Vapiano - Garden City | Kessels Road, Upper Mount Gravatt QLD 4122

Attention all foodies - new and exotic cocktails are about to make their way onto Vapiano's menu.

Fortunately, I was one of the lucky few to try it before anyone else (Yes I'm such a show off :P). Last Monday, I was invited to check out the newest Vapiano in Garden City.

It's got such a fun, vibrant ambience and feels a lot brighter (and newer) than the City Store.

We started off with a large Antipasti platter which came with a selection of cured meats, Parmesan, buffalo mozzarella, mixed olives, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto basilica, and bruschetta. The highlight was definitely the buffalo mozzarella, with its smooth, creamy taste and semi-elastic texture.

Up next were the cocktails. Our hosts (and owners), Will and Greg, explained that these cocktails were actually made by Vapiano's very own chefs so it's impossible to get them anywhere else.

The cocktails were certainly unique and exotic - ranging from a creamy Snowball with Malibu, baileys, and desiccated coconut; a refreshing fruity Orange Ginger Punch with orange liquor, orange juice, ginger beer and a sugar coated rim; a chocolatey Winter in Capri with strawberry syrup, chocolate syrup, vodka, and cherries which made it taste like a rich black forest cake; and an Indian inspired Indiantini, with lime, ginger, gin, sprite, and a curry leaf - a bizarre yet delightful combination.

From Left to Right: Snowball, Orange Ginger Punch, Winter in Capri, Indiantini

The pastas were equally enjoyable - fresh, and perfectly al dente with a rich, flavourful sauce. Will and Greg explained to us that the pastas are always fresh because they throw it away after a day.

The Cabonara was one of the best I've tried - with Aussie bacon, onions, egg, parmesan, and a rich, creamy sauce that clings well onto the spaghetti, no wonder it's a traditional favourite! I also really liked the homemade tomato sauce in the Bolognese (Italian-style beef, pork, onions, carrots, cherry tomatoes) and Gamberi (Prawns, tomatoes, spring onion) - packed with rich tomato flavours, I could certainly tell it was not the fake package stuff you find in most super markets. To top it off, the accompanying cherry tomatoes were really fresh and sweet - in fact, the juices pretty much exploded in your mouth with each bite.

Crema Di Funghi, Bolognese, Carbonara, Gamberi

Unfortunately, I was too full to try the Pizza but my companion told me it was amazing and the base was freshly made.

We ended our wonderful evening with a few (well to be more specific FIVE) decadent desserts. Shows you that desserts really do go into a second stomach seeing as I could still fit them in :P.

First came the Double Choc Peanut Butter Pie - a rich peanut butter cheese cake with crunchy biscuits and nuts as the base.

Next came the Brazilian inspired Chocolate Pave - it was really creamy, smooth yet chocolatey but somehow had rich vanilla flavours. The best part was the milk soaked biscuit centre. How a dessert can have so many different yet delicious flavours and textures really amazes me! I especially liked the single mint leaf as it was very refreshing and goes very well with the other flavours. 

After that, we had the Toblerone Mousse which had rich toblerone flavours and chunky toblerone pieces. I'm not a big fan of cream so I didn't think too much of the cream layer on the top but I'm sure there are others who like the creaminess.

And in case we didn't like the new options (who wouldn't :S?), we were served Vapiano's favourites - the Nutella Cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries and crushed hazelnuts and White Chocolate Cheesecake with salted caramel and honeycomb.

Double Choc Peanut Butter Pie, Chocolate Pave, Toblerone Mousse, the Favourites

What I especially like about Vapiano is that their herbs are always fresh - check out this cool Rosemary plant we got:

Verdict
Sadly, only one of the cocktails and desserts we've tried will make it on Vapiano's new menu, but no matter which one it is, it will certainly be a great addition to the new winter menu. Not long to wait now - the new options will be available in all stores on 1 June 2015. The countdown begins...

Disclaimer: The Food Extinguisher was an invited guest of Vapiano, however this review is honest and unbiased.

Julius Pizzeria - 77 Grey Street (Corner Fish Lane), South Brisbane QLD 4101

Julius Pizzeria - Italian Utopia.

Specialising in authentic Italian Cuisine, Julius Pizzeria offers delicious wood-fired pizzas and Italian dishes in a chic, semi-industrial fit-out with archaic brick archways.


Proof that the pizzas are wood-fired.

 
There's also a few entrees, sides, and desserts to choose from:
 

2015 Autumn Menu

 
We started off with the Polenta Fritta ($16.50), which was perfectly fried with grilled zucchini, chilli and oregano. It's fairly decent but I found it a little too cheesy, and when paired with the buffalo mozzarella the cheesy flavours completely overpowered the dish. I would have preferred it to have a creamier texture, but I'm sure lots of cheese lovers out there would enjoy the double cheesiness.

Polenta Fritta ($16.50)

Famous for its pizzas, there's no way we can leave Julius without trying a pizza! So we ordered the Gamberi Piccanti ($24), with mozzarella, prawns, cherry tomatoes, garlic, chilli, herbs, olive oil and lots and lots of rocket leaves. Wood-fired prawns with a hint of spice on a freshly baked base was absolutely delightful!


Gamberi Piccanti ($24)


Verdict
Drop by Julius Pizzeria for an authentic wood-fired pizza. Unfortunately, the starters seemed a little small.

The service was also disappointing. There's way too many customers so the waiters weren't very attentive. Not to mention that we felt quite pressured to leave right after our meal as the waiter threw down our bill after he cleared our table.



Verve - 109 Edward Street, Brisbane QLD 4001

Swerve into Verve for delicious serves of Risotto.

Hidden in a uber dark and dingy basement, it is surprising that a bar like this would serve Italian meals, such as Pastas, risottos and pizzas. The menu can be found here: http://vervecafe.com/wp-content/uploads/Menu.pdf

The Sand Crab & Snapper Risotto ($22.90) was deliciously cooked in a rich zesty creamy sauce with diced roma tomato, thyme and parmesan. With generous serves of crab and snapper, it was certainly deliciously memorable.

Sand Crab & Snapper Risotto ($22.90)

The Pescatore Linguini ($22.90) with scallops, prawns, roasted bell pepper, olive and fresh basil was significantly less enjoyable. There was too much olive oil which overpowered the flavours of the seafood, yet the linguini still felt sauce-less and dry. But keep in mind that I really dislike olives so that is probably why I didn't like it much.  Scallops were abundant but they were teenier than 5c pieces.

Pescatore Linguini ($22.90)

Verve also offers a limited selection of desserts:

Nothing beats a Warm Chocolate Brownie with Peanut Butter Ice-Cream ($8) so that is what we ordered. The separate elements, when eaten on their own, tasted delicious - the brownie was fairly chocolatey and I liked the subtle flavours of the peanut butter ice-cream. However, the tart raspberry sauce clashed badly with the peanut butter ice-cream and the combination of flavours was super weird. Let's just say the Epic Brownie from Jamie's Italian was a lot more satisfying.

Warm Chocolate Brownie with Peanut Butter Ice-Cream ($8)

Verdict
While it's not the best Italian food available in Brisbane, it's definitely worth a try. I like the dim ambience - it's friendly, casual and not pretentious. It's always super popular so make sure you book before you swerve by.

Vapiano - 191 Albert Street, Brisbane QLD 4000

Vapiano - one of the world's most popular Italian restaurant chain. It all began when a couple of German dudes (Yes, Germans and not Italians :S) decided to open an Italian pasta store in Hamburg in 2002. The humble little pasta café has now transformed into one of the world's most popular chain, with more than 150 restaurants in 26 countries.

So what makes it so popular? Using only the freshest ingredients sourced locally, their pastas and pizzas are really quite decent. What's more, you can definitely tell their herbs are fresh. How? Well they grow their own olive tree and you can just pluck your basil or rosemary from the pot plants on every single table.

The casual and rustic ambience reflects the concept of Vapiano (which translates to Those who have an easy-going and relaxed approach to life, live more healthily and longer).

 

Fresh fresh Herbs!!

All their pizzas, pastas and salad dressing are made fresh every single day.

 

Entrees, pizzas, and pasta galore

 

In fact, they are made right in front of you, right after you order. The only downside is that you have to stand there until they finish making your pasta. With pizzas, it's slightly better because you get given a pager.  

Making the pizza base and doing a few tricks :)

 

I got the Ratatouille ($16.90). Fresh Mediterranean vegetables in a delicious homemade tomato sauce, stir fried with a pasta of your choice. Sweet and tangy and tomato rich, the sauce was very enjoyable but it was tainted by the undercooked pasta. With so many customers, I guess it's difficult to guarantee that your pasta is cooked perfectly each time. I also wish there were more vegetables :(.

 

At least it came with complimentary bread. Nothing special though.

 

Ratatouille ($16.90)

 

We also got a Prosciutto E Funghi pizza ($19.90) to share. Smoked Aussie ham, fresh mushrooms with a special homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella on a freshly made base is certainly a good combination. My only complaint is that the mushrooms and ham were thin as a sheet of paper and very sparse :(. The flavours were still great though.

 

Prosciutto E Funghi Pizza ($19.90)



Verdict

Flavours are great, but seriously needs more toppings.

 

FREE BIRTHDAY TWEET: Free Pizza or Pasta on your birthday!

 

 

Pasta al Dente - 165 Melbourne Street South Brisbane QLD 4101

 Italy's best kept secret - conveniently located in Westend.

With its plain looking chairs and tables, this Italian gem resembles a takeaway shop. Don't be deceived by its humble appearance though, as the standard of the pasta is comparable to, or in my opinion, better than many of the culinary Italian restaurants in Brisbane.

Only a limited selection is available, but the menu changes daily. For only $12, you get a large plate of delicious pasta, and you can even mix and match.

The pasta is made fresh every single morning, and as the name of the cafe suggests, cooked perfectly al dente. My favourite is the Ham and Mushroom Fettucine ($12). Doused in rich creamy sauce, along with generous servings of ham, thickly sliced mushrooms, and parmesan cheese, the Ham and Mushroom Fettucine was simply divine.

Their meat lasagne, however, is the best lasagne I've ever had. Tomato rich lean beef mince and carrots on layers of freshly made lasagne sheets is such a perfect combination!

The tiramisu ($5) was equally irresistable. Topped with delicious milk chocolate, the light and creamy mascarpone goodness mixed with just the right amount of perfectly dipped Kahlua sponge fingers leaves you craving for more. However, the tiramisu lacked the great contrast in textures that desserts generally have - it would have had an additional dimension if dark chocolate shavings or coffee powder had been sprinkled on the top instead.

  

Verdict:
Great Value for such a superb lunch.

 

ROUND II: Jamie's Italian - 237 Edward Street Brisbane QLD 4000

ROUND 2: EAT!

I came back to Jamie's a lot sooner than I thought I would. Exactly 6 days after my first experience, my fellow Food Extinguisher Expresso & Matcha convinced me to give it a second chance, but again, the mains failed to impress.

Since pasta is a staple Italian dish, I ordered the Black Angel Sphagetti ($25). Again, the sauce was amazing - it was nicely infused with wine while the chilli and capers gave it an extra kick. However, the spaghetti clumped together, which led to it being quite hard and undercooked.

Suprisingly enough, the Osso Buco Style Lamb ($29.5) was juicy and tender, and the meat fell right off the bone. Enriched with tomatoes, wine, and herbs, the lamb was really quite enjoyable.

On to dessert. With so many choices, it was difficult to decide...

We ended up choosing the Tiramisu ($11), and yes, the desserts EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS AGAIN. Light and creamy, the layers of orange mascarpone and coffee-flavoured trifle leaves you with an addictively indulgent orange-coffee aftertaste, making your palette yearn for even more. The shaved orange zest and the perfectly even coat of expresso creates a whole new dimension, allowing you to experience many different flavours in the same dish.

Verdict:
Well, it looks like I will be making another trip to Jamies again - but only for desserts. Overall, we had a fairly decent meal but it lacked the 'wow factor' expected from a celebrity chef restaurant.

The waiters were generally attentive, but failed to mention that credit cards incur a surcharge and should have as a common courtesy.

//You can read about my first encounter with Jamie's here.