep-fried donut sticks dipped in fine melted chocolate – you don’t need a phrasebook to tell you that these are the ultimate indulgence. San Churro also offers delectable desserts, such as the chocolate volcano, strawberry bizcocho cup and Death by Chocolate cake. Delicioso!
Cover Story
Monday – Thursday 9.30am – 10.00pm Friday 9.30am – 11.00pm Saturday 10.00am – 11.00pm Sunday 10.00am – 10.00pm Circle on Cavill, Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise 07 5570 6019
www.surfersparadise.com
PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
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Where to Stay Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa
Kids Week is a unique time of the year in Surfers Paradise.
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hile the city is widely known for its dining, nightlife and high-end shopping culture, this iconic beachside precinct offers just as much fun for the kids with a world of games, attractions and activities. Where better to spend a family holiday? Kids Week celebrates family time, creativity and above all, being a kid again. The Foreshore will come alive with the colour and energy of live entertainment, kids’ activities and workshops, all before the glistening splendour of Surfers Paradise Beach. So, for the ultimate week of family fun, you need the ultimate family accommodation. Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa, the presenting partner of this year’s Kids Week, exceeds expectations across the board – location, dining and amenities – and strives to create unexpected moments of discovery for its guests.
Cover Story
Enjoy Kids Week at a resort that knows how to make the best of family time. Make a splash When you’re not watching live music acts and getting arty and crafty at Kids Week, 10 |
PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
the family can relax and play in the beautiful pool facilities, including sparkling lagoons, cascades and shaded quiet zones to explore.
a short, picturesque walk south. The daredevil families can brave it on the SkyPoint Climb on top of the Q1 – 270 metres up!
The Marriott’s pool is unlike any other in Surfers Paradise. With eruptions of palms spilling over gardens, mossy cascades to bathe beneath and underwater rocks housing tropical fish, the enormous, aqua-teal pool emulates a deserted island oasis with the comfort of deckchairs. When you come up for air, slip onto the sandy ‘beach’ or a chair beneath the sun, order a beverage and begin an afternoon in paradise. Perfect for both parents and kids alike, the pool facilities at the Marriott can keep you splashing all day!
Dining delights The Marriott’s Citrique Restaurant is famous for its fresh seafood buffet, where diners can decorate their plates with Tasmanian smoked salmon, prawns, scallops, mussels, oysters, crab and sweetfleshed bugs. Travel back to land with the restaurant’s Mediterranean a la carte menu with wood-fired pizza and artisan antipasti.
A stone’s throw from everything A river to the north, a beach to the east, and a seaside city within a ten-minute walk – Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa is a stone’s throw from every treasure of Surfers Paradise. Iconic white sands and crystal water, the idyllic scene of a traveller’s postcard, await families at Surfers Paradise Beach less than 250 metres from the hotel’s entrance. Surfers Paradise Beach provides gentle conditions, shade, lifeguard patrol and a number of surf schools for the family to get wet! Guests can walk from their beach spot straight down The Esplanade to Kids Week, which is about one kilometre south. The hub of Surfers Paradise, which offers a handful of family attractions including Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Timezone, Jet Flight Simulator, The Wax Museum and King Tutt’s Putt Putt, is
Parents deserve a little romance on their holiday too, and should make a reservation for the Marriott’s haute teppanyaki restaurant, Misono Japanese Steakhouse. Among an energetic atmosphere of flame and hot pans, diners watch as the team of highly trained teppanyaki chefs construct a theatrical Japanese masterpiece on their table, with brilliant flavour to match. Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa also offers guests the Lobby Lounge Bar, Java coffee house and Pool Bar all within the convenience and lush scenery of the resort. That unique time of year in Surfers Paradise is approaching, so stay at the resort that knows exactly what it means to holiday – family style! Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa 158 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise 07 5592 9800 marriott.com.au
KIDS Edition / 2015
ARTS & CULTURE
A La Carte in the Park The Law Shack is tuning in with local foodies and families to present A la Carte in the Park, a two-day festival of flavour and music on the banks of the Nerang River. Restaurateurs, chefs, food producers and wine experts from the Gold Coast will present an array of delicious food and wine options while festivalgoers kick back on the grass to soak up the live music and fresh aromas. Cooking demonstrations and all food under $10 – your weekend is about to get tasty.
ART & CULTURE
When Saturday 8 August 2015, 11.00am - 6.00pm, Sunday 9 August 2015, 11.00am - 5.00pm Where Lionel Perry Park, Surfers Paradise Cost $10 per day adults; seniors (65+), students and under 18s free Info 07 5584 3700 surfersparadise.com ENERGIES 2015 What would it be like to view the world through the eyes of our local students? ENERGIES 2015 is an exhibition of the works by the Gold Coast’s talented secondary students, composed by a range of media, themes and youthful perspectives. This annual event is a personal and reflective space in time for students of our region, where they can connect with each other and the artworks, and consider prominent social, political, emotional and global issues of their generation.
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When Saturday 19 September – Sunday 18 October 2015 Where The Gallery, Arts Centre Gold Coast, 135 Bundall Road Cost Free Info 07 5588 4000 theartscentregc.com.au Queensland Symphony Orchestra plays ‘Bolero’ Maurice Ravel’s one-movement orchestral piece Bolero is one of the most celebrated throughout the world. First composed as a ballet for Russian actress and dancer Ida Rubinstein, it quickly became Ravel’s most famous piece. It combines various melodies and instruments throughout the orchestra, beginning with a faint snare drum rhythm and ending in a captivating finale. Along with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s performance, pianist Marina Yakhlakova will also play Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. When Friday 9 October, 7.30pm Where Arts Theatre, Arts Centre Gold Coast, 135 Bundall Road Cost See website for details Info 07 5588 4000 theartscentregc.com.au Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets Combine beach and shopping at the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday night! As the Gold Coast’s closest markets to the
sea, the Beachfront Markets capture the essence of our salt and sand lifestyle, as well as offer locally made, premium goods. From handmade jewellery, to unique art and photographs, to once-off homewares and gifts, visitors will always find a piece of the coast to take home. When Every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings Where The Foreshore, Surfers Paradise Cost Free Info 07 5584 3700 surfersparadise.com Dylan Moran – Off The Hook Not many topics escape Dylan Moran’s comedic clutches, and when he critiques such things as religion, society, ageing, kids and relationships, he leaves the audience in stitches. The creator and star of ABC TV’s Black Books, Dylan Moran returns to Australia with a brand new show, Off The Hook. Moran’s wickedly funny and equally sobering rants about life have earned him the label, the ‘Oscar Wilde of comedy’. Ready for a dark laugh? Moran’s 2015 tour won’t disappoint. When Wednesday 5 August 2015, 8.00pm Where Arts Theatre, Arts Centre Gold Coast, 135 Bundall Road Cost $79.90 – $89.90 Info 07 5588 4000 theartscentregc.com.au
KIDS Edition / 2015
SPORTS Gold Coast International Festival of Kites Late September, the Gold Coast’s piercing blue sky will be the canvas for hundreds of colours, shapes and patterns during the Gold Coast International Festival of Kites. Three-foot octopi, ten-metre rainbow serpents and illuminated, bed-size tigers will ripple through the sky to paint a unique image of Gold Coast culture. This inaugural event is introduced through the cooperation between Connecting Southern Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise Alliance and Broadbeach Alliance, and will take place across the three beachside precincts. Kite master craft will all be seen from the Surfers Paradise Foreshore. When Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 September 2015 Where Surfers Paradise Beach Cost Free Info surfersparadise.com
When Sunday 27 September – Friday 2 October 2015 Where Multiple venues Cost See online for registration Info unisport.com.au Beach Volleyball Queensland The ultimate Surfers Paradise sporting event is back for another year, and it’s looking faster and sandier than ever! The Queensland Beach Volleyball Tour Round 1 and the Beach Volleyball Gold Coast Mixed 6’s Super Series 1 are to be held at Surfers Paradise Beach, where the entire Foreshore will fill with sun-loving locals and visitors. The heat will be on for competitive teams, but if you’re not playing, there is still plenty of opportunity to get sandy – just bring a towel, sunscreen and a hat for a weekend of watching the action up-close!
NetFest Netball nerds, it’s time to get training! Australia’s biggest and most exciting netball event, NetFest 2015 will be held on the Gold Coast for another year of fun competition and end-of-season events! Originally starting with 500 participants, NetFest has grown into a 2,200-player festival across three different venues, with the beach division to be held on the iconic Surfers Paradise Beach. Beginners, pros and aspiring Aussie Diamonds; everyone’s energy and participation is welcome! When Thursday 8 – Sunday 11 October 2015 Where Surfers Paradise Beach (beach division games) Cost See online for fees Info netfest.com.au
When Saturday 3 – Sunday 4 October 2015 Where Surfers Paradise Beach Cost See online for registration Info beachvolleyballgoldcoast.com.au qva.org.au
Sports
Australian University Games Australia’s largest annual sporting event is back on the Gold Coast this year, with around 7,500 student athletes from around Australia expected to compete. The Australian University Games (AUG) have become a flagship event on the country’s national sporting calendar, taking place every second year on the Gold Coast and rotating to other major cities in between. This year, 40 venues will host 32 different sports,
from athletics to cycling, judo to bowling, and hockey to sailing. The action continues off field in a week-long social program for students to meet, mingle and party.
www.surfersparadise.com
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SATURDAY STYLE MARKETS We take it you’ve already noticed the abundance of art and fashion in Surfers Paradise. But you probably haven’t seen so much packed into one place, and certainly
Fashion
not somewhere so damn trendy.
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KIDS Edition / 2015
Saturday Style Markets Vintage Velvet 2945 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise saturdaystyle.com.au 8.30am – 2.30pm
This is the essence of Saturday Style, the newest independent arts and fashion markets in Surfers Paradise, taking place every Saturday at the city’s hotspot of class-meets-cool, Vintage Velvet Dining & Bar. The market features over 25 stalls by local fashion designers, artists and photographers, and provides homewares, accessories, jewellery, up-cycled furniture and quality second-hand and vintage clothing. Saturday Style is the brainchild of local fashion gurus, Stephanie Kim Solomon and Georgie Whitcroft. Soon after meeting, equipped with passion and experience in design, label creation and working with big Australian brands like Mink Pink, ‘SK’ and Georgie, they decided Surfers Paradise deserved some fashion love. SK, owner and designer of swimwear label Moncai Swimwear, explains how she and Georgie, owner and designer of fashion label Whisky Rabbit, made it happen. “Georgie and I crossed paths through our labels and hit it off straight away. I mentioned that a few years back my brother and I wanted to start a market in the city, but life took another path.”
This was great news: Vintage Velvet is the hippest dining and nightlife venue in Surfers Paradise. Idyllic by day, buzzing by night and tucked in the unassuming borders of the city, it’s a hidden haven for foodies, partygoers and people still hooked on vinyl – the ideal place for a fashion market. SK couldn’t have dreamed of a better location. “Vintage Velvet has the exact vibe we were after. It has that old Queenslander character, a chilled vibe for shopping and eating, and it’s family friendly. You can also walk from the centre of Surfers Paradise and the Northcliffe G-Link station is right outside.” The market’s eclectic range of products is a testament to the artistic talent and creativity emerging on the Gold Coast, which will only continue to grow. “The Gold Coast is full of talented people in fashion, art, photography and music. Launching your own products or brand isn’t easy, and requires hard work and passion in all cases. With all the creativity, the tourist foot traffic and the beautiful surrounds, Surfers Paradise is the perfect platform for emerging designers to begin.” This Saturday, while you’re strolling through stores beaming with colour, picking out a once-off, vintage summer dress and the handmade jewellery to match, you’ll notice that this is the direction of Surfers Paradise art and fashion; in a place that’s so damn trendy. Fashion
“About a week later, Georgie said she had big news. She told me she had approached Vintage Velvet with the proposal of a market, and that they approved. She wanted us to be partners!”
Winter/ Spring Dates • 8 and 22 August • 12 and 26 September • 10 and 24 October
www.surfersparadise.com
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SURFERS PARADISE
Beachfront Markets WEDNESDAY | FRIDAY | SUNDAY Evenings ON THE FORESHORE AT THE END OF CAVILL MALL
WWW.SURFERSPARADISE.COM /surfersparadisebeachfrontmarkets @SurfersParadiseMarkets
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PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
KIDS Edition / 2015
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PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
Feature Story
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Like musicians at a rock concert, chefs maintain a certain celebrity at food and wine festivals. In place of strings and drum kits, these superstars are decked with a battery of spoons, bowls and wok fire to orchestrate major flavour and cooking technique. Two of the local chefs performing cooking demonstrations at this year’s A la Carte in the Park are Henry Bongay from the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa’s Misono, and
Feature Story
Executive Chef Greg Benney from QT Gold Coast’s Bazaar.
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PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
KIDS Edition / 2015
Henry Bongay Henry Bongay has been leading the team at Misono for the past twenty years. As the Head Chef of Misono, he has a real flair for entertaining and has mastered the art of teppanyaki. To the delight of diners, the restaurant is transformed into a stage when the talented chef dons his apron. The secret to Henry’s success is his genuine love for his job. “My favourite part of my job has always been the customer interaction – I love meeting new people. I have been working as a teppanyaki chef for Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa for over 20 years now and it’s been amazing to see how
the Gold Coast has changed over time and how our restaurant continues to grow within the local community. I am very proud to be the Head Chef of the Misono and work with such an energetic team.” Tricks and showmanship are an integral part of dining at Misono, filling the restaurant with laughter and memories.
Greg Benney Greg Benney is the Executive Chef at QT Gold Coast. Born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, his passion for cooking has seen him travel the world, having worked in the United Kingdom at the Thistle Hotel, Menzies Welcombe Hotel and Spa, Hotel Billesley Manor, as well as an apprenticeship at Stratford Avon College and an Advanced Pastry Diploma back in South Africa. Greg’s diploma chocolate showpiece was even used in the Miss World 2008 beauty pageant.
Greg now has great ideas of going back to simple classic cookery; where the fresh produce is the hero of the day. At QT Gold Coast, they’re currently preparing a massive roof top garden that will utilise most of the hotel’s second level. Here Greg will teach his apprentices how fresh produce is used from seedling to plate.
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Following this, he moved to Australia and took his first Head Chef position at River Canteen at South Bank, Brisbane. While working there he received a standing ovation from over 150 members of Tattersall’s Wine Club for his degustation menu. He was also awarded a Star Award in the Courier Mail Good Food and Wine Guide 2010.
From there he moved to QT Gold Coast as Chef De Cuisine, where he had the pleasure of working with George Francisco for two years and learnt how to use ‘Mother Nature’s gifts’; it was all about great produce. Since then he has worked under Luke Stepsys, whose lessons on innovative flavour profiling led to Greg being promoted to Executive Chef.
www.surfersparadise.com
PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
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FLYING FAST T ON THE SAND
he sand is warm. Brightly coloured flags, umbrellas and sponsor signs crop up on the beach, backdropped by she-oak and pine trees and a residential skyline.
NETFEST 2015
The scenery at NetFest is stunning, not that the dozens of netballers on the court are taking notice. They’re already in action, competing in the Gold Coast’s biggest netball festival. NetFest is Netball Australia’s mass participation netball event for over-18s, set in the coastal splendour of Surfers Paradise. Across the four-day event runs a series of traditional outdoor and beach netball tournaments between beginners, social players and aspiring Aussie Diamonds; with over 2,000 participants from Australia and New Zealand expected to attend. The fact that NetFest began with just 500 players indicates how much this all-inclusive event has grown.
But that doesn’t stop major netball names like Liz Ellis, Irene van Dyk and Sharelle McMahon from getting in on the action. Liz Ellis is the face of Australian netball; the former player of two Commonwealth Games gold-medal winning teams, and part of three triumphant Netball World Cup campaigns between 1995 and 2007, the latter game as captain. She has also been named Netball’s Most Valued Player on four occasions. Safe to say, she’s a netball superstar. South African netball queen Irene is still on the courts in her forties, and remains a prominent name on the international netball scene, while Sharelle is still regarded as one of the greatest shooters in netball history. NetFest is set for another big and exciting turn out. If you’re not playing, be sure to head along to watch the action and be inspired. We might see you on the court next year. NetFest 2015 Thursday 8 – Sunday 11 October 2015 Beach games at Surfers Paradise Beach netfest.com.au
Sports
All beach games and the Sunday beach finals will be held on Surfers Paradise Beach, where spectators can set up on the Foreshore beneath the pandanus trees to watch up-close. Dance music, friendly on-court banter and cheering will create a unique sporting soundtrack, while players and spectators can cruise between the courts and Cavill Mall for a bite to eat or chilled gelato.
The beach netball games feature both female and mixed divisions, and will be less competitive than the traditional outdoor games held at other Gold Coast venues.
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PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
KIDS Edition / 2015
GOLD COAST T INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF KITES
he sky is flecked with vibrant patches of material, while ribbons of colour ripple and crack in the wind. There are no clouds or planes traversing overhead. Looking up from the sand, the only movement comes from the hundreds of kites soaring metres up, as if posed from a dream. This September, for the first time, we will see the former Kirra Kite Festival stretch along three beaches: Kirra, Broadbeach (Kurrawa) and the iconic Surfers Paradise Beach. This new scope is a result of Connecting Southern Gold Coast, Broadbeach Alliance and Surfers Paradise Alliance joining forces to bring this FREE cultural festival to more locals and holiday goers on the coast. Combining these locations means more kiting highlights than ever, including international Kite Masters representing Australia, Canada, Asia, New Zealand and Germany. This family event unites a worldly community, as spectators come together to watch the fanatics fly and kite enthusiasts and kite makers inspire one another.
Danny Lau is another Kite Master to take to our skies. A kite flyer for twenty years, ‘Danny Kiteman’ is skilled in flying and ground displays, and specialises in kite events for corporate companies, team building and outdoor events. After becoming professional in 2003, he has recently been involved in NTUC Income Kite Festivals in Singapore and is an indoor kite ambassador for schools. During this special weekend in September, forget your surroundings and look up. Colourful, energetic and inspiring – the Gold Coast International Festival of Kites is getting ready to take off. Gold Coast International Festival of Kites Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September Surfers Paradise Beach surfersparadise.com
Sports
Two of the performing Kite Masters are Phillip and Anne Marie McConnachie from Adelaide, who have both been heavily involved in Australia’s kite scene since the early nineties. Their expertise and passion
has seen them invited to the world’s most celebrated kite festivals, including the Rome International Kite Festival and Orlando Disney World Festival. Anne Marie has also been Festival Director for the Adelaide International Kite Festival and coordinator for the festival’s school day programs.
www.surfersparadise.com
PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
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LOCAL SOUND Listen closely. While the Gold Coast continues to make tracks on the national music scene, one can’t help but applaud the live music venues in Surfers Paradise.
Surfers Paradise is a garden of contemporary dance, psychedelic rock and acoustic musical bliss, growing in all directions at once. Thanks to its impressive array of live music venues, the precinct is attracting more Australian and international acts each year – performers who are looking for long nights and lively crowds. So, tune in, turn it up and prepare to dance to the beat of the Gold Coast drum, among the best live music venues in Surfers Paradise.
Chevron Renaissance Bare brick and eclectic street art backdrop the live music at the renovated Chevron Renaissance Centre; hints of the emerging urban paradise the city is becoming. Inspired by Melbourne’s Degraves alleyways, whilst maintaining the beachside vivacity of the Gold Coast, Chevron Renaissance has established a new cool. ‘Chevron Lane’ is a canvas of street art and a passage of street food, two relatively novel features to the precinct’s traditional nightclub scene. Vietnamese, Italian, Mexican and Japanese cuisines make up some of the multi-million dollar project’s culinary spectrum, as well as bespoke retail stores, beauty services and live music on weekends. The Chevron Renaissance Piazza creates an unreal acoustic environment for the live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, where local musicians play for three hours beneath the stars. Foodies, revellers and families sit among the outdoor settings to absorb the sound, nibbling on sushi and pizza, or something sweet from Max Brenner. 3240 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise 07 5592 5188 chevronrenaissancecentre.com
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
The Avenue Established in 1984 in the epicentre of Surfers Paradise, The Avenue has long held a rock and roll reputation that spotlights local and international garage, pop-rock and groove bands. But the best thing about this old-school music hub is that live music is played every night of the week. As well as weekly dining specials, sport screenings and local competitions, The Avenue is home to an enviable and nonstop rock playlist on the stage, including Gold Coast acts Vertigo, Agent 77, Stevenson St., The Triple J’s, and Signature and Hodads. Thirty years of music and entertainment in one venue. 24 |
PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
For visitors who love their traditional Australian cover bands and can get down to anything – from reggae to blues to jazz – begin your music hunt at The Avenue. You won’t go far from there. 4 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise 07 5592 1678 theavenuesurfers.com
Surfers Paradise Beergarden What does Gold Coast history sound like? Years of live music at the famous Surfers Paradise Beergarden must be pretty close. Established in 1925 by the developer responsible for Surfers Paradise, Jim Cavill, (back then as the Surfers Paradise Hotel) Surfers Paradise Beergarden has evolved into a classic party venue and a landmark for live music, hosting a plethora of genres and performers. American pop-funk band Cartel and hip-hop duo Das EFX have stormed the stage in the past, as well as popular Australian artists DJ Havana Brown, The Butterfly Effect, Lisa Mitchell and blues and roots legend Ash Grunwald. Apart from its live music scene, the ‘Beery’ provides an idyllic setting for a chilled beverage, a bite to eat and an elevated outlook over the ebb and flow of Cavill Avenue. Laughter, chatter and the whisper of waves resonate outside, while mates hit some pool and watch live sports indoors. Every Friday and Saturday night, you can enjoy live local cover bands and get down to that iconic Australian pub-style ambience. Rock ‘n’ roll in its traditional form. Cnr Cavill & Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise 07 5570 1322 surfersbeergarden.com.au
Tune Up Bar & Karaoke Studios We all have a memory of crouching over the microphone, one hand in the sky, belting out the lyrics of ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ by Guns ‘N’ Roses. Karaoke, though tragic at times, is one of the most fun and liberating ways to celebrate a night out with your own live music. Tune Up Bar & Karaoke Studios is a house party on Cavill Avenue; an intimate club-come-studio pulsing with chart toppers and disco lights from 8.30pm to 3.00am. Its discrete entrance leads revellers upstairs to a CD-plastered bar, a stage and some microphones. Warm up the cords. Tune Up’s main room is designed for bringing friends and strangers together in song, while the private rooms can be booked for party groups of up to six and eight. “She’s got a smile it seems to me, reminds me of childhood memories…” You know the words. Let down your hair and enjoy some raw, slightly off, but unforgettable live music. 23 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise 07 5526 7977 tune-up.net.au KIDS Edition / 2015
PM How do your surroundings impact on your music and song writing? EN It’s inspiring to write in a place that is so beautiful, but I find that my emotions and stories that I’ve read, heard or lived impact on my song-writing more than where I’m located.
However, if I wasn’t on the Gold Coast then I wouldn’t have co-written the songs that I have and been able to record and collaborate with so many local musicians. There are so many highly creative and talented people here in all avenues, from film to photography to makeup artistry. I just recently released a new single, “Cigarette”, and a music video. For the song, I used a local producer and musicians, and for the video I used Kylie’s Professional makeup artistry and Treetrunk Digital, both based in Burleigh. The Gold Coast has world-class talent.
PM In your experience, what is unique about the Surfers Paradise music scene?
EN When I was in Bali recently, I picked up a 2006 Lonely Planet guide that described Surfers Paradise as a party destination with a nice beach. I think it has become so much more than that.
PM What do you love about playing live music at Chevron Renaissance? EN Chevron Renaissance always has such a mix of people dining in and walking past. The spot that I play in is almost set up like I’m a busker, which adds a certain challenge to the gig. You really have to work to perform beyond background music and become eye-catching entertainment.
I’ve met such interesting people while performing in Surfers Paradise.
PM How are art, music and culture changing Surfers Paradise as a tourist destination?
www.surfersparadise.com
I’ve met some really lovely people while playing at Chevron Renaissance and it’s always a pleasure when you feel like you can make someone’s night better, even if they only stay and listen to one song.
PM What do you think the future holds for live music in Surfers Paradise? EN I’d like to see even more of a shift in the culture of live music in the area and more venues employing local performers. There’s a difference between ‘background music’ and a really good performer, regardless of whether they’re playing originals or covers. A great performer will bring people into a venue and keep them there, and many Gold Coast artists can.
Bringing larger Australian and international touring acts to our venues would also be great. Not only for the convenience for Gold Coast residents and the increase in tourism, but also for the opportunities for local artists and bands to be able to support big names, and give work to local audio engineers, etc.
I’d also love to see more tourists come to Surfers Paradise specifically for the music scene. With so many creative outlets and attractions, I think visitors will be pleasantly surprised.
EN From my experience, crowds are quite transient in Surfers Paradise, which means there’s always an eclectic mix of cultures, personalities and musical tastes listening to my music.
Along with its new developments and arts initiatives, I’ve noticed people are paying more attention to live music now compared to when I started playing in Surfers Paradise in 2012.
PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
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MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
Precinct caught up with locally based acoustic and singing sensation, and Chevron Renaissance regular Eleea Navarro to chat about local artists, performing in Surfers Paradise and how she’s excited for more live music in the precinct.
Ethnically Homegrown
FOOD & LIFESTYLE
Lizzy Keen explores the best Asian and Indian cuisine in Surfers Paradise
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PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
KIDS Edition / 2015
A
ustralian diners embrace anything unusual. Orange wine is the new black, while foraged dandelion and seaweeds are just about commonplace. Along with small plates, ‘tail-to-nose’, raw food and foams, our cuisine is gradually forming an innovative identity far from pies and Vegemite. But at its core is a great influence from our pan-Asian neighbours, whose recipes are infused into the national diet. We snack on sushi, we stir-fry at home, we cover great lengths for the best dumpling. Luckily, Surfers Paradise is bursting with the stuff. So, forget your chickweed and microherbs for the night and enjoy the simple yet delightful Asian and Indian fare of our city.
Samurais Paradise One word Australians never mispronounce: yakitori. This traditional style of Japanese cooking refers to skewered food grilled on the binchotan. Throughout Japan, yakitoriya (restaurants) are small, crowded and clustered in dine-out alleyways, billowing with sweet smoke and chatter. Samurais Paradise is not quite as smoky, but the ‘let the food do the talking’ notion is evident. If you’re after plush crockery and date-friendly lighting, keep walking. Samurais’ is a modest interior, with paper lanterns, some posters and no-frills settings that keep your eyes on the food. Which is a clever thing when the yakitori is this good. Despite the non-Asian puzzlement of being offered cheese as an accompaniment, the menu reflects simple Japanese tradition and crosses land and sea with some more adventurous meats. Crocodile skewers, anyone? From the tender chicken thigh, to the crispy chicken skin, to the redder and richer beef tongue, each yakitori is juicy and charred in all the right places, kissed lightly by smoke and barely resistible smothered in mayo. The sweet potato, zucchini and onion yakitori are each equally moreish, while the rice ball in green tea is bright and wholesome; anyone’s cup of sencha. Yakitori $1.50 - $5.70 Monte Carlo Arcade, 36-38 Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise 07 5511 8745
The Chiang Mai is the culturally richest river of Northern Thailand. There is no obvious connection to these restaurants’ namesake, except that maybe they deliver great food in full flow. Chaopraya Thai Restaurant is a curious kind of venue with bright purple signage in a residential street– you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve stumbled into a backpacker disco garden. But the interior denotes its authenticity, bordered in dark timber and splashes of gold Thai artwork. Signs to the Saraburi and Pattaya provinces indicate you’re on the river. Like most Aus-Thai restaurants, the coconut creamy curries are sweet, salty and soft with spice; that distinct, enigmatic balance of Thai cooking. The favourite Penang curry with king prawns has a full-bodied, peanut-velvet texture that sweetens the giving flesh, while the pumpkin beef curry is buttery and sweet, pierced gently with fresh basil and chilli. Meanwhile at Chiang Mai, you know you’re in good hands when you enter via a wall of awards. That is when you’ve already passed the carved timber cabanas and water feature outside, where statues and hot-pink light ripple on the surface like a Ka-Lai dance. Inside shimmers in gold detail as a theatrical purple flows around diners who sit in carved wooden elephant chairs. The basil chilli stir-fry of fresh chilli, sweetalmost-sticky onion, basil leaves and scallops is delightfully rich without the weight. The ginger stir-fry with black mushroom, corn and shallots has a piquant sweetness that brightens up an otherwise dense mixture. On the fresh side, the som tum e-sarn salad with green papaya, anchovies, salted crab and sour lemon sauce, a delicious salty-tart fusion, will certainly sharpen your senses. Meals around $25 Chaopraya Thai – Cnr Frederick St and Gold Coast Highway, Surfers Paradise 07 5538 8118 Chiang Mai – Inside Mantra Crown Towers Resort, 5-19 Palm Avenue, Surfers Paradise 07 5526 8891
Yum Cha Noodle Haus
The Chao Phraya is a major river running through Bangkok to the Gulf of Thailand.
The Yum Cha Noodle Haus beneath the Hilton Hotel, however, is a slight variation
The XO prawn noodle soup is fragrant, bright and saucy with chilli and light soy, with fat, fleshy prawns and fresh gai lan wading in the juice. The deep fried bean curd noodle soup is just begging for a winter, its warm and spicy soup soaking up bite-sized pops of silken tofu that collapse on the tongue. Keeping on the vegetarian trail, one shan’t stray far from the mapo tofu, a popular dish from the Sichuan province. Named for its pocked appearance (Ma – “pocked”, Po – “old woman”), the tofu soaks in a spicy chilli and fermented black bean sauce, which glistens with oil under a scrunch of spring onion. This is the pinnacle of winter comfort food. Soups and noodles $8.80 - $9.90 Shop G25, Hilton Hotel, Surfers Paradise 07 5504 7667
Delhi Darbar Nothing surpasses home cooking. Well, except perhaps age-old Indian recipes passed down through generations, cooked in a restaurant that has been run by an Indian family for the last 25 years. This is the gist at Dehli Darbar Restaurant, which serves some of the richest food in Surfers Paradise, inspired by North India. Again, this restaurant isn’t out to win awards on its décor, setting diners in a simple but pleasant space among cherry timber chairs and warm lighting. The wait staff are genuine, smiley and especially attentive of children’s preferences, even those who want to dare a little spice. Along with the 12 types of house-made naans and rotis, dishes pouring from the tandoor are tender and crisp on the edges, yielding a distinct smokiness buttered by herby oils. Order the fish tikka, its silky flesh encased in a creamy, toasted layer of ginger, spice and yoghurt, which breaks apart in aromatic steam and is all the more creamy in a pool of raita. Home cooking at its finest. Curries $14.50 - $17.95 3018 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise 07 5527 6080
FOOD & LIFESTYLE
Chaopraya Thai and Chiang Mai Thai
Okay, the small plates phenomenon gets a mention here, but not in its usual form. These are small, sit-down-and-slurp dishes, punchy with salt and soy, with nary a microherb in site. Welcome to China’s answer to afternoon tea.
on the traditional all-small yum cha found in south China. While its Robina and Harbour Town counterparts focus on Chinese ‘tapas’, Yum Cha Noodle Haus offers more of the slippery stuff. Soup and noodles for days.
www.surfersparadise.com
PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
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NEWS FEED F
rom retro burger bars, to Brooklyninspired diners, to renovated retail precincts – when it comes to creating fresh dining and shopping experiences, Surfers Paradise doesn’t mess around. Explore some of the precinct’s new developments to grab a taste of this ever-growing city. One delicious postcode – Brew, beer and burgers at The 4217 A postcode of innovation – The 4217 is not the coordinate of a seaside suburb, but an invigorated urban village composed by local providores, artists and lovers of culture. Within the industrial-studio walls of the old Surfers Paradise Transit Centre, which now roar with street art and stylish brickwork, is a modern dining hub. Opposite the Paradox Coffee Roasters restaurant, a huge Brambati coffee roaster speaks for the freshness and quality of their in-house coffee, which lures bean-lovers off the street each morning. Inside the restaurant, diners acquaint themselves with new-age dishes like salmon bagels and crisp polenta chips.
FOOD & LIFESTYLE
Things get Yankee at the Brooklyn Depot, where burgers, hot dogs and fried delights echo the all-American diners of NYC. You barely pick a table before the ketchup cravings kick in. From the Brooklyn Classic (beef, cheese, special sauce) to the Chicky Babe (thigh fillet, relish, ‘cowboy’ caviar) to the Fun Guy (crumbed mushroom, blue cheese, aioli), each combines favourite flavours with an Australian twist. Paired with the Twicecooked Onion Rings and Sweet A** Potato Fries – phew – best start practicing your accents now. The 4217 is also home to the Gold Coast branch of OzHarvest, Australia’s first perishable food rescue organisation
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PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
in Australia, which delivers excess, unspoiled food from commercial outlets to disadvantaged communities across the country. So far, OzHarvest has diverted 10,000 tonnes of food from landfill. So much happening in one postcode. This is a destination you want to know. The 4217 10 Beach Road the4217.com 1800 449 013 New Cavill Lane precinct welcomed with selfie prizes Previously known as The High Street, Cavill Lane is the refreshed shopping and dining precinct that runs between Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Orchid Avenue. Intimate, contemporary, and boasting a myriad of boutique stores and restaurants, Cavill Lane invites shoppers to a refined slice of Surfers Paradise, offering high-end labels to casual wear, interspersed with coffee and authentic flavour. Winding beneath the Hilton Hotel, the lane is located at the heart of the city and a beach ball’s throw from the sand. To celebrate its opening, Cavill Lane is giving away $35,000 worth of instant prizes! There are a variety of ways to enter, including taking a selfie within the centre and posting it online, checking in to Cavill Lane on Facebook and subscribing to the Cavill Lane email newsletter. For more details on Cavill Lane and how to win your share of $35,000 worth of prizes, visit www.cavilllane.com.au. Cavill Lane 3184 Surfers Paradise Boulevard cavilllane.com.au 07 5588 0200
KIDS Edition / 2015
Getting gourmet – Hudson & Co. Gourmet Burgers
Sweet as paradise – Pancakes on the Rocks
Epicureans would have noticed lately that burger menus are shaping up. Nowadays, you’re more likely to sink your teeth into a relish-and-sprout-laden Waygu patty than your conventional egg and lettuce. No longer do knife-and-fork users feel ashamed of their civility. Grease is out and invention is in, especially at Hudson & Co., the new gourmet speciality burger and fine ale bar in Cavill Lane.
A Gold Coast landmark and a sweet tooth’s dream, Pancakes on the Rocks continues to tempt with its wicked pancake menu. So, what better time to get acquainted with it than in winter, while the coastal chill has us craving something buttery?
An open-design timber kiosk, studded with roughed-up peppermint stools beneath summer awnings, puts an end to the burger hunt just metres from the beach. As a flow of tourists hugs the perimeter, punters inside play games of pool and nestle into the vintage furniture, contemplating the menu in a room full of old-school charm and the smell of grill and spice. Pull up a stool with the Mexicana of sour cream, red salsa and guacamole, or the Spicy Thai with sweet chilli, satay and crisp coriander. India and Italy also enjoy some spotlight – with chilli mango chutney, roasted red pepper and mint yoghurt and basil pesto, Italian coulis and shaved parmesan. All burgers come with 180g Angus beef or chicken breast. But for tradition’s sake, Hudson & Co. also delivers the Classic Australian with tomato sauce, tasty cheese and beetroot (relish, nevertheless) for those who still prefer to use their hands.
The Long Stack Pancakes is a good start for the hungry – four American style buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup and traditional whipped butter, ice cream or cream. Or the lot. Smaller conquests begin at the Short Stack of a similar combination, or the Bavarian Apple Pancakes, their crisp, golden surface crowned with apple and sultanas. Things get tropical with the Bananarama, with grilled banana pieces, homemade butterscotch sauce, ice cream and whipped cream – a pick for sunny days. But they get a little darker on biting into the Chocolate Jewels, all chocolate pancakes and cream under a cascade of chocolate sauce. Whether you’re for the fruit, the chocolate, the butterscotch or throwing it all together, Pancakes on the Rocks has a table waiting for you. Pancakes on the Rocks Soul Retail, The Esplanade pancakesontherocks.com.au 07 5570 6250
FOOD & LIFESTYLE
With an innovative burger menu and some international craft beers to wash them down, you might say Hudson & Co. has jumped right onto the gourmet bandwagon, or are driving it all together. Hudson & Co. Shop G20, Cavill Lane 07 5527 6053
www.surfersparadise.com
PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
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Two’s company
Walrus Social House and Clifford’s Grill & Lounge
T
hey say two’s company, which in the dining world, is just enough. If you have two great restaurants to get friendly with, you’re in luck. While their proximity makes Clifford’s Grill & Lounge and Walrus Social House well acquainted, both located in the invigorated Watermark Hotel & Spa precinct, these two dining venues are not quite two of a kind. At the core of Clifford’s Grill & Lounge is an arsenal of local and worldly ingredients that reflect a local edge. Greek labneh, Donnybrook 5-year Parmesan and heirloom tomatoes from Toowoomba all feature in a carefully crafted lunch-dinner menu that ‘just peckish’ and ‘famished’ can work with. This is where your wrist starts swirling that glass of Yarra Valley’s St Huberts Merlot (or a Bombay Rock cocktail if it’s that kind of hour). Clifford’s knows all about warming up before the main event, and offers a succinct tapas menu with variety to match the bar. The breadboard and sliders, for example, are calling for a local beer from Burleigh Brewing Company.
FOOD & LIFESTYLE
It’s no question Executive Chef Daniel Smith loves a grill, if the ten-burner centrepiece and namesake weren’t indications enough. Three and six-hour slow braised pork belly and beef cheek, served with basil and capers respectively, and the 36-month Spanish black-hoof ham are testament to Clifford’s smoky nature. The ‘Something Bigger’ menu varies from fresh, ethical seafood – like the seared line-caught tuna with shaved fennel and the pink snapper beneath a kiss of chilli jam – to more weighty plates. The Urban Milly Hill lamb cutlets in particular strike innovation in
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PRECINCT MAGAZINE / Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast
a deconstructed green curry with eggplant chips; like a bucolic trip to Thailand. In the name of a city that embraces four seasons, Clifford’s does so on the table. The restaurant has recently introduced its new seasonal feature menu to mirror the produce ample this time of year while maintaining the favourites. Clifford’s is the ideal official sponsor for the upcoming food and wine event, A la Carte in the Park (see page 18). Lucky VIP foodies will absorb the live music with a plate in hand under the Clifford’s Grill & Lounge VIP marquee. Perhaps the first thing people enjoy about Walrus Social House is the name. Named after an historical local legend and his bandit rum distillery on water, Walrus Social House embodies character and diversity. As Clifford’s casual counterpart, the vibe at Walrus attracts locals for after-work or predinner drinks and nibbles. A similar menu to Clifford’s ensues, but one that leans towards smaller dishes and brighter flavours. The pizzettas are popular for a couple of rounds, as well as the original and very ‘Cape Cod’ Walrus lobster baguette with preserved lemon mayo and dill pickle.
XXXX Gold Pale Ale and signature cocktails. Travellers from the festival can take the G:link to the Surfers Paradise station right outside. But while the character, flavour and location are what make these two distinct venues, so likable; it is perhaps their affiliation with the Watermark Hotel & Spa that keeps us coming back. Following the after party, or at any time of year, diners can walk straight up to a superior room at the Watermark Hotel and enjoy the array of facilities. Together Clifford’s Grill & Lounge, Walrus Social House and Watermark Hotel & Spa are a powerhouse team of establishments worth making friends with in Surfers Paradise. After all, they say two’s company, but three’s a party. Clifford’s Grill & Lounge 07 5588 8400 Walrus Social House 07 5588 8400 The Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast watermarkhotelgoldcoast.com.au 07 5588 8333
Between 4.00pm and 6.00pm Sunday to Friday evenings, Walrus hosts Social Sunsets, where discounted wine, beer, cider, spirits and signature cocktails flow as the sky melts into dusk. Walrus Social House is also host to A la Carte in the Park’s official after party from 4.00pm until late both Saturday and Sunday, where live music will backdrop an evening of giveaways, food and tastings of the new
KIDS Edition / 2015
MODERN CREATION CLASSIC INSPIRATION walrussocialhouse.com.au
cliffordsgrill.com.au
Reserve 5588 8400
Dining . Bar . Cabana . Cafe . Gaming
3032 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
located at G:link Surfers Paradise station
NOW AT
Blinky Bill & friends now call Currumbin home! Featuring in two shows and making two daily appearances, Blinky and his friends provide plenty of fun and smiles to kids of all ages.
Ž & Š Flying Bark Productions
ADULTS @ KIDS PRICES!
Use coupon code BLINKYBILL2015 at www.cws.org.au on General Admission Adult Tickets to receive this discount.
All guests $35, save $14! www.cws.org.au | 1300 886 511 | enquiries@cws.org.au Corner of Gold Coast Highway & Tomewin St, Currumbin Qld 100m from Currumbin Beach - 5 minutes from Gold Coast Airport - 20 minutes from Surfers Paradise Open 7 days 8:00am - 5:00pm. Closed Christmas Day & ANZAC Day. Visit www.cws.org.au for Sanctuary details. Not valid with any other offer. Conditions apply. Valid to 31/12/15. Redeem discount at the gate or purchase online using coupon code BLINKYBILL2015. General Admission day pass only. Excludes Adventure Parc high ropes course and Segway Safari. Upgrades available at the gate.