Their second venue now open in Burleigh Heads.
Their second venue now open in Burleigh Heads.
Never let it be said that the Gold Coast is solely a city of sparkles and sunshine. No friends, there is also healthy food and hipsters and the odd winter morning wrapped in three blankets, burrito-style.
Today though, we’re here to chat healthy food and in particular, that of Brio Emporium who, just last week, opened the doors to their second venue in beautiful Burleigh Heads. The health café and food market, which took Broadbeach by storm a few shorts years ago, have chosen Treetops Plaza as their new home and judging by the constant lines out the door, it was a good one.
It’s a corner space, all bright whites with pops of orange, shelves of tasty (next-level healthy) goodies to take home and an outdoor area filled with early morning sunshine. The premise of Brio Emporium is simple, they offer a low carb, high fat menu filled with gut-friendly goodness that will literally make you glow from the inside out.
Owners Atlanta and Mark Fowler have amassed a huge foodie fan base due to their ketogenic (low carb) offerings that are both good for you and extremely delicious.
Packed with choose-your-own-adventure style protein bowls, gut-healing bone broths, raw smoothies and bowls and Keto shakes, you can pat yourself on the back after a feast at Brio.
Recommendations come in the form of a grass-fed savoury mince Breakfast Bowl with free-range, dairy free scrambled eggs, smashed avo, baby spinach and Paleo scatter.
For lunch don’t go past the grass fed beef brisket Protein Bowl with cauliflower rice, raw broccoli cashew crunch, fermented veggies and kimchi because it is a nourishing, taste sensation.
All bowls are buildable and there are plenty of proteins, salads and extras to choose from.
Add a cup of Free Range Chicken Bone Broth to boost the old immune system and throw in a Bulletproof Coffee for good measure.
If all that healthiness has you craving something sweet, add one of Brio’s famous Fatboy Sundaes which is actually a fat burning dessert and how has this never been a thing in our lives until now?
Choose an ice cream flavour then have it covered in smashed cookies, chocolate bars, kibble and topping. It’s all Keto friendly and it’s all so yummy.
Word on the street is that Brio Emporium is opening a third location at The Oasis Shopping Centre pretty soon so there’s even more reason to jump on that healthy food bandwagon (if you’re not already of course).
Get down to Burleigh and give ‘em some love.
LOCATION: Treetops Plaza, 7 Classic Way, Burleigh Heads
HOURS: 6.30am until 4pm daily
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
Never let it be said that the Gold Coast is solely a city of sparkles and sunshine. No friends, there is also healthy food and hipsters and the odd winter morning wrapped in three blankets, burrito-style.
Today though, we’re here to chat healthy food and in particular, that of Brio Emporium who, just last week, opened the doors to their second venue in beautiful Burleigh Heads. The health café and food market, which took Broadbeach by storm a few shorts years ago, have chosen Treetops Plaza as their new home and judging by the constant lines out the door, it was a good one.
It’s a corner space, all bright whites with pops of orange, shelves of tasty (next-level healthy) goodies to take home and an outdoor area filled with early morning sunshine. The premise of Brio Emporium is simple, they offer a low carb, high fat menu filled with gut-friendly goodness that will literally make you glow from the inside out.
Owners Atlanta and Mark Fowler have amassed a huge foodie fan base due to their ketogenic (low carb) offerings that are both good for you and extremely delicious.
Packed with choose-your-own-adventure style protein bowls, gut-healing bone broths, raw smoothies and bowls and Keto shakes, you can pat yourself on the back after a feast at Brio.
Recommendations come in the form of a grass-fed savoury mince Breakfast Bowl with free-range, dairy free scrambled eggs, smashed avo, baby spinach and Paleo scatter.
For lunch don’t go past the grass fed beef brisket Protein Bowl with cauliflower rice, raw broccoli cashew crunch, fermented veggies and kimchi because it is a nourishing, taste sensation.
All bowls are buildable and there are plenty of proteins, salads and extras to choose from.
Add a cup of Free Range Chicken Bone Broth to boost the old immune system and throw in a Bulletproof Coffee for good measure.
If all that healthiness has you craving something sweet, add one of Brio’s famous Fatboy Sundaes which is actually a fat burning dessert and how has this never been a thing in our lives until now?
Choose an ice cream flavour then have it covered in smashed cookies, chocolate bars, kibble and topping. It’s all Keto friendly and it’s all so yummy.
Word on the street is that Brio Emporium is opening a third location at The Oasis Shopping Centre pretty soon so there’s even more reason to jump on that healthy food bandwagon (if you’re not already of course).
Get down to Burleigh and give ‘em some love.
LOCATION: Treetops Plaza, 7 Classic Way, Burleigh Heads
HOURS: 6.30am until 4pm daily
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
Raising awareness about mental health issues is a cause close to everyone’s heart in one way or another and at the moment, we all need to be vigilant about taking care of our own and keeping an eye on that of those around us.
Because we’re all about sharing/stealing good advice when we come across it, here are a couple of tips from local not-for-profit LIVIN if you’re feeling like your mental health could use a little TLC.
Get enough sleep
It’s super important to develop a regular sleeping schedule to help you feel energized, focused and motivated. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day and if you can’t sleep, practice controlled breathing (focusing on inhaling and exhaling to help you relax).
Exercise
Sounds very uncool but is actually very good for not only your physical health (obviously) but your mental health too. Even just a short stint (15 minutes) will give you a rush of feel good energy and can help to relieve stress and pent up frustration.
Eat healthily
It’s no surprise fruit and veggies are good for you but did you know they can help your sleeping patterns, energy levels and general wellbeing? True story. Obviously fast food, that is easy to get when you don’t feel like doing anything, has very low levels of nutrition, which means low energy, and generally feeling worse than you otherwise would.
Enjoy yourself
Having fun for the win! Here’s an excuse to find things that bring you joy, watch hilarious show online and have a good laugh whenever you can. Talking to people who uplift your mood is clearly a positive thing to do, not to mention, if you need a chat about how you’re feeling, your friends are the perfect people to do that with. At the moment we”re in such uncertain times, it’s highly likely everyone could do with a chat and since we aren’t really meant to go near each other, may as well pick up that phone.
If you, or someone you know, needs immediate assistance please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Words by Kirra Smith
Hands up if you’re in a toxic relationship with Uber Eats? You want to bite that hand feeding you, even though, technically, that hand is yours. So maybe this is a self-restraint issue? Don’t worry, this isn’t a therapy session- just a list of healthy takeaways that don’t require any restraint at all! Because, well, they’re healthy, obviously?
Here’s your cheat sheet for the best healthy takeaway eats on the Gold Coast.
As wholesome as it gets, Dalas Kitchen is a gourmet salad bar with two Gold Coast locations, online delivery and catering. They’re known for the most deluxe salads, but also serve sangas (on house-made focaccia), bagels and sodas too! Ran out of time to meal prep? Just order’ Dalas At Your Desk’ via their website!
Our pick: the vegan and dairy-free Bangin’ Cauli’ with panko-crusted roasted cauliflower, Asian slaw, mint, coriander, shallots, crushed peanuts and a creamy maple sriracha dressing!
Where: 2247 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach and 6 Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach
Voted Gold Coast’s best healthy vegan eats, Govindas is not just a restaurant, but a mission. They’re a non-profit serving up feel-good, budget-friendly, and ethically made vegetarian fare. Every dish is as soul-nourishing as the next, with curries, salads, sides and more. They also run specials daily!
Our pick: Thursday’s Shepherd’s Pie– a classic!
Where: 20 James St, Burleigh Heads and 72 Griffith St, Coolangatta
This place is a plant-based paradise; every dish is a visual and nutritional masterpiece. If you’re yet to experience the best of vegan cuisine, let Cardamon Pod be your gateway! It’s as decadent and exciting as vegan dishes come- from raw cakes to globally inspired mains.
Our pick: Vegan Madras Chicken Tacos with tamarind popcorn ‘chicken’, bhuja, BBQ corn chat salsa, madras mayo and jalapeño cheese pakoras.
Where: 3/3 Brolga Ave, Brickworks Ferry Road, Southport
Quick, healthy and tasty- Just Fresh Made is your go-to for mouthwatering salads, spuds, wraps and fresh juices. Whether you’re craving something light and refreshing or a little heartier, Just Fresh Made has you covered every day of the week.
Our pick: Classic Fresh Veg Spud loaded with your choice of protein, smashed avo, tomato salsa, kale mix, sour cream and herb butter.
Where: Shop 1/84 Scarborough Street, Southport
They’re the Asian-inspired salad bar shaking up the fast-food game with zingy Asian bowls and rolls full of flavour and crunch. Banana Blossom is an East Coast favourite, serving in locations from the Sunny Coast to Bondi Beach. Their salads, rice bowls, and rice paper rolls are a fast, healthy and flavourful way to get your takeaway fix.
Our pick: Satay Salad with chicken, tofu or beef, plus pineapple, rice noodles, bean sprouts and a mouthwatering Malay-style dressing.
Where: Shop E117 Oracle East 6 Charles Ave, Broadbeach
Come for the poke, stay for the roti wraps and smoothie bowls. This Mermaid Beach gem dishes up generous, customisable bowls with all the toppings your taste buds could desire. They offer plenty of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options to suit all!
Our pick: Nacho Bowl with chilli con carne, smoked sour cream, guac, habanero jam, and crunchy wonton chips.
Where: 2375 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
Plant-based yum cha? What about take-home banquet packs?! Hell yeah! This little vegan restaurant in Mermaid Beach serves up mind-blowing Asian yum cha and meals that are so damn good it’s earned them a 92% recommendation on Facebook! This place is a not-to-miss, with insane hot pots, soups and noodles, and even vegan ‘meat’ and ‘seafood’ dishes.
Our pick: Any noodle dish (seriously, you can’t go wrong)- but don’t skip the entrees.
Where: 90 Market St, Mermaid Waters
Three words, well, dishes; donburi, okonomiyaki and sushi. Does healthy takeaway get much better than Japanese soul food? Okazu does it best- fast, fresh and in two locations. They also do poke bowls, burgers, bento combo meals and plenty of options for the kiddies.
Our pick: Teriyaki Beef Okonomiyaki with a side of miso soup.
Where: 1/2223 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach and 90 Markeri St Mermaid Waters
Don’t let the same put you off because this famed franchise is single-handedly making salads great again! They taste so damn good you forget you’re getting your entire daily intake of veg in one bowl! Build your own or pick from a menu of stacked bowls.
Our pick: The O.G. Chicken with poached chicken, kale, beets, crispy shallots, seaweed salad and roasted sesame dressing.
Where: Soul Boardwalk Shop T120B/4 Esplanade Surfers Paradise, Shop/4252 Robina Town Centre Dr, Robina and 2 James Street Burleigh Heads
Your servo snack stop just got a serious glow-up. Fox’s Pantry is a gourmet grocer/café hybrid (also a servo) serving fresh and fab whole eats, including sandwiches, salads, soups and more. Whether you follow a vegan, gluten free, dairy free or, keto lifestyle or diet….they have something ya!
Our pick: whatever you get, just don’t leave without a smoothie!
Where: 468 Golden Four Drive, Tugun
This Currumbin spot is a treasure trove of health-conscious delights. While catering is their main gig, their in-house and takeaway eats are at the next level. They use only the highest quality ingredients to make only the best-tasting eats that will fill your belly and warm your heart.
Our pick: the Organic Handcrafted Tofu Burger
Where: Shop 2 – 30 Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
