Cowch, South Bank

Cowch is a new dessert cocktail bar located on Grey Street in South Bank. They offer a breakfast menu which includes yoghurt and muesli along with desserts such as churros, naked pops, pizzas and pastries and also cocktails which runs late into the night.

Decorated with quirky teats and milk bottle lights, the atmosphere at Cowch is warm and relaxed. There are plenty of couches, seats and even a fire pit, which is perfect for those coming cold winter nights. 

On one section near the counter, there is a wall of naked pops which is eye catching, unique and seemingly a popular item on the Cowch menu.

There are five naked pop flavours which includes chocolate, vanilla, coffee, mint and pomegranate. These naked pops are then dipped in either milk, dark or white chocolate and then topped with three toppings of your choice.

This was a chocolate naked pop doused in dark chocolate and topped with almonds, chocolate flakes and chocolate pearls. 

This pomegranate naked pop was dipped in milk chocolate and topped with pistachio, dried blueberries and chocolate pearls.

Cowch is the perfect bar for any sweet tooth, or those wanting a great place to have a sweet snack, drink and catch up with old and new friends. It is also extremely family friendly with sweet goodies for the kids and drinks for the grown ups.

In love and food,

Vivi

Mighty Mighty, Fortitude Valley

Southern American cuisine, which is more so American comfort food, is up there along with pizza as one of my most desired foods. I could eat it everyday of my life if I was fortunate enough to not have my waistline expand tremendously. Mighty Mighty, a relatively new restaurant that popped up near James Street in the Valley is a perfect example of good comfort food and brew.

Louisiana prawn & clam chowder

Having only been introduced to clam chowder after J's trip to America two years ago, I can say that it is possibly one of my most favourite starters. It is quite scarce to find in restaurants so when there is clam chowder on the menu, it is definitely going to be in my tummy.  The prawn and clam chowder at Mighty Mighty came out as quite a surprise as I was expecting a creamy based soup not a tomato one. However, the flavours in the chowder was distinct and really got the taste buds going. They did not skimp on the seafood as there was quite a few clams in there as well as a large prawn.

Mighty Mighty hot wings

The hot wings at Mighty Mighty were a bit disappointing. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender, however, it lacked the hotness and flavour a little. It was by all means still delicious but I wish it had a bit more of a tang to it.

Barbecue beef short rib

The smoked and glazed barbecue beef short rib with sweet potato chips, although quite small, was absolutely divine. The meat just fell right off the bones and the smokey flavours was just enchanting to the palate. The sweet potato chips were cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside whilst soft and creamy as you bite down on it. 

Mighty Mighty is the perfect place to hang out with friends, especially to grab a drink as they offer a large selection of brews. The atmosphere is quite energetic, with an upmarket but casual vibe. Although the meals at Mighty Mighty are quite small, it does offer the opportunity to go with a bunch of friends and order a bit of everything on the menu. That way you can have a taste of everything, and make room for more drinks.

In love and food,

Vivi

Bonsai Botanika, Brisbane CBD

Bonsai Botanika is a gorgeously decorated space that has recently opened in the Brisbane city. The wooden chic interior is extremely calming, creating a great and warm atmosphere. There are three levels, with Level 1 offering drinks, cakes and ice-cream, Level 2 offering food such as ramen (the restaurant level is Edamame, which is the same one located on Hawkin Drive in St Lucia) and Level 3 offering more dining space.

The drinks and food level are both counter service, and you are given a number after you order. The only issue with this is that they do not have separate menus aside from the board, and customers are congested at the doorway trying to figure out what to order.

Mocha Manchy

The Mocha Manchy is by far my most favourite drink at Bonsai Botanika, although the Single Origins Manchy comes to a close second if you are in need of a strong but delicious, caffeine hit.

CHEMEX Brew

CHEMEX Brew

The CHEMEX Brew is a coffee filtration process with the glass flask brewing over coffee beans. I would compare a sip of this coffee to taking a shot of tequila (or a big can of Red Bull), the caffeine hit was strong and fast. This was quite surprising as I have never ever had quite a strong caffeine hit before.

Cappuccino

The cappuccino was quite disappointing as it was extremely watery.

The food at Bonsai Botanika is quite overpriced compared to the other restaurants surrounding it. The drinks are however quite good, depending on what you order. They have a range of different flavours of drinks from salted caramel to dark chocolate & cinnamon pineapple (which sounds quite interesting).

I would recommend Bonsai Botanika if you were in need of a cosy coffee date destination, or even to have a look at their interior decoration.

In love and food,

Vivi

La Via, South Bank

With winter more than half way through, it is getting quite chilly in Brisbane. As with most people, the colder weather often equates to a growing appetite, which means indulging in some comfort food. La Via, located in South Bank, is the perfect Italian restaurant to settle with creamy pastas and aromatic pizzas without feeling like your waistline is increasing.

The pasta of the day, was a creamy pappardelle pasta with scallops, spanner crab and asparagus. The spanner crab was surprisingly bursting with flavours and the scallops were plump and meaty. Although infused in delicious creaminess, the pasta was so light and delectable. 

wagyu bresaola, roast garlic, truffle oil, parmesan

One of my most favourite dishes would have to be pizzas, from the fast food version to those that are a little bit more gourmet. La Via offers one of the best pizzas bursting with flavour but filled with simplicity. With only a few key toppings on each pizza, each element is a perfect accompaniment to one another. In the calabrese salami, green olives, basil and mozzarella pizza, the salami and olive give off distinct flavours whereas the basil and mozzarella are more subtle, making it extremely piquant (and tasting extremely light in the stomach). Although the pizzas at La Via are not wood fired, they are oven baked on a stone base which gives off a crispy crust. 

calabrese salami, green olives, buffalo mozzarella, basil

If you're wandering around South Bank during the day, La Via offers their pizza menu for nearly half the price of their dinner menu. Otherwise, La Via is the perfect place to drop by if you are looking for a casual but delectable Italian restaurant for dinner. 

In love and food,

Vivi

Moose and Gibson, Woolloongabba

Moose and Gibson, located down from the Gabba, is a small quirky cafe with an extremely chilled and relaxed atmosphere. It is the perfect place to slowly sip on your cup of coffee whilst browsing through the newspaper, or to go with a group of friends to catch up before the day begins. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, brunch is my favourite meal of the day and there is nothing more exciting than finding a place that does breakfast type lunch dishes with a twist. Moose and Gibson is definitely the perfect hotspot for this.

With no qualms about growing some winter fat, I ordered the Potato & 3 Cheese Croquettes which is crumbed and lightly fried, with tomato chutney and cucumber salad on the side. I tend to find croquettes quite bland after a few bites, but these potato and cheese croquettes were however, absolutely exquisite with the freshness of the cucumber salad. The portioning looks quite small but there is just enough to fill you up and long for more.

The highlight of Moose and Gibson has to be the Potted Eggs. Filled with chorizos, olives, spinach and baked eggs in a tomato like paste, this dish get the palate salivating. The baked eggs are gooey and are so delectable in the tomato like paste. As well as this, the chorizo and olives mix so splendidly together, adding a burst of flavour and texture. Add into the mix, the turkish bread smothered in garlic butter, and you've got yourself a swoon worthy dish.

Moose and Gibson offers an all day breakfast and lunch starting from 11:30pm. With their quirky decor, statement antler chandelier and vertical garden, it is definitely worth checking out. I would definitely recommend coming and trying their Potted Eggs as I can not get enough of it.

In love and food,

Vivi