If you’re a regular visitor to the abundant farmers markets we have around the Coast, you’ll know all about the great produce the leagues of green-fingered souls bring before us to enjoy. Plump fruit and vibrantly coloured vegetables galore. And if you’re the type of person to purposely go to these markets on an empty stomach in the hopes of grabbing a tasty bite, you may well have acquainted yourself with Cheese Me Baby.

Deliciously decadent cheese toasties on a whole other level. If you know, you know — and if you don’t, you should change that pronto. Now, you can taste their fare outside of the weekend markets as they’ve opened a fabulous street-side eatery within the bustling Mermaid Beach Village complex.

The small size venue comes across as the love child of a Basque country pintxos bar with an edgy inner-city bar you might find in Melbourne. Repurposed wood is used throughout with dark, dramatic feature walls and carefully selected European antiques, adding to the feel you’ve taken a step inside somewhere quite removed from Mermaid Beach. There’s a scattering of stools inside, but the ample-sized sitting space with added hanging plants outside is the perfect spot to enjoy what’s on offer.

The entire ethos behind the venue is to give customers surprising but straightforward food that is entirely local with beaming warmth behind every dish — that simple. Cheese is the mainstay with an array of toasties featuring delicious produce such as mixed mushrooms, slow-roasted pork belly whilst pairing up their signature 3 cheese blend toasty with a house-made tomato soup. Pixel Bakehouse is supplying the breads and cheeses are coming from as close by as Nimbin Valley and as far afield as Spain. Be assured if you’re a strong advocate of cheese; this may very well be your idea of heaven.

Tartines, or deconstructed sandwiches, will feature other exemplary flavours like scorched figs or fresh strawberries and toasted hazelnuts. Attention to detail is poured into every humble dish here at Cheese Me Baby. After all, their motto is we butter right to the edges. — Now ya talkin’.

For those who feel like coming down on the weekend and slowly grazing through the morning or afternoon, you’ll be smitten with their breakfast and cheese boards. Should the call of the beach be too strong to resist, then grabbing their picnic box with a plethora of mouth-watering small goods is also an option.

With regard to drinks, Social Espresso is poured from 6am most mornings right through until the early afternoon. For those deserving of something stronger, you’ll come across a tightly put together (from our new Nobby’s friends at Somm Wine) — but extremely pleasing — wine offering. With moniker styles like Prosecco, Provence rosé, and Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir — put simply, you’re spoilt for choice.

Having opened to a stampede of hungry and muchly satisfied customers last weekend, the venue has already settled into their Mermaid Beach Village spot quite comfortably. People are encouraged to come to chill on the grass out the front, or even park up your pushbike, while you and your friends mingle over toasties, cheese and wine!

Insider tip: do yourself a favour and watch out for further Sunday sessions and upcoming evening services.

On Saturday the 28th of August, the guys are throwing their official opening night with the talented Gold Coast tattooist/artist Daniel Pap, as he displays his latest and unseen collection. This homegrown creative will be hosted by This Is Art as they launch their exciting new Art Series. After studying fine art in Brisbane, Daniel has spent his time absorbed in his craft, which has given him his unique and removed style.

Local duo Buff Girls will be providing the soundtrack for the evening in the form of vinyl, and a fully licensed bar and limited menu will be available for the night. So do yourself a favour and clear your social calendar.

Where: The Pod, Mermaid Beach Village, 2375 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
Hours: 6am – 3pm, Tuesday — Sunday

Words by Alex Mitcheson.

Any time a luxe new cafe opens its doors to the GC, we feel giddier than a kid on Christmas morning, because checking out a brand new coffee hangout kind of feels like the adult version of tearing open a big ol’ present waiting for us under the proverbial tree #ohyoushouldn’thave. What might be better yet though, is when a much-loved name in the biz goes all out and shouts themselves some swanky new digs, because we know no matter how cute it might look on the outside, a great cup of Joe is guaranteed.

Even if you’ve yet to frequent their Burleigh coffee bar, chances are you’ve already sampled their wares as Social Espresso Coffee Roasters have been hooking up our local cafe scene with the goods aka their locally roasted beans for over 7 years now. And in our eyes, that makes owners Mitch and Hayley a kind of unofficial GC royalty, because anyone who keeps the caffeine a flowin’ to our fave haunts is a friend indeed.

From Byron Bay to Brisvegas and beyond, their supplier list reads more like a who’s who of the GC cafe scene – Jeffersons, Fuel Bakehouse, Cheese Me Baby, Sweet Bambino, The Hunted, Zinc and more (we’re refraining from throwing the world ‘royalty’ around again for a second time, but what can we say – all hail the makers of the eggs benny and double shot oat cap). After building up quite the cult following, unsurprisingly Social Espresso soon outgrew their humble flagship premises, and when it came time to build a bigger and better HQ, we’re happy to report they’ve well and truly #nailedit

Social Espresso 2.0 was a dream team collaboration, with Amanda Jarvis Designs coming together with Meka Build to bring Mitch and Hayley’s vision to life. Their love of the Burleigh Heads industrial precinct and its resulting mix of customers meant they wanted to keep their new look HQ in the same area – or literally just down the road, as it turns out. Its fresh, wabi-sabi inspired interior with an industrial edge (without an ounce of grunge in sight) has resulted in a v. grown-up new fit out that exudes cool by the bucket load, but still makes you feel welcome to saunter by in your activewear and hi-vis. There’s loads of lush texture, curves in all the right places plus a dedicated space to display some goodies from local retailers – go on, you know you want to #treatyoself

Now that we know the vibe is on point, it’s time to get down to the part all you coffee aficionados have bean waiting for – ‘coz of course the menu has had a glow up to match it’s piping hot new lewk. And speaking of glowing – even if you’re not of the coffee inclination, there’s a smashing line up of cold pressed juices and smoothies to quench your thirst – like the Berry Glow with Acai, blueberry, raspberry, banana, coconut water & collagen. If you’re feeling a little more peckish, a BLAC Bagel or the holy grail of brunch, a Bacon & Egg Roll will defs hit the spot. And finally, who could forget the real star of the show: because there’s a whole latte to love with their 3 signature coffee blends, rotation of weekly single origins, or you can even opt to cool down with a Two Amigo’s Cold Brew #decisionsdecisions

For the self admitted social butterflies and bean masters behind Social Espresso, they couldn’t be more stoked to have created such a luxe and inviting new coffee haunt after years spent fostering so many friendships, partnerships and connections within their beloved GC community. But just quietly, we’re pretty sure pleasure is all ours.

Where: 1/9-11 Fremantle Street, Burleigh
When: Monday – Friday 5.30am – 1pm

Words by Kellie Leader.
Images by Britt Kreskas.