Two Brisbane restaurants have been victorious in the 2011 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards.

The inaugural Black Tie and Bare Foot on the Beach is being held on September 2nd as part of the Tastes of the Gold Coast. So grab a group of friends and get ready for what is sure to be a great night.

Last week I was flown to ZhengZhou in Henan province, China as a reccy trip to see if Freestyle Tout in China could be a possibility.

The city of ZhengZhou (with a population of 8 million and surrounded by many many millions more) is a hive of activity with numerous new buildings popping up everywhere throughout ZhengZhou and the new city (see below).

Competition sizzles at state Sausage King final

Michael Caines MBE hosted an exclusive industry dinner on July 26th as part of the Brisbane Hilton Masterclass Weekend. Supported by two of his chefs and the Hilton Brisbane team, Michael prepared a 7-course tasting menu for the guests. Mezzanine Wine's on-premise manager Peter Marchant and Ortiga sommelier Matt Brooke were on hand to match wines to each course.

The menu consisted of:

The Hilton Brisbane Masterclass Weekend is a much-anticipated event for foodies and industry professionals alike. Held on 24th and 25th of July, the program featured a fantastic lineup of guest chefs and wine professionals. All tastes were catered for in the programming with sessions such as Queensland Catch, Asian Affairs, The Master Baker, Spice and All Things Nice and Passionate Patissier.

Executive chef Cameron Matthews from Spicers Clovelly Estate cooked up a sumptuous feast using local produce. All in attendance had a sensational afternoon of great food, wine and company at Spicers Clovelly Estate on a long table on the verandah. Julie Shelton from Slow Food Sunshine Coast Hinterland was a fantastic host with much knowledge and passion for local producers. Whilst I was there I had a look around. Everything is so stylish.

The Queensland Food and Beverage Industry event held on November 29th at the Sunshine Coast will coincide with the launch of the 'Appetite for Success' program in Queensland at the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE. '

This day offers hospitality students, apprentices and kitchen teams a taste of the weekend with cooking demonstrations by some of Brisbane's leading chefs and is an opportunity for you to meet the masters in your industry and learn some of the trade secrets.

A French Chef, Cowboy Hats & secluded outdoor kitchen = a very long lunch.