Brisbane’s Budget Bites – book review

I am just going to unashamedly say that I love this book. Even more than I loved the first and second editions – if that is possible!

Brisbane’s Budget Bites 2011 makes it possible to eat out regularly on a tight budget, while exploring the culinary delights of multi-cultural cuisine. And as someone who loves food, loves eating out and loves trying new places, this book is perfect for me. All eateries in the book are budget (as the name suggests) with meals below $20.

The book first came to be when editor Mei Yen Chua moved to Brisbane six years ago and was horrified that there was no guide to budget eating places in Brisbane. So she decided to write her own. And thank goodness she did! It is easily the most used food resource in our home (yes, even more than Stephanie Alexander’s ABC of Cooking!), and we’ve never had a dud experience from any of the recommended restaurants.

A few of my favourites are:

• Cantina at West End for breakfast
• Brother Espresso for coffee – conveniently over the road from a client’s office!
• No No’s Lebanese Cuisine at Red Hill – the BEST babaganoush I think I have ever eaten
• Curryville Indian at Morningside – close enough for us to roll home down the hill
• all the Vietnamese places I’ve tried at Inala (I forget the names of them all).

Mei Yen Chua at the launch of Brisbane’s Budget Bites 2011

The book is divided into geographic locations with a handy map at the front to help you work out where your suburb is (apparently I can be a bit geographically challenged…). This year it also includes budget bites on the Gold Coast. The index divides restaurants into cuisines, making it handy when you have a craving for Vietnamese or Indian, or if you are wondering where to go in Brisbane to try food from Sudan, Peru, Persia or Brazil. And if you love Chinese food, then you definitely need this book – the 2011 edition includes 28 Chinese eateries. Yum!

This year’s edition of the book is bigger than ever – 95 new eateries, 16 coffee spots, 16 providores and 13 bakeries were added.

The new bakery section is going to be a much referred to section – researched and written by Julia Tuomainen, who writes the stunning baking blog Melanger (read it and drool!), it includes a few of my favourites (Leavain at Morningside – the BEST bread in Brisbane; and Jocelyn’s Provisions at New Farm – the source of my baking inspiration for many years); and others that I’m going to have to try. All in the name of research of course.

Brisbane’s Budget Bites 2011 is available for the budget price of $19.95 from www.brisbanebudgetbites.com.au and many bookstores in Brisbane including Avid Reader (West End) and Riverbend (Bulimba).

My advice – buy a copy today for a year of delicious eating! The biggest decision will be where to try first! I think I’ll go to Mama Ferraris. No, I’ll try Grub St Eatery. Or will I go to Char Char Yiros? Decisions, decisions…

What is your favourite restaurant or cafe to eat at on a budget?