Picnic Real Food Bar

Located in North Stores on Tamborine Mountain, Picnic Real Food Bar is the creation of Brenda Fawdon, who you might recognise as the founder of the now closed Mondo Organics, an icon of Brisbane’s food scene for years. She’s since transferred her passion for local produce and food that caters to all dietary requirements to the Scenic Rim, and Picnic Real Food Bar is her love letter to all things local, sustainable and delicious—and worth the trip up the mountain alone. 

Whether you’re craving sweet or savoury, Picnic’s menu has you covered, so make it your first stop on any Tamborine day trip. Their spring brunch menu features the likes of zucchini fritters topped with yoghurt and avocado salad, buckwheat pancakes loaded with berries and labna, farinata—house made chickpea flatbread—piled with basil besto, avocado and green peas, a bacon and egg burger and more. The best part? Pretty much everything on the menu is or can be made gluten-free and vegan.

The venue itself, along with the rest of North Stores, a hub for creatives and designers, was designed by Fawdon’s business partner, Sonja Drexler, and care has been taken to ensure it ticks all the boxes for functionality, aesthetics and sustainability. A closed loop system means that all waste is turned into mulch and used on a kitchen garden being developed, while a function space at the rear is used for everything from cooking classes to yoga. 

We could go on and on about the million other ways this eatery is a welcome addition to the Tamborine Mountain community, but all you really need to know is that they dish up damn good food, so be sure to stop in for a feed. And before you leave, take a peek into the surrounding creative studios also located in the North Stores complex including Potta Studio, Kriket Broadhurst Jewellery, and the Studio and Stockroom.

Image credit: Picnic Real Food Bar