Celebrity Chef and television personality.
Celebrity Chef and television personality.
Celebrity chef Alastair McLeod needs no introduction. He’s been gracing our screens for years on Ready, Steady Cook, Queensland Weekender and his own food show, Off the Eaten Track. His unmistakable Irish brogue regularly lights up our airways on ABC and 4BC radio. With an unbridled enthusiasm for food, Alastair has worked in top restaurants around the world and he now runs a Brisbane catering company, Al’FreshCo. Alastair came to the Gold Coast this week to host a lunch at the latest RSL Art Union Prize Home, so we took the opportunity to get to know him a little better.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Despite my accent, I am very Australian. My grandfather was born in the Torres Strait Islands, and my mother was born in Cairns. I’ve lived in Australia for 26 years, always in Queensland and I love it.
Before coming here, I did the usual culinary odyssey, working in France and Italy. It helped form the cook that I am today. When I arrived in Australia, I had to re-tool myself and learn how to work with native ingredients and produce like barramundi and coral trout. I wanted to inform and educate myself about the produce from where I was living, so people would be able to look at a menu and know where they are and what season it is. I just want the food to taste amazing. Food is a conduit to give as much joy, chatter, and animation so the people you invited go away and share that.
What’s been your journey to becoming a chef?
After learning in the kitchens across France and Italy, I started at a restaurant called Baguette, and was one of the head chefs. The owners were really in the business of hospitality, which extended from the front door right through to the back. It was a very established restaurant, and I cut my teeth there. I then worked at Bretts Wharf for about 12 years, and opened another restaurant, Tank Restaurant and Bar where we were awarded a chefs hat. I set up my catering business, Al’Fresh Co, 10 years ago. It started with a market stall and we were cooking dishes that were the quintessence of a seasonal market. Our food was a love letter to that market.
Why did you choose to move to Queensland?
I moved to Queensland for family, as this was where my mother was from. It was important to me to have a sense of family and home. What kept me in Queensland was seeing the opportunity to ply my trade, the climate, the proximity to other major cities. There’s a lovely connectivity to the rest of Australia.
What are your thoughts on Queensland produce?
Queensland produce is without equal. The Lockyer Valley is a powerhouse of produce. Dutch cream potatoes from the region form the most magnificent mash – just apply enough butter and cream to pull it together. There are some gorgeous young people that are farming for passion rather than dollar signs, and produce the most beautiful heritage vegetables: heirloom carrots in orange, purple, white; beetroot that are all different shapes and sizes. A lot of the produce that supplies our kitchen is just pulled from the earth. Out of Mooloolaba you have access to Moreton Bay bugs and prawns, and spanner crab from Fraser Island comes from one of the only sustainable fisheries. If you go up north, you’ll get reef fish like red emperor and coral perch – the fish that defines the finest restaurants of the land. The tropical fruits from Far North Queensland are wonderful.
You are catering a special lunch at the latest RSL Art Union Prize home, how did you get involved with the RSL Art Union?
I have a family connection to the Australian Defence Force. My uncle, my mother’s brother, was in the armed services. He served in Vietnam, Sinai, the Middle East. He’s long gone, but it was important to him to share that sense of duty and responsibility. Partnering with RSL Art Union was a way that I could honour that memory.
What are your thoughts on the Gold Coast’s dining scene?
You could be on the beach and catching a wave, then slipping on a white linen shirt and snacking on Moreton Bay bugs at Rick Shores, one of the hardest restaurants to get in to. There’s a lovely contrast, from getting fresh prawns off the spit to some incredible dining experiences like Restaurant Labart, but you’ll take in the exact same multimillion dollar view.
What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café/coffee spot: Commune or Paddock Bakery
Restaurant: If you can’t get into Restaurant Labart, you can go to Paloma Wine Bar around the corner – if you have the steak frites, it’s as good as eating at Labart.
Bar or place for a drink: Corella
Beach: My wife would say Burleigh Beach, she likes the waves. Mine is Tallebudgera Creek. There’s a kiosk there, Neptune Kiosk, that was started by the same team as Bam Bam Bakehouse.
How do you choose to spend your days off?
My wife and I have a five-year-old and hundreds of animals. We spend a lot of time with our animals in our semi-rural area northwest of Brisbane. It’s where we source some of our produce from. It feels like home and we live in a lovely community, enjoy spending time here connecting with locals.
The current RSL Art Union prize is a $6.6 million stunning five-level apartment complex by the beach in Tugun. Grab your tickets here.
Many would have considered this unassuming suburb as just somewhere you zipped through on your way to the airport a few years ago, but oh my, how things have changed. Now, overflowing with the kind of beachside village vibes that are highly sought after these days — and a decent collection of cafes, eateries and other reasons to part with your hard-earned cash — Tugun has well and truly come into its own. And we think you deserve to be in on this action.
So, whether you live near or far, we encourage you to give this locale some devoted time. To assist you in doing this, our gathering of reasons locals love Tugun should be more than enough incentive to make your way to this quiet and much-loved corner of our Coast.
Craft House Restaurant & Bar
Beer is the star attraction at the Craft House — the reason being there are a whopping 20 on tap. You’ll find a kaleidoscope of beer variety at your fingertips, with some exciting and not so often found guest ales displaying interesting flavours and sizeable ABVs! The relaxed pub atmosphere is the perfect spot to while away an evening with live music and great share style plates.
Where: 445 Golden Four Drive, Tugun
Niche & Co
If you’re a fan of acai bowls in any shape or form, then we implore you to take a visit to this oh-so-cute hole-in-the-wall-style café. We don’t mind saying it — these guys dish up some of the best bowls on the Coast. Period. Not just this, the precious little space boasts healthy and delicious meals, cold press coffee, raw and vegan treats. Get in there for good vibes and Insta-opportunities stat.
Where: Shop 4/449 Golden Four Drive, Tugun
Good Day Coffee
It’s always a good day when you’ve got a Good Day Coffee in your hand! Starting out as the prime pit-stop-grab-coffee and go kind of spot, locals now flock habitually here to caffeinate themselves for a big day ahead. You can expect all of the lip-licking goods — particularly their toasted-to-perfection toasties and one-of-a-kind Bacon & Egg Smashes — if you know, you know.
Where: 2/476 Gold Coast Highway, Tugun
Found Furniture
If vintage furniture and funky interiors are your things (and we know they are), look no further than Found. They specialise in imported Danish and mid-century furniture as well as one-off collectables and some contemporary homewares thrown in for good measure. We say pop in if you’re in the market for a piece that’s certain to make you the envy of all your friends.
Where: Shop 2, 471 Golden Four Drive, Tugun
House of Hubert
Sustainable, seasonable and farm to fork are words that usually describe a restaurant that produces culinary gold — and House of Hubert is no exception. Chefs take only the best local produce to create nourishing, tasty eats that are an absolute must-try. When it comes to coffee, they consistently pour the goods —always served with a smile. And as for the space, it kind of feels like home (but with better food).
Where: 5 Toolona Street, Tugun
The Welcome to the Gold Coast mural
Mural art is finding itself a steadily growing home here on the Gold Coast. Iconic pieces are helping nurture an identity beyond theme parks and beaches — and we’re all here for it. Renowned creative and mural artist Kiel Tillman is behind this wonderous heaven-sent artwork on the side of Tugun Supermarket. His skills have created a bold and iconic piece: greeting tourists arriving from the airport and something the locals are proud of.
Where: Tugun Fruit Market, Gold Coast Highway, Tugun
Made Barber & Barista
Finding a great cup of joe beyond noon can sometimes be an impossible feat. Well, no more. Find yourself in Tugun and Made Barber & Barista is the place to pop into up until 3pm on weekdays for a guaranteed stellar cup of jitter juice and a chance to catch your breath. Being a barbershop set up as well, if you’re a guy out there who feels like their hair needs some love, then you’ve found the best place to receive it. Let the talented Britt do her magic on your locks — you won’t look back!
Where: 2B/417 Golden Four Drive, Tugun
Tugun Fruit & Flowers
If you’re yet to experience the sensory extravaganza that is Tugun Fruit & Flowers, you might want to rectify that quick smart my friend. The space has been making Tugun smell pretty since 1975 by offering the very best in beautiful flower arrangements along with a plethora of fresh juices, acai bowls, and other gift-style goods you will simply want to get your hands on.
Where: 4/467 Golden Four Drive, Tugun
Sticky Rice
First things first — when you decide to visit this den of divine food, we suggest you book a table. It’s so popular should you walk in and expect a table, you are likely going to be sorely disappointed. The Thai menu offers all the classics but with an ever-so-slight Australian twist, meaning all the authentic, fresh fragrant flavours are there along with local ingredients and plentiful servings. One aspect you shouldn’t overlook at this venue is their capacity to make first-rate cocktails. A Thai restaurant that makes terrific cocktails?! Yes, we know — must try!
Where: Shop 7, 443 Golden Four Drive, Tugun
Words by Alex Mitcheson.
Karla Munoz Labart is one half of the superstar couple (the other half being chef extraordinaire Alex Labart) behind Burleigh’s beloved Labart and Australia’s Wine Bar of the Year, Paloma Wine Bar. We sat down with Karla to chat about the hospitality scene on the Gold Coast, get the insider tips on what to order at Paloma and she dropped a hint about their upcoming plans.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up on the Gold Coast and moved to Sydney for uni when I finished high school. I studied Media + Communications at UTS and worked in Public Relations in the entertainment industry before moving into PR for restaurants and bars. I met my husband Alex in Sydney when he was Head Chef at a restaurant I was managing the PR for. I didn’t think I’d ever move back to the Gold Coast but Alex was keen for a quieter lifestyle somewhere close to the beach, so the Gold Coast made sense. We moved to Burleigh in 2018 and opened Restaurant Labart. In late 2021 we opened Paloma Wine Bar just down the road on James Street.
What do you love about the Gold Coast?
The laidback lifestyle and community feel of Burleigh makes it a pretty special part of the world. We have a one year old daughter and it really is the greatest place to watch her learn and explore. We’re lucky to live so close to the beach and to have restaurants, bars and cafes all within walking distance from our house.
Your wine bar, Paloma, recently won Australia’s ‘Wine Bar of the Year’ Award. Congratulations! Tell us a little bit about Paloma.
Paloma is a relaxed neighbourhood wine bar in the heart of Burleigh Heads. We wanted to create a place that locals and visitors could pop into for a quick snack and drink. Nothing too serious, just somewhere to kick back and have a good time. We don’t have a beach view like some of our friends down the road so the atmosphere comes from what’s happening inside.
Why did you think the Gold Coast needed a wine bar like Paloma?
There aren’t many wine bars on the Gold Coast. We wanted to open the kind of place that we like to eat and drink at on our days off, so when this site came up in the heart of James Street we knew we had to take it.
What would you recommend we order at Paloma?
I recommend working your way through the wines by the glass so that you can try different varietals that you might not have had before. The menu is mainly made up of snacks and small plates so you can graze as you go. Although Paloma is first and foremost a wine bar, the cocktails are some of the best on the Coast so it’s definitely worth starting with a house cocktail before you move on to wine.
What do you think about the hospitality scene on the Gold Coast
The GC hospitality scene has come so far in the past five years. Great operators moving to the area have raised the bar. There are a lot more venues opening in the coming months so I’m excited to see what else is in store for Burleigh and the greater GC.
What are you most looking forward to in the next 12 months?
Alex and I are looking at a couple of sites for our next project which should hopefully kick off in 2023 so watch this space.
What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café/Coffee spot: Seadog on James St for the best coffee in Burleigh
Restaurant: The Tropic for lunch with a view and Piatto for a cozy dinner
Bar or place for a drink: Cantina in Mermaid Beach
Beach: Talle Creek (when it’s not school holidays)
How do you choose to spend your weekends?
Weekends are the busiest time for us at Labart and Paloma so you can normally find Alex and me popping into both the venues to see our teams and say hi to regulars. On our days off you can find us at the beach with our daughter and catching up with friends and family over a BBQ at home.
There are many exceptional restaurants on the Gold Coast right now, our city has become quite the little foodie hub. It’s primarily due to the chefs at said exceptional restaurants who spend countless hours tweaking and perfecting dishes so we get to devour incredible dishes. And we’re pretty happy about it.
In honour of these chefs and International Chef Day on 20th October 2020, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best on the Coast so you know who to visit next time you’re in the mood for something special.
Uday Huja
Renowned Gold Coast Executive Chef Uday Huja made the move here only a few short years ago after a career that spanned high end Las Vegas hotels, Michelin starred restaurant The Inn at Little Washington and now, Nineteen at The Star (lucky us). He brings an absolute wealth of knowledge to the stunning venue and if you’ve not yet been in to experience his Oyster Journey, you’re missing out. It’s an honour to have him here.
Alex Munoz Labart
Head Chef and owner at Burleigh’s Restaurant Labart, Alex Munoz Labart is not only one of the Coast’s top chefs, but one of Australia’s. He hails from Sydney where he worked in (and owned) the best of the best restaurants and now he’s making magic for us in the form of modern Australian dishes that blow your mind every time. Alex lists Iku Yakitori Bar as one of his favourite restaurants on the Coast.
Adam Dundas-Taylor
Adam Dundas-Taylor has worked with some of the world’s best chefs, including for Jamie Oliver and London’s finest Nobu. He was the owner of beloved Firecue in Nobby’s and now, he’s joined the team at Broadbeachs’ Miss Moneypenny’s as Executive Chef to bring a fresh, new feel (and all of his impressive experience) to the menu. Adam lists Gemelli and Mamasan as two of his favourite Gold Coast venues.
Guillaume Zika
With two Chefs Hats under his belt, Guillaume Zika is quite the chef for the Gold Coast to have claimed. He fronts the culinary team at Burleigh Pavilion (including The Tropic). Between the two venues Guillaume creates both casual, perfect-post-beach eats and a sit-down menu using only the highest quality produce. He says Restaurant Labart is one of his favourite restaurants on the Coast.
Kelvin Andrews
While Brisbane has now claimed this superstar, we still call Kelvin Andrews our own. He lists some of the Coast’s most revered restaurants, including Nineteen at The Star, The Fish House and Hellenika as his starting points in the culinary world and now is the Head Chef at Brisbane’s five-star SK Steak & Oyster. And he’s barely getting started. Kelvin says Alfred’s Diner is his favourite spot for breaky.
Daniel Ridgeway
Daniel Ridgeway is the local restauranteur who has made Gold Coasters dining dreams come true for over a decade with venues like Little Truffle, Gotham Grill & Rooftop Bar (recently sold) and four BiN restaurants all his creations. He’s worked overseas for much of his career and he’s absolutely earned every single accolade he’s received. These days you can find him at Little Truffle and Daniel lists Itoshin as one of his favourite local spots.
