Gerards Bistro - 2014
A weekend away in the beautiful city of Brisbane could only mean one thing - EAT EAT EAT. Lol, in moderation…..right?!! Phhht……whatever!
Feeling like quite the foreigner, being my first Brisbane visit, I was recommended Gerard’s Bistro from some local foodies.
Feeling somewhat seedy famished, I felt rather sophisticated wearing my uber cool JayJays tank and slim fit jeans, to what’s essentially a VERY classy restaurant.
Sitting in the lovely outdoor dining area for some much needed fresh air, the restaurant had a tranquil atmosphere on this gorgeous Saturday morning. Ewwwww…not a fan of the exposed brick exterior though!
Staff aplenty, our waiter was very efficient with taking our drink orders. Unfortunately, I have a feeling mine got lost along the way, but oh well…..it came eventually, and I was rather content sitting in the lifesaving cool breeze.
I had the beetroot, apple, carrot & celery juice. Quite possibly the PERFECT beverage on a humid Queensland morning - cool, invigorating and great for your health.
The Moroccan/Middle Eastern influenced menu was truly inspiring. With eggs being a prominent feature on many of the options, choosing became exceedingly difficult #firstworldproblem.
I went with the Shakshouka- baked eggs in tomato and roast pepper, merguez, blackened onion and hung yoghurt.
My oh my, what an awe-inspiring dish. Perfectly baked eggs combining flawlessly with the deep-fried onions and the sweetness of the yoghurt. Enormous serving size, and unless you have a Homer Simpson appetite, most would struggle to finish. Still, highly recommended if you’re after a mouth-watering challenge!
Dannielle’s poached eggs in garlic yoghurt, smoked paprika, walnut crumbs and Aleppo pepper with sourdough soldiers looked sensational, almost bircher muesli like.
Again, another hearty serve, but it certainly granted satisfaction to its owner! Michelle loved the sweetness of the garlic yoghurt combined with the walnut crumbs, the eggs looked pretty perfect too.
Sam’s ordered the sardines on toast, vine leaves, smoked lardo, confit tomato and preserved lime.
I’m not going to lie, not the most visually compelling dish, but Sam’s a man that knows good food, and unfortunately, this dish didn’t quite live up to his expectations. It wasn’t a terrible dish by any means, but he felt it left a lot to be desired.
If you’re a Brissy local reading this and HAVENT visited Gerard’s for breakfast……book now. It’s much more than your average cafe, it’s the big league baby. Think delicious elegance with phenomenal attention to detail. Featuring a relaxed brunching atmosphere and an intoxicating menu, Gerard’s Bistro has a lot going for it. I’ll be back!
The dinner menu’s in my sights next time I’m in Brisbane!
Until next time, happy noms :)
