Were you born with a sweet tooth? Same and srsly mum and dad, could you not have tweaked our DNA to favour lettuce and carrot sticks? This makes driving past a patisserie and not stopping in for a cheeky sugar hit a totally foreign…and downright offensive…concept. So, when we spotted Delothor Patisserie, that glorious little gem in Southport’s Davenport Street, it made our day/week/month/you get the picture, we were ex.ci.ted. Pumping out sensational Asian inspired pastries, desserts and drinks, our enthusiasm exploded when we realised it’s a double decker scenario, with not one but TWO levels of pure pastry pleasure. Our blood pressure may go up a few digits, but we are so DOWN with our adorable new patisserie BFF.

Founders Alexia Kang and her cousin have a backstory that will motivate many-a-budding pastry guru, and we love that sort of thing. Starting small by renting a teeny tiny side of a commercial kitchen to bake their goodies, the initial blood, sweat and tears soon paid off. Word spread like wild flour of their pastry prowess, demand soared, and the rest as they say is history. Snapping up a prime position in the GC CBD and enlisting JIC Projects to create their dream space, not only does this involve a lot of acronyms, but it culminated in the dreamy Delothor space.

With a predominantly white, sage, and moss green colour palette, #WeDie. The juxtaposition of different textures and finishes also has us fangirling, incorporating all the usual on-trend (and utterly irresistible) suspects; vertical veejay panels, 3D slat wall panels, wooden floors, textured subway tiles, and sleek marble surfaces. Extra points are awarded for the feature arches because they are our design equivalent of pastries. Translation, we are #ForeverObsessed.

Downstairs you’ll find cabinets consistently filled to the brim with fabulously flaky goodness, which you can either grab and go, or pop upstairs to savour the moment in-house. Personally, we err on the side of the latter because it’s a way cuter setting than our disorderly desk, plus we don’t have to share.

Now the question on every Delothor-goer’s lips is “what should I order?”…and “how many should I order”? “In one sitting….”? Well, we’re singing the praises of the Buttercream Macarons and bonus, you can buy a few to take back to the office to spoil your colleagues and jokes, you’ll inhale the lot. If Fresh Cream Cake is more your jam, they don’t make ‘em much better than this…and soz Nanna, that includes you #CiaoInheritance. Another crowd fave is the humble Strawberry Croissant, perfect for breakfast on the run, morning tea, lunch, an afternoon snack, supper, dessert and yeah, it’s ver.sa.tile. To well and truly churn your butter, pair your choice with an expertly brewed coffee or tea, and live your best pastry-and-caffeine fuelled life.

So next time you’re Southport-bound, passing through, or actually going nowhere near the place, pastry-pining peeps take head; Delothor is Gold Coast for patisserie perfection.

Where: 29 Davenport Street, Southport
When: 8am – 8pm, Tuesday – Sunday. Closed Monday.

Words by Bianca Trathen.

If there’s one thing we’re sure of, it’s that we can never have enough Italian or mozzarella in our lives. This is fact, completely non-negotiable and as far as we’re concerned, Kate Moss got it wrong coz pizza, pasta and cheese taste way better than skinny feels. So we’re all ears when we hear a new Italian joint has opened and legit, our tummies are already rumbling. Get excited fellow carbo loaders coz Southport’s Mozza Mozza has unleashed its cheesy, Eastern Euro goodness and it is Prosecco’nd to none!

Located inside our beloved Southport Sharks where Carmody’s once lived (RIP), prepare for everything from tableside cheese wheels and tiramisu to wood-fired mozza(rella) pizzas, fried mortadella sandos, and negroni slushies (okay hiiii)…and that’s just the digestible variety. Add a hat awarded Head Chef and a side of disco tunes and it’s official – we have discovered actual heaven.

Iconic owner Dave Galvin, the man, the myth, the legend behind Crafty’s Sports Bar, continues to redefine the northern GC eats and sips scene, and keep doing what you do good Sir. Securing Mozza Mozza’s digs in mid-2021, the vision was to bring fun feels and classic share-style Italian food to the north side.

The 160 seater is the perfect spot for a family feed or group function, boasting an 18-seat private dining room which would you believe is the only one north of Broady (we would).

We’ve been told to expect a little bit of theatre with our nosh and we cannot espresso how much we love this for us. Plus rumour has it there’ll be 80s and disco bangers blaring from the boom box, and nothing says happiness like a side of Prince with our prosciutto or Abba with our arancini.

But Mozza Mozza doesn’t just bring joy through its menu and music, but also its majestic four-metre-tall olive tree. Standing loud and proud, front and centre of the space, it’s quite the show-stopper creating a warm, welcoming ambience and packing some serious wow-factor punch.

Recruiting Mitch Chesterton as the venue’s all important Head Chef was nothing short of a power move. Mitch has worked in multiple hatted restaurants including Alchemy, Michaels on Tedder Ave and Peak Dining at Iceworks in Paddington, plus was the Chef/Owner of Iku in Burleigh where he won a Chef Hat Award. As one would expect with a resume like this, the menu at Mozza Mozza is #goals and srsly, Pasta La Vista summer bod diet.

Some standouts include the Mozza Meatballs, made from pork meatballs, tomato sugo and fresh basil. Prepare for the obligatory Bug Rolls to be blown out of the water this Gold Coast summer with the arrival of the Fried Mortadella Sando. The Italian version of the Katsu sandwich, just went up a notch.

The Burrata deserves a shout out with its garden pea pesto and pine nut goodness, and the Cacio e Pepe pasta served tableside from a wheel of pecorino cheese is an icon in the making #ded.

The crowd-pleasing rossa and blanci wood fire pizzas made from dough fermented for (drum roll please) 48-hours are next level, especially the Eggplant Parmigiana Pizza, with fried eggplant, tomato, mozzarella, parmesan and basil. Bellissima!

What’s a meal without a cocktail you say and we concur! The Spicy Southport Sour with white oat chilli and mango gin, Cointreau, lemon, simple syrup will go down a treat and holy cannoli, we just remembered the Boozy Slushies! Our vote goes to the Coconut Margarita with tequila, triple sec, agave, coconut and lime, and it’s official – we’re calling an Uber.

Or, if you’re a traditionalist who likes to pair their Italian fare with vino, you’re in good hands with a selection of Aussie and Italian wines to try #winenot.

So for your next family dinner, long lunch, corporate gathering or even just a lazy Sunday sesh, don’t be alfredo to try the pasta-tively amazing Mozza Mozza.

Where: Southport Sharks, Corner Olsen Avenue & Musgrave Avenue, Southport
When: 11.30am – 3pm & 5pm – late Wednesday to Sunday. Closed Monday & Tuesday.
Instagram: @mozzamozza_au

Words by Bianca Trathen
Images by Carly King

Ahhh Chirn Park, you’re the northern GC’s answer to Burleigh…minus the traffic and with an intimate village vibe. Embracing its increasingly trendy rep, Chirn Park is welcoming more and more cool/interesting/unique businesses to this once underrated neck of the woods. In fact, there’s now even a Chirn Park Festival, attracting an army of CP enthusiasts over its two-year lifespan. Us included.

Being the fans that we are, here are nine reasons why locals…and not so local locals….are flocking to Chirn Park en masse!

Cruize Espresso
It was love at first sight when we spotted the adorable logo alone. With a beautiful soft colour palette, swoon-worthy serve-wear, phenom wall art (Jai Vasicek, we see you…everywhere) and the instagrammable “I love you a latte” neon sign, the menu is as delicious as the fit-out. Think modern brekkie and lunch dishes beautifully presented with pretty-as-a-picture floral garnish, epic coffee, and the friendliest service in the land.
Where: Shop 6/37 Musgrave Avenue

Quan 55
‘Quan’ is Vietnamese for bar, so no prizes for guessing what this Chirn Park fave serves! Host and owner Wynn serves up the same food as she does at home, even using her mother-in-law’s treasured 20-year-old crock pot! Now that’s authenticity personified! It boasts fabulous food and cocktails and ambience galore, thanks to the awesome interior and never-ending rotation of bums on seats.
Where: 4/55 Brooke Avenue

Luigi & Sons Barbershop
The longest established barbershop on the Coast, Luigi and Sons now have 3 shopfronts with contemporary, fresh fit outs, and a passionate team trained to deliver amazing haircuts with old-fashioned service. Catering for all the modern man’s barbering needs, they fuse traditional skills with very ‘now’ techniques. Beard-shaping and cut-throat shaves are also a speciality, so book that manscape yesterday.
Where: 4/58 Brooke Avenue

Little Barista Espresso Bar
Looking for a consistently high-quality caffeine hit, all day breakfast or lunch? Call off the search coz Little Barista delivers all of the above. Perched in arguably the most prominent corner position in Chirn Park, this rustic coastal gem is always buzzing. You can smell the glorious aroma of award-winning brews as you walk up the street, and don’t forget to bring Fido as pooches are welcomed with open arms.
Where: 3/39 Musgrave Avenue

Lambar Pizza
If pizza and pasta aren’t the answer, srsly what was the question? Whether you’re channelling takeaway, a meal in-house or perhaps have a private function on the horizon, Lambar is your BFF in waiting. Making all meals with love using the freshest, locally sourced produce, it’s impossible to go wrong here. And the pepperoni on the pizza is that you can BYO wine. Did someone say unicorn?
Where: 4/37 Musgrave Avenue

Daark Espresso
I mean, if they were to rename Chirn Park, it would be Daark Espresso. Well worth the queue, it’s the go-to for the professional brunching set. The coffee is as good as it gets, and the nosh is #goals (Spanner Crab Eggs Benedict, come at us!). Pull up a pew inside this rustic gem, or opt for a table outside on the wraparound balcony. Add a super buzzy vibe and friendly staff, and it’s not hard to see why it’s an institution.
Where: 2/41 Musgrave Avenue

5B2F Bakehouse
If you’re mad for a bakery and srsly who isn’t, step this way and tell us you’ve had better! With classic French pastries and artisan sourdough for days, one look in the cabinet choccablock with THE most spectacularly crafted baked goodies and you’re sold. The brainchild of renowned South Korean pastry chef extraordinaire Moonsun Yoo, we are well and truly buttered up.
Where: 55 Brooke Avenue

Ground & Sound
Cooking whole food from scratch and serving up specialty single origin PNG caffeine, this is where coffee meets music. Ground & Sound hosts live artists several times a week, music trivia night every second Wednesday night, plus there are regular open mic nights for budding artists. Inside, peruse musical memorabilia from the 60’s and beyond, or plonk yourself outside and soak up the epic tunes.
Where: 6/23 Musgrave Avenue

Moss n Stone
Moss n Stone offers the freshest and most on-trend blooms, arriving in-store daily. Delivering to all areas of the Gold and Tweed Coast, there are flowers and foliage for all occasions and persuasions.  Also stocking an exquisite range of giftware, babywear and homewares, it’s your one stop shop for all things lovely, with a hint of uniqueness.
Where: 4/41 Musgrave Avenue

Words by Bianca Trathen.