Food that tastes good but is also good for you is what you’ll find at Asana by Pete Evans.
This is the first venture from well-known chef and paleo ambassador Pete Evans into Brisbane in his role as consultant chef and chief menu designer for a Capri by Fraser in Albert Street, Brisbane.
The restaurant is every bit as bright and shiny as Pete Evan’s smile and has a mix of comfortable bench seating and not-so-comfortable bright yellow metal chairs. Whoever designed these chairs should be made to sit in them for an extended period, and then some.
The theme is fresh, nutritious and delicious all-day dining, showcasing the best Queensland produce and reflecting Pete’s great love of food.
As befits a restaurant where the food is actually good for you, there’s a subtle inclusion of fermented vegetables in various forms throughout the menu. There’s also healing broths - chicken with ginger, lemon, native greens and soft egg or turmeric, cumin and lemon.
I settled on a starter of lemongrass wild prawn skewers with sesame, organic salad and nuoc cham which was light, appetising and wonderfully full of flavour although they did tend to fall apart a bit.
The ginger braised short rib with Asian greens that followed was a real success with tender beef infused with strong flavours.
K2 was taken by the Cape Grim beef special, but although both dishes lived up to expectations it was the carrot side dish that I ended up going back to again and again, making sure I got my half.
I had to try the Paleo tiramisu and found it wasn’t really all that much different from other tiramisu variations I’ve tried over the years. It certainly didn’t lack flavour or a creamy texture. K2 was happy with his choice of lemon pound cake.
Congratulations to the staff here too who were well versed in the menu and offered excellent wine matches by the glass.
Since I was enjoying a staycation at Capri by Fraser, I also sampled the breakfast menu which gets top marks for innovation and presentation. I’ve seen a lot of breakfast buffets and this one looked especially appetising and it tasted as good as it looked. I particularly liked the unusual presentation of the devilled eggs and the smoked salmon. There were also plenty of healthy alternatives that didn’t feel like a sad choice.
Capri by Fraser
Ed+bK rating: 3.7
Recommended for: This is the only paleo restaurant in the CBD, but the food stands alone as well prepared and flavoursome with plenty of interesting twists. Go there for a food that tastes good and is good for you.
Bottom line: Small plates (entrees) $9 - $24, Large plates (mains) $24 - $26, and treats (dessert) $12 – 14.
Best tip: Don't be put off by the paelo label, the food tastes just fine.
Disclaimer: Ed+bK dined as a guest of Fraser Suites.