We have a chat with Ben and Roxy, owners of NUG General Store.
What is NUG General Store?
B: NUG General Store started as a general store. When we took over, we had an open mind and tried to see where we’d go and we’ve kind of morphed into more of a restaurant.
R: It was more as a general store where you would like to get homeware, you would like to get products that you wouldn’t find in a normal supermarket and then it was also a lunch place where people could have a sandwich and a glass of wine. In the evening but obviously that didn’t work for us. We wanted to have more Mediterranean restaurant.
Where are you located?
B: We’re at the end of Bakery Lane in Fortitude Valley. The Laneway has a really great vibe atmosphere around here. It’s all owner operated shops where everyone’s just doing what they love and you can see it. You can see the passion in people’s delivery.
How did it morph into what it is today?
R: We thought about it and we said OK what we going to create, what we going to do and we decided that we wanted a place where our family would love to eat so then, Ben is an amazing chef and I said Ben why don’t we do what we would do at home for our family? So we brought in great produce, we try to get the best quality, we get whatever we find locally and seasonal and we bring them on our plates.
Why Mediterranean food?
B: I do Mediterranean based food, more leading toward Italian food. It’s just been always a passion of mine. I’ve never cooked before in previous restaurants Italian but it’s always the stuff I cook at home so I wanted to try and focus on that and teach myself how to do things I’ve never done before in a restaurant setting. Pizza and pasta, they’re both vehicles for flavour so I’ve been cooking you know 20 plus years and so I know flavours and I found that pizza and pasta can really just deliver any flavour that I want and it doesn’t have to be Italian necessarily, it could be any cuisine and you put it on a pizza and with the right balance it’s going to be delicious!
What produce do you use?
B: Sourcing local products, ingredients is really important. I use Saison Salumi, they’re up the road in the Valley. I used to work with Damon and just looking for quality products means I don’t have to do a lot to it. It means it’s good to go and it shines through like I said pizza and pasta, it’s a vehicle. It’s there to promote what it comes with.
Why should people come and try NUG General Store?
R: People should come here, come over for a very relaxing night. A very European vibe. The whole lane brings back Europe for sure and for good food and for good atmosphere. For a good chat and for good family dining.
B: Yeah good times. It’s a little gem in the Valley hey. Like you wouldn’t think you’re in the Valley when you’re in here. It’s a step away, but you’re still in the Valley.
