betel leaf..

..is mainly consumed in Asia where it is combined with a variety of other components (such as areca nut, slaked lime, tobacco and spices including cardamon, turmeric, saffron and cloves) to make a betel quid. When this is chewed, and spat, the result is red and gooey and hell on the teeth which eventually are stained red.

Eeeeeeeeeeew.

However, at Beach Almond, a little restaurant at the end of the Palm Cove promenade, betel leaf is a base for a very delicious combination of scallops and crispy pork belly and a finger sucking drizzle. The betel leaf is folded into a parcel around the little stack and......munch.
This followed by a deep fried and very crispy, locally caught barramundi.
Bliss.

And just checked the teeth and not red yet!!