Aug 29, 2009

Cooking Flair at the Farmers' Markets

Six of the Marina Mirage's centre's finest chefs cooked up and served a storm at the fortnightly Marina Mirage Farmers' Markets today.

Market regulars and anyone else luckily to be there had a chance to learn from the Marina Mirage-based chefs from 8am until midday with free cooking demonstrations, a one-off event which was a part of the Tastes of Gold Coast annual food and wine festival.

Chefs Richard Burt of Fellini, Sam `The Wok Man' Hue, Diva Tea and Coffee House's Steve Loving, Benjamin Machonacie of Saks Restaurant and Bar, John Omeros of Omeros Brothers and Karl Knack of Glass Dining and Lounge Bar were the stars of the show.

All of the food craftsmen used produce and gourmet food from the market stalls.

Aug 27, 2009

Community Recycle Phone Program


Raise $5.00 for WaterAid Australia or the Animal Welfare League! Don't Dump your old Phones!

 In the lead up to National Water Week, 18 – 24 October 2009, Gold Coast Water is asking you to participate in the Community Recycle Phone Program.The program is designed to encourage the Gold Coast community to dispose their unused mobile phones, BlackBerrys, Palm Pilots, iPods or PDAs responsibly by donating them at Gold Coast City Council drop-off points throughout the city.

This will help reduce the leakage of environmentally hazardous materials and raise $5.00 for WaterAid Australia or the Animal Welfare League.

Items below are recycled through the Australian Recycling Program, an Australian mobile phone recycling program that helps clean up the environment.
  • Mobile phones (batteries and accessories)
  • BlackBerrys
  • Palm Pilots
  • iPods
  • PDAs
Click here to see the list of drop off points located around the Gold Coast

Aug 24, 2009

What's the most weirdest street on the Gold Coast ?

Every suburb has one at least, bizarre architecture or eccentric residents that make it look a bit odd with too much character.

Or it could be a street that carries local legends and history surrounding it.

Perhaps it just has a really whacky street name !

Post your answer to: What's the most weirdest street on the Gold Coast ?

What is the Gold Coast's "Best Worst" Bar ?

What Bar on the Gold Coast feels like it has been misplaced to you, or just seems like the "Best Worst" Bar that no matter what or how seedy it gets it still attracts attention and everybody ends up there.

Post your answer to: What is the Cold Coast's "Best Worst" Bar ?

Who serves the best Breakfast on the Gold Coast

Who serves the best all day breakfast on the Gold Coast ?

Where do you like to go for brekkie, It may not be the food it could be the location that you love.

So where do you go, what's your favourite place for Breakfast ?

Post your answer to: Who serves the best Breakfast on the Gold Coast?

Aug 21, 2009

Farmers Markets on the Gold Coast

Banora Point
First and third Sunday of each month
Club Banora Leisure Drive
Open 7am to 11am Phone: 0417 759 777


Beaudesert General Market
First Saturday of each month
Dick Westerman Park
Enterprise Drive
Open 7am to 12 noon Phone: (07) 5544 8200


Beechmont
Third Sunday of each month
Old Beechmont School site
Corner Beechmont and Binna Burra Roads
Open 8am to 12noon Phone: (07) 5533 3057


Beenleigh
Every Sunday Showgrounds
Corner James and Milne Street
Open 6am to 12 noon Phone: (07) 3807 1871


Bundall
Every Sunday
Gold Coast Turf Club
Racecourse Drive
Open 6am to 11am Phone: 0407 325

Carrara Markets
Every Friday
Carrara Markets
Cnr Gooding Dve & Manchester Road
Open 7am to 1pm Phone: (07) 5579 9388

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Every Saturday
Tomewin Street
Open 6am to 11am Phone: 0417 759 777


Marina Mirage
First, third and fifth Saturday of the month
Marina Mirage
74 Seaworld Drive,
Main Beach
Open 7am to 12 noon Phone: (07) 3103 2325


Miami
Every Sunday
Miami State High School
2137-2036 Gold Coast Highway
Open 6am to 11.30am Phone: 1300 668 603 (Australia only)


Mudgeeraba
Second and fourth Saturday of each month
Mudgeeraba Showgrounds
Corner of Mudgeeraba and Worongary Roads
Open 6am to 11am Phone: (07) 5525 3525


Nerang
Every Sunday
Lavelle Street
Open 6.30am to 11am Phone: 0417 728 844

Palm Beach Currumbin Farmers Market
Every Saturday,
6am to 11am Palm Beach Currumbin State High School
Thrower Drive Open 7am to 12.30pm Phone: 0407 325 330


Tamborine Mountain
Every Sunday
Local Producers' Markets
Tamborine Mountain Showgrounds
Main Western Road
Open 8am to 12 noon Phone: (07) 5545 2617

17 Days of Delicious

Prepare your tastebuds all you food and wine enthusiasts on the Coast here comes 17 days of tantalising and the fun starts today at the launch of the Tastes of the Gold Coast festival.

The annual festival officially kicks off with the mouth-watering Magnifique Premiere event at the Sofitel in Broadbeach.

You'll get to see all the wining and dining the Coast has to offer, with more than 30 events scheduled over the next two weeks.

Today's Sofitel premiere has been designed to show one of the city's more luxurious dining experiences.

Room 81's head chef Paul Smart and restaurant manager Martina Minkner are the brains behind the drinks and dishes and will use an array of local produce.
The event begins at 7pm.

Sunday's Broadwater Street Festival might be more to your liking, It is expected to attract more than 1,000 people to Labrador's Marine Parade in one of the largest events of the festival.

The Tastes of the Gold Coast winds up on September 6.

Aug 5, 2009

Broadbeach Blends of Jazz

You will be dancing in streets !

Blends of Jazz is just around the corner you won't want to miss it kicking off on Thursday 20th August 9.30pm with JAMES MORRISON at Conrad Jupiters Atrium.

Saturday 22nd August will be a huge day for all you Jazz fans click here for a full list of Artists and the program for live Jazz throughout the Broadbeach precinct over four massive days!

Aug 4, 2009

Stella announces a major restructure

The tourism and travel group, now owned by private equity player CVC Asia Pacific, has been split in two and its debts comfortably refinanced on long-term agreements.

The hotel brands BreakFree, Mantra and Pepper have been separated from the travel operations, which include Harvey World Travel and Travelscene.

The hotel business is now headquartered on the Gold Coast, where Stella has a staff of 250 and its hotel chains have 3500 employees.

Current Stella Hospitality Group boss Bob East will remain in the chief executive's role, in a move he said paved the way for the Gold Coast to rebuild its shattered corporate image.

Mr East said the plan was to boost Stella's existing portfolio of 140 properties and create a major force in the hotel accommodation industry.

Mr East, who has been with Stella for the past three years, said there were 'many benefits' operating a tourism business on the Gold Coast, where almost a third of the company's properties were located.

"It's not because I like the beach," he said. "It is a different environment to Sydney. It is innovative and quite dynamic.

"It's the best place to run a tourism business."

Councils come and go, the sooner the better

On his sugarcane farm in Woongoolba, Barry Kriedemann believes he has the perfect spot for a Gold Coast motor racing track but the council is getting in the way.

The nearest neighbour is a kilometre away and locals are already used to the noise of rumbling cane trucks and kids whizzing around on trail bikes.

The State Government's own South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031 permits sport and recreation such as motor racing in the area but Gold Coast City Council's planning scheme does not and has limited his property to agriculture.

Therein lies the problem for Mr Kriedemann and any interested motor racing clubs.

A council spokeswoman said the council's zoning took precedence over State Government classification.

Our Council is full of bureaucrats who take home huge salaries, this is a very sensible plan and it should be allowed, unfortunately our Council think they know better.