One of Brisbane’s biggest cooking schools is changing face. Golden Pig in inner-city Newstead has announced that it will no longer just be a cooking facility, but one where you can drop in to dine on the venue’s Asian specialties, all without lifting a finger. 

Golden Pig Cooking School owner and chef Katrina Ryan is behind the establishment’s latest expansion, confirming the introduction of an 80-seat Pan Asian venue into the Golden Pig’s existing warehouse space, which will be led by chef Sarah Hockings. The themed restaurant and bar concept has been inspired by her experience working for Neil Perry and the Sunshine Coast’s renowned Spirit House restaurant, and will be open from 5.30pm from Tuesday through Saturday.

The fare will be focused around Thai and Chinese cuisine, with a hint of Vietnamese and Japanese thrown in for good measure. A collection of small, medium, and large dishes will be integrated throughout the menu, which is built around a share-plate concept. Stand-outs range from a sichuan spiced duck with mandarin, miso and black vinegar to a tea-smoked ora king salmon with fresh coconut, tamarind and grape. “I think Asian cuisine and ingredients are a beautiful match with our subtropical climate,” says Ryan of her passion for Asian food.

The restaurant will sit within a revamped space, built by designer Mark Ryan and shaped around natural timbers and materials. An open kitchen sits central in the new design, accented by industrial finishes, concrete flooring and metal-framed windows included. A bar will sit at the front entrance where Asian-inspired cocktails and nibbles will be available from 5.00pm every day.

But fear not, the cooking school side of business will remain at The Golden Pig in Newstead. It will now only operate on the days when the restaurant is closed (Sunday and Monday) and remain under Ryan’s passionate direction.

The Golden Pig Restaurant & Cooking School
38 Ross Street, Newstead, Brisbane
goldenpig.com.au