For the love of
FOOD , ART & WINE
Finally this dear little city that we call home is starting to grow up . In the last six months Cairns has seen a barrage of new eating and drinking hotspots burst onto the scene filling my little heart with joy . One of the most recent spots to open up is Fusion Art Bar and Tapas on Spence St .
I popped into Fusion last Friday night with a small group for a couple of glasses of Rose and some tapas and was pleasantly surprised with the cool vibe of the place . Having only been open since the beginning of December , this unpretentious little wine bar has already gathered its own crowd of people in the know .
The name Fusion came about because it is ‘ fused ’ with the UnderArt Gallery right next door – in fact there ’ s even a doorway inside the bar linking the two should you feel like having a browse . With the art gallery affiliation there is some stunning art adorning the walls of Fusion with plenty of gorgeous furniture to fit with the arty vibe . I must give a personal mention to the fantastic table featuring a woman ’ s ‘ behind ’ down the back of the bar . Never before have I been jealous of a table ’ s ‘ assets ’ but this table has got the goods ( and the legs ); I couldn ’ t stop staring at it all evening !
Enough about the surrounds , let ’ s move onto the food and wine , shall we ? Designed and delivered by the innovative Chef Jez , the menu features a range of dishes including Pan Friend Haloumi with Chambord Strawberry Salsa with Fig
Balsamic to Sardines with SaffronaTempura and Harissa Aioli , as well as share platters for two or more people . The Chatter Platter for $ 32 with a gorgeous array of cheese like Adelaide Hills Camembert , Cumin Spiced Gouda and Cave- Aged Cheddar topped off with Sopressa , Quince Paste , Chorizo , Smoked Olives and Black Crackers was both a stylish and heavenly start to our evening . The Sardines were seriously to-die-for , the only thing we regret was not ordering two plates .
The wine by the glass is very reasonably priced around the
$ 12 mark . The tapas menu is between $ 12 and $ 20 a plate , with the share platters and main dishes between $ 32 and $ 45 . The service from the owner
Iefje and her staff is warm and welcoming ; the vibe is relaxed , and you can actually have a conversation without screaming – a mean feat in the CBD bars of late . Fusion Art Bar and Tapas , with its fresh new industrial fitout , is a fab new ‘ grown up ’ addition to the Cairns food and wine scene and a breath of fresh air for a location that has previously had a bit of difficulty finding it ’ s feet .
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Feb | March 2017 | 7