Food News

NORTHBOUND

With so many people driving north these holidays, I thought I’d offer up my favourite Pacific Highway food pit stop. It’s called the Salty Dog Seafood Café and Gallery, and after travelling the highway between Sydney and Taree numerous times, I can attest to it being pretty much the best food on the highway. It’s located in Coolongolook (just north of Bulahdelah) and has a focus on locally caught seafood – including excellent Wallis Lake Oysters. For a clever leftfield choice, try their prawn and bacon loaded potato skins – perfect with a bottle of Matilda Bay’s Minimum Chips. And don’t forget to check out their house-made jams and locally crafted wood items in the gallery while you’re waiting.
25 Bengal Street, Coolongolook (02) 4997 7107

A mere twelve kilometres drive off the Pacific Highway is the beautiful and uncrowded Old Bar Beach. However what makes this sleepy seaside town notable to a foodie like me is that for the last five years, it’s also been the location of Martine’s Café & Restaurant. Alongside an array of café standards, you’ll get a taste of owner Martine Mungoven’s Mauritian heritage in her wonderful chicken and prawn curry. Other unusual touches on the menu include fresh-caught fish and chips dressed up with coconut chutney. While you’re there, pick up a bottle of her famous hot chilli sauce – it’s made on a mix of chillies, but the prevailing taste is bright yellow habaneros. Don’t say I didn’t warn you…
2-3/43 Old Bar Road, Old Bar (02) 6553 3188

The picturesque Manning Valley and neighbouring Great Lakes area offers up some interesting produce stops. If you can time your trip to coincide with the first Sunday of the month, you can visit the Black Head Bazaar. The only drawback if you’re driving up from Sydney is that it runs from 8am-1pm – and the locals like to get in early to land a bargain. Being a country market, you’ll find everything from farm fresh eggs, to actual animals. Local products to keep your eyes peeled for include Wallis Lake oysters and red spot (trumpeter) whiting, and Yok’s sauces and jams which are made from fruit and veggies she grows in her own garden at Old Bar. If all this is making you hungry, there’s plenty to eat in situ, including scones with cream and blueberry jam.
Wylie Breckenridge Park, Black Head Beach (0468) 312 452

CITY

Late last year I snacked my way through a Chow Town menu tasting. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, it’s just the biggest thing to hit Big Day Out since well… the Red Hot Chilli Peppers (who are also playing). In a star-chef studded line-up, you’ll get to down renovated Greek cheese (without the stick) but with honey and oregano from Jonathan Barthelmess  (The Apollo), super moist fried chook from Gregory Llewellyn (Hartsyard) and cute lil’ barbequed brisket and coleslaw sliders from the Bodega/Porteño lads, Ben Milgate & Elvis Abrahanowicz. My surprising winner was the tostada offerings from Avoca Beach’s Rojo Rocket – though it remains to be seen which snack will reproduce best and quickest at the festival. If you’d like to get a taste of this new dimension in festival food, you’ll have to hurry. Tickets for the 18th January event are selling fast online and at General Pants.
www.bigdayout.com

 

 

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