Spendlove on the Gold Coast

Wow! What a weekend! I've been on the Gold Coast eating and drinking my way through Tastes of the Gold Coast and visiting some of the finest Gold Coast establishments.

I'm starting at the end which was breakfast at Spendlove in the Ferry Road Markets at Southport. This cafe is positioned in the middle of a large market-style shopping building, run by the same crowd who operate Brisbane's James Street Market in the Valley. More on that soon.

Spendlove is a locals haunt and some menu items are so popular, such as the green pea risotto they can not be changed. Owner Tony Roberts says the emphasis is on fresh local produce, citing hand-picked lettuce from Mount Tamborine and local goat's cheese as two examples. There's also local Burleigh Dukes Pale Ale and Vince's Verdelho from O'Reillys Gold Coast vineyard on the drinks list.

I chose bircher muesli which came with really fresh fruit and a super sweet honey and cinnamon yoghurt on the side. Best of all it was $9.50 which was great value. There were sighs of delight from those eating eggs benedict and the two cheese souffle with Hanks tomato chutney. And the caesar salad was pronounced 'the best I have eaten' by it's lucky owner.

Bottom line: Even after three days of serious eating, our group was wowed by the food. Do yourself a favour and try it out.

Spendlove, Ferry Rd Market, Brickworks Centre,107 Ferry Rd Southport.