A jewel in the crown of the Sunshine Coast’s burgeoning food scene, Popina in Eumundi takes southern European fare as well as revitalises it into spectacular contemporary cuisine.
Towards the southern end of Eumundi, a market town in the Sunshine Coast, the twinkle of fairy lights, the tinkle of jazz as well as a sprinkle of laughter from al fresco diners draw us to the courtyard restaurant of Popina.
We discover our table below the trees that shimmer with their bit lights as well as absorb the friendly environment before turning our interest to the menus.
Historically, a popina was a red wine bar in ancient Rome that had a easy menu of food done well.
It’s a vibe that this Popina has nailed.
Mind you, though the menu may be simple, the food many definitely isn’t, which is outstanding as husband-and-wife team cent as well as Alex are the only personnel running Popina.
Check out Popina as well as our other top suggestions for where to eat in our video here:
Penny runs front of house, which she does with amazing simplicity utilizing her deep comprehending of the restaurant business.
In fact, the last time we satisfied was in 2014, when she worked at Rockpool in Sydney. That’s exactly how great she is. I imply exactly how numerous wait personnel can you keep in mind from a hectic restaurant practically ten years ago?
Meanwhile from the open kitchen, we peek Alex as he single-handedly commands the kitchen, prepping, cooking as well as plating every meal to emerge.
Popina Eumundi
With a focus on regional seasonal organic produce, Popina’s menu is ever-changing. In fact, there’s even a page in the menu book that details a few of the create Alex as well as cent are currently using, from the eggs as well as tomatoes to the bread as well as herbs to the beer, gin as well as coffee*.
It implies that what Alex is cooking one week may well vanish from the kitchen area the next, which keeps things fresh as well as fascinating for everyone—no less the chef himself.
From a option of five entrees, we opt for the buffalo mozzarella with fresh figs, basil as well as balsamic—a characteristically easy meal however one that’s completely seasoned as well as plated, as well as with a freshness that sings.
We likewise purchase the hiramasa kingfish tartare, which I’ve never heard of before as well as that’s a lighter version of traditional beef tartare. The meal includes pickled tomato, gazpacho granita, capers as well as chilli salt, as well as additional bit details like small geranium leaves as well as radish sliced so thin it’s see-through.
Our mains, of which there are four to select from, consist of a lovely crispy-skinned fillet of hiramasa kingfish with wilted cavalo nero, crispy pancetta as well as the most extremely silky creamy cauliflower puree.
The generous plate of Fraser Isle spanner crab spaghettini is piled high as well as completely seasoned. bright citrus as well as parsley raise the tender crab that thrives throughout this dish.
The fine-strand pasta brings a distinct beauty to the meal while the chunky infant plum tomatoes cooked with with a delicate jus as well as chilli oil make sure there’s lots of body to this delightful dish.
From the three sides on offer, we select the roast rosemary potatoes (of program we do!) as well as we select wisely. Actually, it’s cent who puts us onto this, discussing the potatoes are quadruple-cooked!
Boiled, then roasted, then when they’re prepared to serve, they’re roasted once again then fried. Crisp on the outside yet practically gooey in the middle as well as with lots of rosemary as well as crystal salt, these spuds are not to be missed.
Somehow we handle to think about the dessert menu, as well as we’re glad we did.
Christina’s chocolate semifreddo (you understand exactly how much she likes a semifreddo) is like a frozen bar of delicate chocolate topped with quenelles of cherry sorbet as well as vanilla gelato, then dusted with bunya nut powder. Elegant, opulent as well as delicious.
My affogato is beautifully served. The scoops of chocolate-dusted vanilla gelato are in a tumbler next to a smaller glass of espresso, while the frangelico is available in a small crystal cut old fashioned glass for me to assemble at my leisure.
It’s a meal we’re not likely to fail to remember for all the best reasons, as well as makes us want to come back to Eumundi once again soon to see what else Alex as well as cent are serving next.
We believed you may likewise delight in much more of our stories on the Sunshine coastline like:
– Europe on the Sunshine coastline – Spicers Clovelly Estate, Montville
– Where to stay in Eumundi – HOLA, hotel Of regional Art
– Our Sunshine coastline adventure
*The eggs are from pasture-fed free-range chickens at Bunya Grove in Amamoor, the tomatoes from Noosa Reds in Doonan as well as the organic sourdough really comes from Tanglewood Bakery in Noosa.Fall’s farm in Mapleton offers the herbs as well as veggies though some likewise come from Eumundi farm Fresh as well as the rosemary comes from the garden of Alex as well as Penny’s neighbour Trudy, as well as the beer as well as spirits come from Noosa. The coffee is from Eumundi Coffee Co just up the street.
We dined as media guests of Popina as well as see Sunshine coastline tourism board, however our opinions stay our own.