red hill brisbane Archives - Page 2 of 2

Red Hill’s Plum Tucker Has Become Eco-Friendly As It Encourages Customers to Bring Their Own Coffee Mugs or Cups

Locals of Red Hill are well-aware of the location of Plum Tucker. The charming cafe bistro with a garden courtyard on Ennogera Terrace is something that you can’t miss.

The two-storey cafe has vintage adornments, giving the place a personality whilst the second flood maintains a cosy atmosphere. The cafe is known to serve all-day breakfast with three varieties of avo on toast to choose from, because who doesn’t like fresh avos, right?

During lunchtime, a wide selection awaits. The chicken congee or the beef cheek pot pie is definitely a-must-try.

The cafe is also child-friendly with healthy breakfast and lunch food that children will like, such as Toasties, a special lunch pack with a variety of sandwiches, fruit, and marshmallow.

The coffee in the cafe comes from Supreme Roasters or their weekly single origin. But what makes them stand out is that the cafe encourages everybody to bring their own coffee cup. The cafe is listed on Responsible Cafes organisation and customers who bring their own coffee cup get a $1 discount.

However, the store owner, Matt Carnell clarified that they are not only limited to KeepCups, but they encourage their clients to bring their own mugs. This move is their business’ War on Waste advocacy. Statistics from ABC’s War on Waste program show that an average of 100,000 coffee cups are being thrown away every single hour. People tend to think that the coffee cups we use are recyclable; actually, the waterproof coating on the inside of the cups means otherwise.

This is why Australians are encouraged to look for cafes that use BioPak paper cups or you can bring your own KeepCup to reduce paper cup waste.

Mr Carnell said that they have implemented this rule just last year and they have seen significant improvement, but noted that they still have a long way to go.

Responsible Cafes, an organisation dedicated to reducing the use of paper cups at cafes has a list of cafes that are dedicated to implementing this rule to its customers. The website has been there for three years but after the brief exposure on cafe paper cups in media recently, they have now more cafes to add to the list.

In November 2016, the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council got involved in a pilot project to upcycle coffee cups through the use of new technology that combines liquid-proof cups with a polymer to make a durable multi-use plastic-fibre compound. Now, the QLD government and BCC are looking at a possible processing facility to accommodate this process.

Plum Tucker is not only child-friendly, but it has become an eco-friendly place, too.

Red Hill’s The Little Red Providore Brings Local Community Together

Red Hill’s The Little Red Providore is a great source of good and artistic vibes. Now occupying what used to be a lighting store in a 140-year-old building on Windsor Road, it takes on a new persona with its newly-painted, matte black exterior.

Owned by Janelle and Glen Mogridge, the restaurant is one of the couple’s adventurous ventures together5. They formerly owned Soul Pantry, a cafe which operated out of a shipping container. This latest venture is no less creative, equally adventurous, plus it provides a warm, friendly space for curious customers who will most likely stay on to be long-term regulars.

The two-storey restaurant boasts of an airy first floor adorned with huge glass windows, a mix of wood and tin furniture, graced by a big red door that welcomes customers in.

On the second floor is a beautiful courtyard with a backdrop of rustic brick, perfect for those who wish to breathe some fresh air with their pooches or even by themselves. There are also a number of tables situated outside the restaurant.

Enclosed events spaces are available for rent, with full catering options.

In keeping with their vision to serve only the best and the freshest, their menu changes daily, depending on the available seasonal produce and the time of the year. The cafe always has a selection of fresh salads, an assortment of bread and pastries, and some homemade frittata to whet one’s appetite.

Photo credit: Little Red Providore / Facebook

Their coffee selection, featuring specialty blends by Toby’s Estate, is also one of the best.

The gourmet pastries are a definite must-try. They get their bread and pastries from Danny’s Bread & Co., Jocelyn’s Provisions, Bee One Third honey, and other local producers.

This restaurant promotes a strong sense of community. Every four to six weeks, the restaurant holds a “Locals Night” where locals can drop by and meet. They also support local artists by featuring their creative works of art at the cafe. There is also an Artisan of the Month corner where the works of a featured artist are displayed, along with a brief description about the artist on their short blackboard.

The Mogridge couple certainly knows what they’re doing when they decided to put up this cute cafe. Now, Red Hill becomes an even more tight-knit community with establishments such as this one.

Every Cat Lady’s Dream, Yarning with Cats at Red Hill’s Cat and Cuddle Cafe

Cat-lovers and knitting enthusiasts, unite! Every cat lady’s dream place, the Cat Cuddle Cafe is holding a fundraiser event called Yarning with Cats on Musgrave Road, on the 25th of May. Knit and crochet amidst your furry, feline friends in this popular Red Hill meow spot.

Photo credit: Cat Cuddle Cafe / Facebook

Yarning with Cats will teach event-goers the basics of knitting or crochet. Experienced knitters are welcome to participate and share their techniques. The event includes yarn, hooks and needles, and connecting with the cats inside the cafe for only $25. Only 10 people are allowed to join the event, so if interested participants have to sign up now.

Over Two Decades of Rescuing Cats

Cat Cuddle Cafe is Brisbane’s first Cat Cafe run by Pussies Galore Rescue. All the cats and kittens in the cafe are up for adoption.

Pussies Galore Rescue was established 25 years ago by Katrina Balson and the small rescue organisation has been saving the lives of cats all over Brisbane. Their aim is to create a safe haven for these cats. They also follow a no-kill policy.

The Cafe

Cat Cuddle Cafe opened in 2015, as part of Ms Balson dream to have a cafe that will allow the Pussies Galore cats to connect with other cats and cat lovers.

The cafe is divided into two parts: a giant long playroom is where customers can sit down and play with the cats, and a dining area is where customers can enjoy a cup of tea with some delicious treats.

Customers who wish to cuddle and play with the cats are charged $12 per hour. They offer only a small selection of cruelty-free snacks such as Cloverly Cupcakes and Bliss Balls.

There are sodas, teas, and a selection of coffee to quench one’s thirst. Customers are allowed to take their food into the cat room.

The cat room is adorned with retro furniture and the walls are lined up with shelves of cat books, while the floors are filled with cat toys. There is also a large spinning wheel from Run Cat Run. Those looking for fresh air can check out the outdoor caged balcony with its amazing views.

Children under the age of 7 years old are not allowed in the cafe.

Helping by Adoption

Those who are interested in adopting a cat can tell Ms Balson and be placed on a list of potential adopters. First, though, you must pass a test that Ms Balson describes as the “Spanish Inquisition.” The thorough screening helps their organisation ensure that their feline pets are going to be with a good family. This also ensures that the adopter is committed to the endeavor “for life” (or until both the cat and their human shall live).

Raising Funds

Pussies Galore Rescue is also a part of the Animal Rescue Support Network. This means that they are supporters of all animals, not just cats. Like most animal rescue operations, they have limited funds and rely on volunteers and donations.

To help fund the organisation, the cafe holds fundraiser events at least once a week. The money that’s earned through the various fundraising events goes mostly to vet bills and cat food.

Donations are more than welcome. You can donate money by clicking here or you can donate goods. Click for the list of items that they need.

If you are interested in adopting a cat, you can email them at adoptions@catcuddlecafe.com
For businesses or individuals who wish to sponsor a cat, contact@catcuddlecafe.com
If you want to be a foster carer, send an email at fostering@catcuddlecafe.com

Photo credit: https://oliveandclo.com.au

Red Hill’s St Brigid’s Church: The 100-yr-old Landmark On the Hill

A striking red brick structure can be seen, perched on top of the hills that provide sweeping views of the suburb of Red Hill. This red brick building is St. Brigid’s, designed by the prominent architect Robin Dods and modelled after a 13th-century French cathedral.

Compared with other Catholic churches in Europe that are often adorned with carvings, ancient paintings and elaborately patterned stained glass, St. Brigid’s interior is a little bit more austere. The design, inspired by St. Cecile’s Cathedral at Albi in the South of France, features gothic elements and Romanesque styles.

Photo credit: http://www.catholicleader.com.au

In designing St. Brigid’s, Architect Dods also took into consideration the Brisbane climate. Everything in the building, from the height of structure, its windows, balconies, French doors, arches and its open chancel, was designed to accommodate the suburb’s changing climate.

Coming-of-age of Catholics in Brisbane

St. Brigid’s is a church with some significance to the whole of Brisbane, owing to its visibility from all directions. It was the largest parish in Brisbane when it was built between 1912 and 1914 by Thomas Keenan, a well-known builder in the early 20th century. The church was built to accommodate 1,000 people.

The opening ceremony of St. Brigid’s in 1915 was a big day for the Catholic community in Brisbane. The church represented the coming-of-age of the Catholics in a city that was dominated by Anglicans.

The name St. Brigid’s was derived from an Irish female saint, St Brigid of Kildare. Her life-size statue can be seen above the church’s entrance porch. St. Brigid herself is known for healing and was said to be very domesticated during her lifetime.

Heritage Building

Today, St. Brigid’s is one of six churches in the Jubilee parish. Widely regarded as one of Brisbane’s major landmarks, the church just celebrated its centennial year in 2014. Due to its heritage, the church is now a part of the National Trust as one of its heritage buildings.

Photo credit: www.catholicleader.com.au