If you haven't popped in to MEET restaurant on Newcastle's Darby Street recently, you should.
Head chef Roy McVeigh has been busy experimenting with Hunter Region produce for a new seasonal menu.
Food & Wine popped in the other night and sampled three new dishes by McVeigh. Mango and buffalo mozzarella with mussels escabeshe; grilled queso fresco with candied bacon and peporanta; and zucchini caparchio with gruyere, guava and hazelnut.
Each was fresh, light and flavoursome, and a perfect fit for summer dining. The chilled mango with the mozzarella was a standout.
"It's most definitely a taste of things to come," McVeigh said.
"At the moment we're heading towards a more farm-to-table experience and trying to keep it as local as possible. The biggest thing for us is flavour first with touches of South America while still making sure the customer can taste the charcoal, flames and smoke."
McVeigh's resume includes Guillaume at Bennelong, Dragoncello, Berowra Waters Inn and Chez Moi in Hong Kong.
A handful of tickets are still available for MEET's churrasco feast at Dalwood Estate on November 14.
Tickets are $95 and include food, a wine tasting, shared table desserts and entertainment. You can leave the car at home and book a return bus from Newcastle, too.
Go online to tickets.myguestlist.com to book.
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Wagyu Wonderland in the CBD
Exciting times are ahead for the good folk at Binnie Beef Warehouse, who sell quality wagyu direct to the public.
Their latest venture is Wagyu Wonderland by Binnie Beef, a paddock-to-plate experience in the heart of Newcastle at Binnie Beef's warehouse on Parry Street. It's being touted as offering "homestead hospitality and honest country style in a uniquely rustic event space". Bookings are now being taken for private events or Christmas parties (phone 4067 5666 or email events@binniebeef.com.au).
Read more: Hunter farmer Steve Binnie's move into wagyu cattle has been a wild ride
Also, Newcastle actor and singer Ben Mingay, a fan of Binnie Beef, has hopped on board as an ambassador. He is helping to produce weekly videos on Instagram and other promotional work for the Hunter Valley business.
Sweet combination
Bao Brothers Eatery at The Corner, Charlestown Square, is this week collaborating with Doughheads Newcastle. On offer is lemongrass fried chicken on a lemongrass glazed doughnut. Check it out. Bao Brothers also has a new lunch pack: your choice of two baos plus shoestring fries, sauce and a can of soft drink.
Read more:Bao brothers' dark secret is out
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Seafood ramen
Susuru is collaborating with Shanes Seafood and the end result is the Aussie Seafood Ramen, which heroes Tasmanian salmon, Cape York tiger prawn, Moreton Bay bugs, South Australian squid and Kinkawooka mussels. Available this month only.
Read more:End the roaming for good ramen
Too hot to handle
The Double Decker Death Wish 3.0 is returning to Burger Urge. It uses hybrid chillies grown in Townsville - the Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Scorpion Moruga, Bhut Jolokia, Apocalypse Scorpion, Borg 9 and Jay's Peach Ghost Scorpion - and also contains Burger Urge's Death Sauce, which is claimed to be 700 times hotter than your average jalapeno.
Branching out
The Weekender team will be adding reviews of spirits and liqueurs to its beer and wine reviews page from November 14.
Free garlic talk at market
Don't forget the Slow Food Earth Market is on at The Levee, Maitland, this Thursday, November 5, from 8.30am to 1.30pm. Tom Christie, from Four Acre Farm, and Joycelyn Colleran will be talking about garlic from 9.30am to 10.30am, covering topics like harvesting, curing, storing and cooking with garlic.
A fond farewell
Popular Adamstown eatery Adam's Ribs & Pizza is closing its doors - for good - on December 19. Mark and Annette Burrell are moving on after nine years at the restaurant.
"After almost 9 fantastic years it is time for me to move on to the next stage of life and head north and hopefully have a year off to travel and enjoy life," owner Adam Burrell said on social media.
"I would like to thank each and every one of the 56 fantastic people that have worked at Adam's during that time and also to the many wonderful customers who have continued to support us over these years. When we started back in 2012 we had no idea if we would survive a year let alone more than 8. Nobody had done takeaway ribs before that we knew of and nobody had successfully emulated an American style takeaway and diner. I think we did pretty well at it."
That they did. Adam's is a tasty and affordable go-to that will be sorely missed. You have six weeks until they close so book a table for a last hurrah.
Read more:Adam's Ribs & Pizza
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Low and slow is the go
Smokin Irons had a "soft opening" at Merewether Golf Club last Friday night and will return this Friday night from 6pm for round two. You might recognise a familiar face or two - Smokin Irons is an offshoot of Islington's Smokin Hot N Saucy, owned and operated by the (very) busy Robert and Randi Thraves, also of Taco Shack.
Read more: A fresh Tex Mex take on tacos
Read more:Hunter barbecue venues that will get your juices flowing
New business alert
Keep an eye out for Jasmine Mart Mediterranean Grocer at 34 Beaumont Street, Hamilton.
Southern inspiration
The Bavarian has a new schnitzel of the month - the Jack Daniel's Southern Schnitzel. It's deep-fried and served with potato gems, cabbage slaw and a side of Frank's Hot Sauce and Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce.
