Changing of the guard

There's a changing of the guard in the kitchen at Cabiria in Petrie Terrace.

Chef Emlyn Thorrington is moving to Spring in the CBD to take over the vacancy left by the departure of Kim Machin. Replacing him at Cabiria is Jonno Bryant, who will also oversee Peasant next door. Bryant garnered fans at his previous place of work, Anise wine bar, before moving on to Montrachet, and of late, running Chef's Table catering.

"I've neglected Cabiria a bit this year," says owner Jamie Webb. "It needs some new life injected into it, to have the limits pushed a bit more to keep it interesting. Peasant will follow the same format as it does at the moment, but with Jonno's stamp on it."

Bryant is slated to move into the kitchen next week. Recent changes to the Cabiria menu have seen the addition of a selection of New York deli-style sandwiches such as a slider with buttermilk chicken schnitzel, jalapeno mayo and house-made slaw, adding to the almost-famous Cabiria Reuben and Harry's Bar egg sandwiches.

Later in the year will also see the birth of a sister for Cabiria and Peasant, with Webb opening Gordita, in a new development on the corner of Mclachlan and Ann Streets.

"It will be a cross between Peasant and Cabiria, with a strong bar focus," Webb says. "The food, though, will be more southern Spanish and of course there'll be a good wine list."

Gordita is expected to open in October.

Cabiria, 6 The Barracks, 61 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane, 3368 2666