Brisbane, "Australia’s boom city" and largest subtropical city, offers year round sunshine and warmth with an easy-going atmosphere typical of the Sunshine State (Queensland).

It is the "starting place" to the Great Barrier Reef, & to the islands of Moreton & Stradbroke. Head south to Australia’s world famous Gold Coast or north to the beautiful Sunshine Coast.

Brisbane is situated on a meandering river, the Brisbane River, and is surrounded by glistening bays and green farmlands as well as rainforest & bush land, featuring the most significant koala colony in Australia.

With over 100 parks in and around the city, there are plenty of places to escape and the time to admire the colorful trees – poinsettia, acacia, jacaranda, frangipani and wildflowers.

In the beginning, for tens of thousands of years before European settlement, the land now occupied by Brisbane City was occupied by Australian Aborigines. Where City Hall stands today was once swampland inhabited by the Turrbal tribe.

The beginnings of Brisbane as we know it today occurred nearly two centuries ago (1824), when it began as a prison colony for Australia’s convicts, it was based at North Quay. Brisbane opened up to free settlers 18 years later, prompting a population boom.

The Queen Street Mall stands where convict floggings once took place. The city Botanic Gardens was originally a farm to feed the settlement. Brisbane was not formally declared "a city" until 1902.

Not surprisingly, given its criminals beginnings, the new city’s foundation treasury reserve was stolen two days later. The city itself grew outwards from the ancient "Brisbane River" which, at 10 million years old, is close to 1,000 times older than the Nile.

Many of Brisbane’s finest early buildings were destroyed in the "Great Fire" of 1864, with just two "convict-built structures" remaining today.

The Commissariat Store in William Street, is now a museum offering a fascinating record of the city’s grim, violent beginnings; and the stone, rough-hewn, cone-shaped Windmill built in 1828 on Wickham Terrace.

Brisbane’s oldest building, the Windmill, is part of the city council’s self-guided heritage trail, which includes City Hall and its clock tower, Anzac Square, the brass-domed Customs House, and St Stephen’s Cathedral.

Two-thirds of Brisbane’s earlier population was Irish. By the late 1800s, there was a strong Chinese merchant community. Also Greeks and Italians migrated, in significant numbers, in the 1950s and 60s. In recent years, most migrants have come from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

The landmark "Story Bridge", designed by local engineer J.C. Bradfield (who later designed the Sydney Harbor Bridge) , opened in 1940.

Urban Hotspots: Taste Brisbane’s relaxed-yet-energetic lifestyle for yourself across the urban villages -- the lifestyle precincts and key streets which exist in between downtown and Brisbane’s regional suburbs.

First: take the "City Cat," Brisbane’s Ferry River, or "river bus" from downtown Eagle Street Pier and go North and South along the "River." For the price of "one ticket" valid for two hours, you can have a great experience and knowledge of Brisbane. The "City Cat" runs every 15 minutes as a normal bus line and you can stop and go as you liked for the period of time of your ticket (2 hours).

BULIMBA: With easy river access, near-city proximity and a sprawling, central park. Oxford Street is still the key and revolves around the "Cinema Café " visit also "Artours Gallery" and the "Oxford 152" – a microbrewery and renovated pub.

CAXTON STREET: A "big event" street which is "standing room only" during major football matches held at nearby "Suncorp Stadium". Caxton Street hosts in May the annual "Seafood & Wine Festival," and the "Annual Australian Marbles Championships" in October.

INNER WEST: With "Milton", "Paddington" &"Rosalie" streets, Inner West first boomed in the 80’s and continues to be popular today. It includes the "Fourex (xxxx) Brewery", "Park Road " café", "Nash Street" and "La Trobe Terrace" a long-established restaurant & pub.

JAMES STREET: Once an industrial area dominated by Coca-Cola’s bottling factory, this street now hosts an up market dining-wining-shopping strip – the "James St. Markets" – an open plan collection of restaurants, fresh food and gourmet groceries. Visit "The Queens Arms" a popular, local pub.

NEW FARM: This near-city, river’s edge suburb includes the 14th "New Farm Park." Its section of "Brunswick Street" hosts a cluster of excellent restaurants. Visit the "New Farm Deli & Café" or the "Brisbane Powerhouse Centre for the Live Arts,", and the restaurant "Watt Modern Dinning", along with the "Jan Power’s Farmer’s Markets" (with more than 100 stalls selling everything from bags of oysters to smoked eel to homemade ginger beer and cheese).

WEST END: The suburb adjoining the "South Bank’s Cultural Precinct", West End is refreshingly free-spirited, welcoming and inclusive of indigenous and migrant communities – (particularly Greeks and Chinese). "Boundary Street" includes family-owned, generations-old stores and non-pretentious newcomers. Top modern restaurants sit aside budget ethnic eats. While in West End, buy steamed pork buns and cheap veggies.

WILSTON: Wilston is lauded for its restaurants and night-time village atmosphere. Its main street – "Kedron Brook Road" – bustles with al fresco dining: "The Conti Café" & "D’lish Fish & Chippery."

WELLINGTON-CLIVELAND: Traditional seaside village feel, with panoramic views over "Moreton Bay" & to the Bay islands. Al fresco cafés, restaurants & coffee shops are there, alongside shops featuring the works of local artisans. an historic lighthouse and the Queensland’s oldest "Banyan tree" and Queensland’s oldest licensed pub.

MORETON ISLAND: Just 35 kilometers from central Brisbane, Moreton island is a sand mass of 185 square kilmoeters (the world’s third largest sand island) and forms the northeastern gateway to Moreton Bay. With over 97% of the island classified as National Park, the island is much the same way as it was when James Cook sailed by on his way home from his voyage of discovery in 1770, naming it Cape Moreton.

The Island’s original inhabitants where the "NGUGI" tribe of Aboriginals, once described as the "happiest, healthiest and more sufficient race on the face of the earth." "Middens" (remains of native feasting places) found scattered around the island are one of the reminders remaining of the tribe's past existence which stretches back many hundred of years.

The best way to visit the island is by ferry, for a day tour or stay overnight in one of the hotels or motels at the "Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort." The later solution is the best, so you can have an opportunity to rent a 4-wheel drive vehicle and have the tour of the island by yourself (100 Km sand track the round trip). Rentals start at A$ 175.00 per day, with free unlimited kilometers, a maximum capacity of 4 people, plus costs (fuel, phone calls, etc.).

If you are not the adventurous type, you can always choose a "Personalized Moreton Island Tour."

– Prices start from: A$ 215.00 (for 1 or 2 people)



And if none of the above appeal to you, you can walk on the sand dunes all day long, or untill your ferry returns to Brisbane.

Well! After this long, but I hope useful, introduction – after all, it's not every day you visit Brisbane – let's go to the "Gourmet Corner".

My first "Gourmet Corner in Brisbane", took place in the Summer of 1980, with my first visit to the city.

Brisbane, at that time, was a very regional town, with only 3 or 4 hotels up to international standards, and with many restaurants of "junk food" or "big dinner plates" variety which catered to an army, not a "gourmet."

One evening (summer 1980), we decided to taste something different from the "junk food" or the "big dinner plates." We decided to try the "First Spanish Restaurant" in the city at that time, where to our amazement and surprise, the owner & cook, after a week of holiday in Spain, had decided to open the Spanish Restaurant.

Well! It was open! – But the food was far from being Spanish or even close to it – so after some consideration, my wife and I finished the cooking of our own Spanish meal in the restaurant's kitchen!

From this first experience I still have and use "two nice wine coolers" – a gift from the owner after this, our first introduction to the Gourmet Corner in Brisbane.

Today, thankfully, all has changed as you read earlier. Within the different "urban hotspots" of the city, you'll find top restaurants that cater to every taste and wallet.

Now, in Brisbane the choice is vast, but let me introduce two very nice and different restaurants of the gourmet type: (the two, of course, are fish restaurants!)

"GAMBARO SEAFOOD" & "BRETTS WHARF"

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"GAMBARO SEAFOOD"

The restaurant is an institution in the city. It's a big, big restaurant, with an oyster bar, located on Caxton Street, near to the "Suncorp Stadium." So of course, don’t make reservations on a match day.

Entrees: (From – 4.50 to 27.50 A$)

# Seafood Antipasto (☼) — Selection of Freshest Queensland Seafood
# Freshly Shucked Oysters (☼) — Your Choice of Sydney Rocks or Tasmanian
# Char grilled Herb & Peppered Blue Eye Tuna Steak (☼) — with white bean puree & sautéed oyster mushrooms
# Oven Roasted Moreton Bay Bug (☼) — with melanzane, roasted artichoke caponata, tomato vinaigrette
# Seared Scallops and Sun Dried Tomato Tapenade (☼) — with salad of stewed leeks & yellow capsicum
# Carpaccio of Tasmanian Salmon Fillet (☼) — with salsa verde, extra virgin olive oil, cabernet sauvignon essence
# Stack of Ocean King Prawns on Red Onion, Chive, Avocado salad — with homemade crabmeat & caviar remoulade

Main courses: (From – 16.50 to 59.50 A$)

# BBQ Moreton Bay Bugs (☼) — your choice of lemon, garlic butter or Cajun sauce
# BBQ Seafood Mix Grill (☼) — prawns, scallops, bugs, calamari & Cajun fish
# BBQ Reef and Beef (☼) — prawns, scallops, calamari and beef tournedos
# Gambaro’s Seafood Platter (☼) — fresh sand crab, mud crab, prawns, bugs and oysters
# Risotto of Tiger Prawns and Qld Scallops — with corn kibbles, spring onions & sun dried tomato slivers
# Grilled Fillets of Northern Territory farmed Barramundi (☼) — sautéed southern gold potatoes, white anchovy,& baby capers
# Fresh Fish of the Day (☼) — stir fried garlic broccolini, with tomato, virgin olive oil & basil
# Live Charlotte Bay Mud Crab (☼) — with seafood sauce – lemon – garlic butter – chili
# Live Tasmanian Rock Lobster (☼) — choice of broiled, grilled or boiled

And of course if you don’t like fish: don't come to the restaurant, or try the:

# Comfit of Redgate Farm Duck Maryland (☼) — with spiced roast pear & orange marmalade

Side Dishes: (From – 5.50 to 9.50 A$)

Great selection of Australian wines: (From – 27.90 to 680.00 A$)
— Riesling – Sauvignon Blanc – Chardonnay – Pinot Noir & Rosé
— Merlot – Cabernet Sauvignon – Shiraz – Penfolds -
— Plus a Selection of Italian Wines: (From – 26.50 to 90.00 A$)

GAMBARO SEAFOOD

# Sake and Wasabi Oyster Shots
— served with a glass of framingham, dry Riesling
# Moreton Bay Bug Salad, Beetroot Carpaccio, Yoghurt Cheese, Pine Nuts — served with a glass of rothbury estate, brokenback chardonnay
# Hand Sliced Oak Smoked Salmon, Baby Capers, Fresh Horseradish, Lemon Cream
— served with a glass of symphony hill, release 1, viognier
# Tempura Soft Shell Crab, Crustacean and Spinach Gnocchi, Sage Butter — served with a glass of skillogalee, gewürztraminer
# Atlantic Salmon, Anise Poached Scallop, Sauté Potatoes, Caramelized Onions
— served with a glass of de bortoli, yarra valley, pinot noir
# Irish Whiskey Sour Sorbet
# Valrhona Chocolate Soufflé, Organic Peanut Butter and Honey Ice Cream
— served with a glass of para liqueur port
# Coffee and Petit Fours

79.00A$ pp excluding wines,
– 129.00 A$ pp including wines

Oysters: (From – 18.90 to 21.90 A$)

# Sydney Rocks or Pacific’s, ½ doz, Irish Wheaten Bread
# Grilled Pacific’s, Warm Bacon & Worcestershire ½ doz
# Sake & Wasabi Shooters ½ doz

Vegetarian: (From – 18.50 to 27.90 A$)

# Fresh Linguini, "Alio-Olio", Baby Tomatoes, Olives,– sage pangritata
# Wild Mushroom Risotto, Truffled Mascarpone Reggiano
# Grilled Goats Cheese Fattoush Salad, Fennel Fritters

Entrees: (my favorite selection) (From – 17.50 to 33.90 A$)

Main coursess: (my recommendations) (From – 29.90 to 45.90 A$)

# Roasted Whole Barramundi, Cumin, Lemon, Mint, & Couscous
# Risotto of King Prawn, Jerusalem Artichoke & Wagyu Bresaola
# Seafood Marinara, Vine Ripened Tomatoes, Chili & Fresh Basil
# Hot Seafood Plate – ½ Shell Local Scallop, Grilled Fish, Blue Swimmer Crab Cakes, Moreton Bay Bug, Kataifi Wrapped Prawns, Calamari, – Spring Bay Mussels & Grilled Oysters

# Daily Specials: (from the day’s catch or market)
For example: Tuna Sashimi Plate, Sticky Rice, Salt Chili Prawn Skewers

Bretts Wharf has an extensive wine list (From – 29.00 to 50.00 A$)

I will recommend the choice of "wine of the month"
— For example: "Sandpiper 2004 Eden Valley – Pinot Gris —Thorn Valley"

Bretts Wharf is well known for its quality service & attention.

For example: The exchange of a "new napkin" with each dish.

Menu — Some menu items change daily as they respond to seasonal produce and availability at the markets, so please use this menu as an indication only.

Menus suitable for people under the age of 12 also available

— If you don’t like an interrupted meal, please ask your waiter or the Maitre D’ for it.

If you are coming by City Cat, the ferry stop is called "Brett's Wharf." The Restaurant is a short stroll along the board walk towards the Gateway bridge.

Quay West Suites Brisbane is ideally located in downtown Brisbane opposite the city's Botanical Gardens, and offers magnificent views (the best in town) of Kangaroo Point Cliffs, the Brisbane River, Parliament House, South Bank Parklands and the city skyline.

The hotel is within walking distance to the Eagle Street Pier (City Cat Ferry), Queens Street Mall, Post Office, City Hall, Anzac Square, Brisbane Square, etc…

Suites Price: From 216.00 to 416.00 A$ - Best Suites on the 16^th floor

Balconies with outdoor furniture – Deluxe mini bar – Alarm clock/radio – ISD/STD telephones – In-house movies – 2 x remote control television sets – Stereo radio/CD/cassette player – In-suite safe – Fax – Voicemail – Bathrobes, hairdryer, scales and toiletries – Individually controlled air conditioning – High speed internet access – Desk & chair – Tea & coffee making facilities

Before I forget, let me give you a last bit of advice. If you travel in this part of the world, the best Airline System is "Star Alliance" group of companies with United Airlines in US, plus the best choice of airlines in the Asia/Pacific rim.

Air New Zealand is one of them, and in conclusion of this Gourmet Corner.

Let me give all the thanks & congratulations for the "great service" to their staff at the Brisbane Airport, especially to the Duty Manager — Mrs. Sandy Harris, who in one hour’s time arranged for my wife and I, "one new bag" to continue our trip with four more weeks to go, after our bag arrived from Auckland completely broken.

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