Summer is so close we can almost taste it Gold Coasters and with it comes balmy days filled with good food, refreshing sips and even better company. Then rinse and repeat every single day for three months.

There’s no doubt it’s going to be one of the best on record after the year we’ve had and what makes it even more exciting is brand new venues to enjoy all of the above in.

The latest of which is absolutely oozing summer vibes while also (kinda) making up for the lack of European holidays we’ve experienced this year.

It’s called Maman (meaning Mum) Kitchen & Bar and it opened a few weeks ago on James Street in Burleigh Heads for all of your Mediterranean feasting pleasure. And what a pleasure it is.

It’s the work of a couple of local lads whose names you’ve no doubt heard – Oli Frost, founder of The Grass is Greener Music Festival and part owner of Surfers’ burger bar Milky Lane and Ironman Matt Poole along with Oli’s Mum and Aunt, Karen and Elizabeth Fines, who are both exceptional Chefs.

Inside you’ll find a space made up of all-white everything, coastal chic at its finest, with pops of colour courtesy of Byron Bay artist Jai Vasicek’s wall-length murals and hand-painted ceramics. All of which we would love to transfer to our house right this second.

Maman can be accessed through an arched alleyway entrance in Justin Lane and we love a little outside-the-box thinking.

Now let’s discuss the menu because every single dish is one you’re going to want to sample starting with small plates like Moussaka of eggplant with seared scallops, taramasalata, tomato and fennel salsa (stop it) and Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare with preserved lemon, green olive salsa and Jerusalem artichoke crisps to name just a couple of magic treats.

Next up, there are larger plates like Lamb Kofte with hommus, cacik, Israeli salad and Turkish pide, Chermoula crusted tuna, Moroccan eggplant, tomato and coriander salsa.

Taste sensations the lot of them.

For dessert, a Fine Apple Tart with salted caramel sauce and vanilla bean ice cream perhaps? Yes.

To drink you may sip on signature cocktails like the Maman Spritz with watermelon reduction, ruby red grapefruit, cherry tincture and Prosecco and the Wake Up with Tromba Blanco Tequila, jalapeno pepper, fresh citrus and orange curacao.

Of course, you’ll probably want to sample every single one, as is the almost-summer way.

It’s delightful all round honestly and the absolute perfect addition to the Burleigh Heads dining scene.

Let’s get summer started right now shall we?

Meet you Maman Kitchen & Bar.

LOCATION: 49 James Street, Burleigh Heads
HOURS: 5pm until late Wednesday to Friday and 12pm until late Saturday and Sunday

Words and photos by Kirra Smith

An Italian feast is always a good idea.

All that pizza and pasta and general feelings of comfort and love, what could be better? Perhaps a few Italian cocktails thrown in for good measure.

Luckily, the good people at Burleigh’s Margarita Cartel have you covered with the opening of their latest venue The Don Italian Kitchen, home of an Italian feast that you’re going to want to get involved in immediately.

The newbie opened recently just two doors down from the very popular Mexi-joint and in the same strip as much-loved eateries Commune Espresso and Light Years.

It’s a laidback space with plenty of outside seating, a wall length mural of The Don himself and a big old pizza oven that’ll make your dining dreams come true.

The menu is made up of comforting, modern Italian eats with a bit of an Aussie twist and owner Ivan is Italian himself, so he obviously knows what’s up.

Nonna would be proud.

The star of the show is The Don, a meatball pizza with meatballs stuffed into the crust too and it’s a treat let us tell you.

There are also small plates like arancini, Northern-style fish croquettes and a rolled chicken parmiagana that’s a quirky take on a dish we Aussies love.

For mains, there’s a range of authentic woodfired pizzas in many tasty flavours, handmade pastas and pillowy gnocchi stuffed with spinach and ricotta that’s absolutely one of the best around.

There’s an Eggplant Parmigiana too, but not as you know it. It’s crumbed and deep fried and a party in your mouth.

To sip, an array of Italian cocktails including a Limonchello Spritz that’s a little bit sweet and a little bit sour and the perfect tipple for the warm weather we’re all about here.

Of course, there’s an array of Italian beer and wine to choose from too.

Now if you’re the type of person who doesn’t mind a night of mixed cuisines, you’re in luck.

You can order anything from the Margarita Cartel menu while you’re dining at The Don and vice versa and there are plans in the works to add another venue to the mix.

The pair (for now) have been dubbed The North Burleigh Kitchens and we’re very excited to see what happens next.

If you like the sound of Italian eats with a little Aussie twist and a lot of flavour, The Don is your man.

Happy days Gold Coasters.

LOCATION: Shop 4, 1840 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads
HOURS: TBC

Words and photos by Kirra Smith

Coffee is a way of life; a morning ritual, a culture unto itself and a way of bringing people together. Not to mention it’s delicious and it really helps with getting through these crazy 2020 days.

There are many people on the Gold Coast who feel this way about the golden elixir and a few who truly understand that it is indeed a way of life. Some of whom opened a café in Chirn Park recently that you can now visit every single day for your daily cuppa.

Those people are Darwin Dejdic and Michael Ruzic, the owners of Wavy Bone, a name you may have heard before and can now see permanently attached to a sweet little space on Musgrave Ave in Chirn Park.

The biz began as a coffee caravan, cruising the Coast and serving up Blackboard brews made with as much passion as anyone can have for coffee. The people were big fans.

One year later and the boys have expanded into a physical space with the intention of bringing specialty coffee to the northern end of the city.

It’s small in size and big in heart, decked with painted breeze blocks, polished floors and a sleek black coffee bar. There’s fun photographs on the walls, art placed on shelves up high and a turn table in the corner pumping out tunes. It’s a laidback, good time space perfect for sipping coffee and nibbling on baked treats.

As we mentioned, the coffee beans are of the Blackboard Coffee variety so you know they’re tasty and at the moment you can sample an array of five-star baked treats to go with it.

Within the next week the full menu will be available and that will be made up of things like Smashed Avo and gourmet sandwiches and bagels.

It’s right at home amongst the trendy, boutique-destinationy feel of Musgrave Ave and there’s plenty more interesting places to check out while you’re there.

If you’re one of those people who are all about coffee and want to try something new, may we suggest (strongly) that you head on up to Wavy Bone.

You’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.

LOCATION: 1/36 Musgrave Avenue, Chirn Park
HOURS: TBC

Words and photos by Kirra Smith