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Food lovers at The Pines Elanora will be in a win-win situation with Asian restaurant FantAsia The Pine running a unique promotion to assist children who may have experienced or are at risk of abuse and neglect.

FantAsia The Pines has announced $2 meals until November 30 with each $2 meals purchased seeing the money donated to Act for Kids.

Owners John and Judy Wong have more than 40-years experience in the restaurant industry and have built a reputation for great food and generous support to the community. This Christmas they would like to make a difference by giving back to the community.

All proceeds from the $2 meal purchased will go towards Act for Kids to help them provide ongoing support services to children and families who have experienced or at risk of abuse and neglect. Support service include workshops, therapy, safe houses in communities and educational services.

Jacobs Centre Manager said FantAsia was a great new retailer for the southern Gold Coast and this was the first restaurant concept store that the Wongs have opened.

“We’re really proud that Judy Wong chose The Pines Elanora for this venture and this one week even to support ACT for Kids is a great initiative,” Ms Jacobs said.

“We’re sure our local community will love the food and the chance to do some good at the same time.”

Until November 30, the $2 meals will be available from 4:30-7:30pm, except for Saturday and Sunday which is 12:30-3:30pm. The $2 meal will be available from a selected menu and limited to one meal per person.

The authentic cuisine is based on traditional cooking methods, to deliver a healthy modern Asian cuisine offering iconic dishes from Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Chinese provinces.

FantAsia The Pines – Elanora is proud to announce a week long $2 meal, YES just $2! From each $2 meal purchased the money will be donated to Act for kids. 

This week long event will commence from next Wednesday 23d November to 30^th November from 4.30pm – 7.30pm, except for Saturday and Sunday which is 12.30pm – 3.30pm. The $2 meal will be available from a selected menu and limited to one meal per person.

FantAsia The Pines is their very first store on the Gold Coast, after the success of nine locations throughout Brisbane.

The authentic cuisine philosophy is based on traditional cooking methods, to deliver a healthy modern Asian cuisine. FantAsia brings to you “Fantastic food from Asia” offering iconic dishes from Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and several Chinese provinces. Their wide range of popular, delicious meals include light and fresh dumplings, hearty Tokyo Beef, Steamed Chicken with Ginger and Shallot Pesto, as well as tangy and fragrant and flavour-packed Singapore Chicken and Prawn Laksa.

Food has always been a passion of the owners John and Judy Wong with over 40 years’ experience in the restaurant industry. Their success largely contributed to their hard work and generous support to the community. This Xmas they like to make a difference by giving back to the community with the FantAsia Xmas “Help A Kid” Giving in partnership with Act for Kids as a way to say thank you.

All proceeds from the $2 meal purchased will go towards Act for Kids to help them provide ongoing support services to children and families who have experienced, or are at risk of abuse and neglect. Support service include, workshops, therapy, safe houses in remote communities, support to families, educational services and more.

Every 13 minutes a child suffers neglect or abuse, and reported to the Australian authorities confirmed 42,457 cases of neglect and abuse in just one year*. As sad as it is to say many cases will go unreported.

*Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Child protection Australia 2014-15.

Judy Wong was born to run restaurants, before you even utter your first question, you already have an invitation to her home for lunch, dinner or afternoon tea.

“I guess it’s in my blood, I just love making people happy through my food and it’s what I’ve been doing almost all my life.”

Judy arrived from Hong Kong in 1976 as a sixteen-year-old with $20 to her name.  She spent the next 30 years building her businesses, firstly in Sydney and then in Rockhampton, before selling up and opting for an early retirement.

But she quickly realised that retirement was not for her and in 2011 opened her first “FantAsia” outlet serving fresh, restaurant quality food at takeaway prices.

Five years on, Judy is about to open her tenth Queensland outlet with a brand new concept store at The Pines Elanora on the Gold Coast, turning the food court takeaway model on its head.

“Unlike most Asian takeaways we minimise the amount of processed ingredients we use,” Judy Wong said.

“The vast majority of our ingredients are fresh, including our herbs and spices, which our customers always comment on.”

“So the quality is far superior to most other outlets and therefore it was a natural thing for us to say, hang on, why don’t we continue on the same path with our service and provide the opportunity for customers to dine in and enjoy restaurant style service,” Judy said.

FantAsia’s menu has been developed by her husband, John, whose chef experience spans over 40 years and covers cuisine from countries all over Asia. Their signature dish “Slow-Cooked Tokyo Beef” is proving so popular it’s estimated each week more than a tonne is served to eager diners.

And it’s not often you see a Steamed Barramundi dish on a shopping centre menu, with a price tag that Judy Wong says will have some customers doing double takes.

“My favourite saying is we pride ourselves on providing quality products with friendly service and value for money. Give these to the customer and the rest will fall into place.”

“Customers are becoming far more interested in eating fresh food and more educated about what ingredients go into making their food…we’ve had great success capturing that market with our offering.”

The Pines Elanora Centre Manager Hilary Jacobs says the arrival of FantAsia has furthered bolstered the centre’s reputation as a local food hub.

“Offering a dispersed food layout throughout the centre has worked for us. The outlets we welcome are attractive to customers as individual offers,” explains Centre Manager Hilary Jacobs.

Whilst statewide results show Queensland’s food catering sales are contracting, The Pines Elanora recorded a lift in its market share growing by 5% over the 12 months to March 2016*.

“And with the arrival of FantAsia, this continues our strategy to be a shopping destination with an authentic, diverse food offering that keeps us ahead of the pack,” Hilary Jacobs said.

“Our unique positioning in the market is reflected in our food catering sales numbers, which show we’ve hit a sweet spot with customers who are looking for more than your traditional shopping centre fare.”