3 September 2020
#trEATs at this year’s Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
It’s all about flowers and flavour at this year’s Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers which is set to star over 170,000 blooms across the city’s parks and public spaces during September, as well as floral-inspired dishes from almost 40 different cafés and restaurants across the region.
While the program has been adjusted to ensure all experiences are COVID-19 safe, the city is ready to welcome Queenslanders to play in the petals and explore some of the hidden places and flavours of the region.
New to 2020 is a region-wide food trail called #trEATS aimed at celebrating the amazing array of ‘eats’ available in the Toowoomba Region. Almost 40 local flavour-makers have signed up, each offering a $20 springtime special on their menu during September, inspired by the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
There’s a stunning and insta-worthy deconstructed pavlova from Fitzy’s created from rosewater marshmallow, meringue, raspberry gel, fresh raspberries, edible flowers, micro mint, passionfruit jelly, Chantilly cream, pashmak, strawberries and frozen berries or from GPO Bar & Café, a crispy soft-shell crab with pan fried zucchini, cauliflower, sweet potato, finished with apple, mint, kaffir lime salad and lemon cheek. Breakfast, morning and afternoon tea, lunch, dinner and dessert options are all covered! The full list is at tcof.com.au.
#trEATS joins the new Artists-in-Residence Chalk Art program in Queens Park Botanic Garden, the popular Rowes light shows at night, activations at Cobb + Co Museum and the much-loved beautiful parks and public spaces, full of flowers.
Another Life Coffee & Wares
Address: Bellevue Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Facebook: @anotherlifecoffeeandwares
Hours: Monday – Friday: 6.30am-2.30pm & Saturday – Sunday: 6.30am-11.30am
trEAT: Brekkie Burrito – Chorizo, fried egg, hash brown, cheese and caramelised onion relish in a toasted wrap with a hash brown and a ‘Popachino’ (a coffee, hazelnut and caramel inspired coffee)
Bar Wunder
Address: 424 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Website: www.barwunder.com.au
Hours: Wednesday – Thursday: 3pm-9pm, Friday – Saturday: 12pm-12am & Sunday: 12pm-8pm
trEAT: House made crumbed cauliflower florets served on a bed of fresh rocket, house pickled carrot, fresh radish, edible flowers, toasted pepita and sunflower seeds with house made hummus. (Vegan)
Bernborough Tavern
Address: 69 Campbell Street, Oakey QLD 4401
Facebook: Bernborough Tavern
Hours: Daily: 10am-10pm
trEAT: Spring Salad – Eye rib fillet with fresh asparagus, salad greens, edible flowers, topped with hollandaise dressing.
Bunneyconnellen
Address: 286 Swain Road, Crows Nest QLD 4355
Website: www.bunnyconnellen.com.au
Hours: 18-28 September, 10am – 4pm daily (special hours for Carnival period)
trEAT: Glazed hand-stretched brioche donuts decorated with edible flowers (pack of four)
City Library Café
Address: 155 Herries Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8am-3pm
trEAT: Devonshire Tea for Two – Fresh baked scones with spring fruit jam and cream, served with two small teas or coffees. (Vegan available)
Club Glenvale
Address: 564 Boundary Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Website: www.clubglenvale.com.au
Hours: Daily: from 10am
trEAT: Baked pork belly served with a seasonal salad, tossed in a sweet chilli vinaigrette topped with grilled haloumi and avocado.
Cobb’s Coffee Shop
Address: 27 Lindsay Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Website: https://cobb.qm.qld.gov.au
Hours: Daily: 9.30am-4pm
trEAT: Za’tar marinated local Brannock Brae lamb tender loin served with Wilgavale organic beetroot, chargrilled nectarine cheeks on top of a herb infused quinoa and fetta salad, with a Bunnyconnellen caramelized balsamic glaze.
Colours of San Cris
Address: Cnr Shostaki Road and New England Highway, Cabarlah QLD 4352
Facebook: @ColoursOfSanCris
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 9am-4pm
trEAT: Local lime meringue pie with lime infused syrup and pistachios. Served with two regular coffees or teas.
Fitzy’s Toowoomba
Address: 153 Margaret Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Website: www.fitzys.com
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 12pm-late
trEAT: Deconstructed Pavlova – designed to share for two: hand crafted rosewater marshmallow, meringue, raspberry gel, fresh raspberries, edible flowers, micro mint, passionfruit jelly, Chantilly cream, pashmak, strawberries, frozen berries.
Forage Kitchen & Coffee Bar
Address: 55-57 Campbell Street, Millmerran QLD 4357
Facebook: @foragekitchenandcoffeebar
Hours: Monday – Friday: 7am-2pm
trEAT: Nachos – corn chips with tasty ground beef and cheese, accompanied by guacamole, black beans and sour cream. Served with soft drink.
GPO Bar & Café
Address: 160 Margaret Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Facebook: @gpobarandcafe
Hours: Monday – Friday: 6.30am-4pm, Friday & Saturday: 5.30pm-8.30pm & Sunday: 7am-2pm
trEAT: Crispy soft-shell crab with pan fried zucchini, cauliflower, sweet potato, finished with apple, mint, kaffir lime salad and lemon cheek.
Greenwattle Café
Address: Coles Complex, Cnr Greenwattle Street and Glenvale Road, Glenvale QLD 4350
Facebook: Greenwattle Cafe
Hours: Daily: 7am-9pm
trEAT: Slow cooked roast of the day with spring vegetables.
Hello Harry
Address: Walton Stores, 5/476 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Instagram: @helloharry.toowoomba
Hours: Monday – Tuesday: 11am-2.30pm, 5pm-8pm & Wednesday – Sunday: 11am-late
trEAT: The Quatro #trEAT! A grass-fed beef burger, small serve of chips in special seasoning, a golden house made onion ring and three scoops of ice cream smothered in house made sauces of choice!
Irish Club Hotel
Address: 80 Russell Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Facebook: @IrishClubHotel
Hours: Daily: 12pm-2pm, 6pm-8pm
trEAT: Slow cooked beef and mushroom pie with creamy mash and seasonal vegetables.
Jillys Café
Address: 181 Margaret Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Facebook: Jillys Cafe
Hours: Daily: 8am – 2pm
trEAT: Beetroot and Feta Smash, served on thick cut locally baked vienna bread topped with spinach, crumbed chicken tenders and a poached egg, with house made dukkah and bal tar, pumpkin seeds, and a lemon wedge.
Kajoku – Korean and Japanese Cuisine
Address: Level 1/430 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Website: www.kajoku.com.au
Hours: Monday – Friday: 12pm-2pm, 4.30pm-9pm & Saturday: 12pm-3pm, 4.30pm-9pm
trEAT: Naengchae Bo Ssam – Poached Pork Belly Salad – Chilled Korean poached pork belly slices and fresh salad with a special mustard sauce.
Muller Bros
Address: 25/27 Bell Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Instagram: @mullerbros
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 12pm-late
trEAT: Sweet rhubarb custard tart with pistachio crumb, pomegranate glass, strawberry shortcake crumble and house made vanilla bean ice cream sprinkled with gold dust.
Oak and Vine Café
Address: Oaks Toowoomba Hotel, 25 Annand Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Website: https://www.oakshotels.com/en/oaks-toowoomba-hotel
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 6.30am-2pm & Sunday: 6.30am-1pm
trEAT: Burger with six-hour slow cooked pulled lamb shoulder, pica de gallo, mint raita and fresh leaf greens served with cross trace chips.
Phat Burgers
Address: 513 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Website: http://www.phatburgers.com.au/
Hours: Daily: 9am-2.30pm, 4pm-8.30pm (extended hours for September)
trEAT: The Gummingurru – Yakajirri rubbed brisket, riberry chutney, onion rings, Warrigal greens on ciabatta with locally grown kumura wedges.
Pony Espresso Café
Address: 2 Bowen Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Facebook: @ponyespresso4350
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8am-2.30pm & Saturday: 8.30am-1.30pm
trEAT: Strawberry and Seared Salmon Salad – a share plate for two or a large serve for one: cos leaves tossed in house- made strawberry and pink peppercorn vinaigrette, topped with seared salmon, house made pickled strawberries, toasted sunflower seeds and torn mint.
Potter’s Boutique Hotel
Address: 258 Margaret Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Website: https://pottershoteltoowoomba.com.au/
Hours: Monday – Friday: 6.30am-2pm, 5pm-8.30pm
trEAT: Caramelised crispy pork salad with pineapple slaw, fried hokkien noodles and cashews with a chilli Thai dressing.
Rak Thai Kitchen
Address: Shop 4, Westride Shopping Centre, 300 West Street, Kearney Springs QLD 4350
Facebook: @rakthaikitchen
Hours: Monday: 4.30pm-8.30pm & Tuesday – Sunday: 11.30am-2pm, 4.30pm-8.30pm
trEAT: Deep fried crispy pawns tossed with capsicum, onion, fried garlic, salt and pepper.
Rosalie House
Address: 135 Lavenders Road, Lilyvale QLD 4352
Website: www.rosaliehouse.com.au
Hours: Friday: 10am – late, Saturday: 9am – late & Sunday: 9am – 5.30pm
trEAT: Locally sourced BBQ Awassi lamb kofta served on a bed of house made hummus, roasted vegetables and quinoa topped with minted Awassi labneh. (GF)
Rusty’s Bar & Grill
Address: Pittsworth Motor Inn, 51 Helens Street, Pittsworth QLD 4356
Facebook: @pittsworthmotorinn
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 5.30pm-9pm
trEAT: Whiting Salad – English spinach, shaved parmesan, lettuce, butter beans and sundried tomatoes, finished with fresh strawberries and whiting fillets and drizzled with a honey Dijon mustard dressing.
Schnitz
Address: Ground Level, Grand Central Shopping Centre, corner Margaret & Dent Streets, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Website: https://schnitz.com.au/
Hours: Sunday – Wednesday: 10.30am-8.30pm & Thursday – Saturday: 10.30am-9pm
trEAT: Gala Roll Combo with two pieces of bacon, a crispy potato rosti, sage and onion mayo fresh cos lettuce and cranberry sauce, topped with a mouth-watering golden chicken schnitzel. Served with chips and a drink.
Seasons on Ruthven Restaurant and Wine Bar
Address: 200 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Website: https://www.ambassadoronruthven.com.au/seasons
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: from 5pm
trEAT: Cheese and olive antipasto taster with wine samples for two.
Sofra Turkish Cuisine
Address: 164 Margaret Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Facebook: Sofra Turkish Cuisine
Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11.30am-9pm & Friday – Saturday: 11.30am-9.30pm
trEAT: Turkish Gozleme with coban salad (choice of beef, chicken or spinach and cheese).
Stoney the Fishmonger
Address: 127 Herries Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Website: https://stoneythefishmonger.com.au/
Hours: Sunday: 10am-4pm, Monday: 10am-6pm, Tuesday – Wednesday: 8am-7.30pm & Thursday – Saturday: 8am-8pm
trEAT: Rice crusted tempura battered king prawns with mango, rocket, and taro ball salad, finished with lime aioli and bottarga.
The Baker’s Duck
Address: 124 Campbell Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Instagram: @thebakersduck
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 7am-1pm
trEAT: Vanilla and raspberry tea cake topped with fresh berries and cream.
The Bungalow and Basket
Address: Shop 4, 400 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Instagram: @the_bungalow_and_basket
Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 8am-4pm & Saturday: 9am-1pm
trEAT: Cake and coffee for two! Two rustic pieces of plump apricot slice drizzled with a homemade lavender syrup with choice of beverage.
The Coffee Emporium
Address: Grand Central, Level G, Shop 7, corner Dent & Margaret Streets, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Facebook: @thecoffeeemporiumtoowoomba
Hours: Sunday – Wednesday: 7am-6pm & Thursday – Saturday: 7am-9pm
trEAT: Spring lamb cutlets with roast potatoes and minted peas.
The Finch
Address: 469 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Instagram: @thefinchtbar
Hours: Daily: 7am-2pm
trEAT: Grass-fed Angus eye fillet tartare sourced from local producer Clayton’s Organics with fried capers, Preston ironbark smoked yolk, buttered brioche crumb and house mustard aioli.
Travellers Coffee House
Address: 189 Hume Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Facebook: @travellerscoffeehouse
Hours: Monday – Friday: 7am-3pm & Saturday: 7am-11am
trEAT: Mini High Tea – an array of house made sweet and savoury morsels with a pot of organic tea or barista made Merlo coffee.
Urban Grounds
Address: 210 Herries Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Website: http://www.urbangrounds.com.au/
Hours: Sunday & Monday: 7am-2.30pm & Tuesday-Saturday: 7am-9pm
trEAT: Brisket and chili beans, pea puree, sourdough, chorizo, chive cream, avocado and a poached egg.
Urth Café
Address: 195 Hume Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Website: https://www.urthcafebar.com.au/
Hours: Monday – Friday: 6am-2.30pm & Saturday & Sunday: 7am-12pm
trEAT: Bruschetta Avo Stack – avocado, rocket and fresh tomato salsa on toasted sourdough, served with haloumi and bacon, topped with Persian fetta and balsamic glaze.
Yum Cha Cuisine Toowoomba
Address: Shop 34, Grand Central Shopping Centre, corner Dent & Margaret Streets, Toowoomba QLD 4350
Facebook: Yum Cha Cuisine Toowoomba
Hours: Daily: 11am-3pm, 5pm-9pm
trEAT: Bang Bang Chicken – fried chicken fillet with homemade Chinese mustard sauce.
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers 2020
18 to 27 September 2020
See tcof.com.au for more.
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers – A History
Since its inception in 1949, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has flourished and is now an iconic Queensland event. The brainchild of Essex Tait and the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce, Carnival was introduced as a way for the city to use its “Garden City” reputation to promote increased economic activity following the hardships of war. On October 21, 1950 the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers commenced with a street procession that stretched three miles in length. Led by a bullock team and watched by a crowd estimated to be 50,000 strong, it was a resounding success, as it has been ever since.
Awards and Accolades
Gold winner 2019 Queensland Tourism Award for Destination Marketing
State Finalist 2019 Australian Tourism Awards for Destination Marketing
Australian Tourism Hall of Fame Inductee 2018 Major Festivals & Events
Queensland Tourism Hall of Fame Inductee 2017 Major Festivals & Events
Gold winner 2018, 2017, 2016 Australian Tourism Award for Major Festivals & Events
Gold winner 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 Queensland Tourism Award for Major Festivals & Events
Most Supportive Community Event 2017 Queensland Wine Awards
Event category Winner 2015 Parks & Leisure Australia Awards of Excellence
Gold winner 2014 Queensland Tourism Awards for Festivals and Events
For more information contact Kath Rose & Associates on 0416 291 493 or kath@kathrose.com