Pumpkin scones, made famous by Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s wife Flo, were once synonymous with Queensland country baking. Now, they are undergoing a resurgence at the hands of Ida’s Kitchen Head Pastry Chef Elsa Holland, inspired by pumpkin pie on a recent trip to the United States. When you visit Ida’s Kitchen, the bright new café on...

Plastic-free July may have started as a small grassroots movement in Western Australia in 2011, however it has gained momentum to become a global phenomenon. This year, millions of people around the world will pledge to be more aware of their plastic use and to ‘choose to refuse’. There are billions of reasons why reducing...

Sunday, 7 July, is World Chocolate Day, celebrating the introduction of cocoa to Europe by Spanish Explorer Don Hernan Cortes in 1550. Traced back to the ancient Mayans, for most of its history chocolate was drunk as a bitter beverage. The Aztecs revered chocolate as ‘food from the gods’, a view which many people share...

It makes good sense to eat local. Journalist and sustainable agriculture guru Michael Pollan’s advice is to: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants…Mostly what’s in season and grown not too far away.” While there’s no strict definition of ‘local’, we often talk about the ‘100 mile’ table which, for the Gold Coast, extends our...

Southport has a long history, evidenced by the historical buildings on the Southport Heritage Walk. Beside the Town Hall and former Ambulance Station in Nerang Street, the former Post Office building, rejuvenated by Ben Howe and partners, is shared between Study Gold Coast and Mr PP’s Deli & Rooftop. The venue is named after Mr...

There are few suburbs on the Gold Coast specifically built to encourage a sense of community well-being, however Emerald Lakes is one of them. Oozing the charm of a modern European-inspired village, its centre is surrounded by a village, an 18-hole golf course and clubhouse, along with 13 kilometres of walking and bike tracks around...

Bambino Ristorante 117 Ashmore Rd., Benowa Ph: 07 5539 3877 The Italian fare that the Gold Coast has come to know and love at De Vito Waterfront comes to life again at a different venue, Bambino, with Tarscha fostering the talent of young performers. For pizza, pasta and authentic Italian fare with a side of...

Tucked away in a side street off the Lower Burleigh Highway, there’s plenty to recommend The Little Plate, with the co-owners Gaynor and Olivia both being innovative world-travelled chefs. While at first glance some menu items sound familiar, the little plate presents ‘old’ dishes in a new way. Dishes familiar to you by name are...

Do you suffer from ‘pantryatitis’, the condition where your pantry becomes blocked with unused leftovers? Your vintage spice collection is housed in pretty jars, the besan flour you needed for that exotic recipe you just had to try out still sits there… Throw out the nasties, because there’s a better pantry experience in sight. Welcome...

Owned and operated by Chef Paul Ramunno and his wife Jo-Anne, Arlo’s Pizzeria is named after their first son. Although it’s street-side dining, given the quality of their food it’s hardly surprising that Arlo’s won the AGFG Readers’ Choice 2019 award for Best Pizza on the Gold Coast! Paul’s Italian background and his 17 years...