I was scanning the lead story in the local rag “The Independent” (which is a thinly disguised excuse for some property ads) over a quick lunch today. It’s about how Stephen Fitzgerald, the guy who has owned Ric’s Bar and Fat Boys Cafe in Fortitude Valley for the last 15 years is calling it quits due, he says, to “The Hill Song Brigade and Bligh”.

It read like a serious article until I got to this section on page two:

He had to “get his COC out”? “We got the COC in our hands…”??

I started to think someone was ‘avin a laff.

Sure enough, the end of the story has this photo:

I don’t know who the guy on the left is, but the guy on the right is Orson Welles.

In the online version of the story, The Independent uses this photo instead:

Well the story made me laugh but it’s a serious issue and it’ll be a shame to see Ric’s / Fat Boys go. I’ve seen a lot of great new bands there, including one of @pressdarling‘s outfits. I think Fat Boys was the first place I had coffee in Brisbane when I moved here and it was great to know that a good latte could be found here, although, I’m sad to say, the last couple of coffees I had there were quite below par.

John Ronchi and Eugene Phua, owners of Campos Coffee in Fortitude Valley, were generous enough to be guests on the pilot episode of this show back in October 2008. So I was very pleased to hear recently that Campos has been voted the best cafe in the country by the thousands of their customers who participated in the annual LifeStyle FOOD Channel’s I Love FOOD Awards 2009. I sat down with John and Eugene again last week to get a tour of their roasting facility and to learn more about the wonders of the mighty bean.

Brisbane Confidential 10 – Campos, Fortitude Valley from Brisbane Confidential on Vimeo.

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Join our Facebook Group and tell us which cafes, restaurants, shops, bars, events, and locations in Brisbane we should cover on Brisbane Confidential!

Brisbane Confidential is a production of ourbrisbane.com and The Podcast Network.

Today we chat with Peter Clarke, owner of the extremely popular Sassafras Cafe, an institution in Paddington – about good beans, good brekky, good service and losing money on the horses.

Brisbane Confidential 08 – Sassafras from Brisbane Confidential on Vimeo.

Look for more weekly episodes about the best of Brisbane at brisbaneconfidential.com!

New episodes will be available each Thursday on ourbrisbane.com, BrisbaneConfidential.com and through iTunes.

Join our Facebook Group and tell us which cafes, restaurants, shops, bars, events, and locations in Brisbane we should cover on Brisbane Confidential!

Brisbane Confidential is a production of ourbrisbane.com and The Podcast Network.

Brisbane Confidential 06 – Anise Wine Bar & Bistro from Brisbane Confidential on Vimeo.

Anise Bistro & Wine Bar in New Farm seats only 21 people and offers a European wine bar & restaurant experience. We subjected ourselves to their 6 hour degustation menu to bring you this report. Burp!

Look for more weekly episodes about the best of Brisbane at brisbaneconfidential.com!

New episodes will be available each Thursday on ourbrisbane.com, BrisbaneConfidential.com and through iTunes.

Join our Facebook Group and tell us which cafes, restaurants, shops, bars, events, and locations in Brisbane we should cover on Brisbane Confidential!

Brisbane Confidential is a production of ourbrisbane.com and The Podcast Network.

Brisbane Confidential 03 – Cheese, Truffles, Caviar from Cameron Reilly on Vimeo.

In this episode, I pay a visit to Josie at Delicatezza deli and to Babak from Black Pearl Epicure. They show off some amazing cheese, truffles and caviar.

Each week the series will showcase some of the funkiest cafes, bars, restaurants, boutique stores and events in Brisbane. New episodes will be available each Thursday on ourbrisbane.com , BrisbaneConfidential.com and through iTunes.

Join our Facebook Group and tell us which cafes, restaurants, shops, bars, events, and locations in Brisbane we should cover on Brisbane Confidential!

Brisbane Confidential is a production of ourbrisbane.com and The Podcast Network.

In Oct 2008 I shot this video as a pilot for a new weekly video magazine about Brisbane’s best cafes, bars, restaurants, shops, events and activities. I’m excited to announce that the series will be starting shortly. To purchase in-show advertising, please contact me via email.

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The places featured in this episode are:
Campos, Fortitude Valley
Sling, West End
Paladar Fumior Salon, South Brisbane

Know a cool place in Brisbane that we should review? Send us a tweet!