You've got to hand it to Milky Lane. Their menu is unashamedly decadent. November is no exception, with five new specials that push the envelope - even if you class it as a "cheat meal".
There's the Milky Bar and Raspberry Bullet Megashake (vanilla frost, white choc-raspberry bullets, strawberry sauce and Nutella); the Caramilk Giant Apple Pie (deep-fried pastry-wrapped Caramilk apple pie served with vanilla ice-cream, chopped Caramilk and a creamy Caramilk pouring custard); and the Movie Time Cocktail (combining chocolate, butterscotch schnapps, vodka and thickshake mix, dressed in a Nutella and salted caramel rimmed glass crowned with popcorn flavoured foam and finished with popcorn, Maltesers and Nutella drizzle).
As for the savoury options, there's the Carbonara Cob Loaf (sourdough toasted cob loaf filled with Milky Lane's house-made fettuccine carbonara mix and topped with grated parmesan cheese and shallots) and the Carbonara Tacos (fried chicken tacos filled with super cheesy and creamy fettuccine carbonara and topped with grated parmesan).
Available until November 30 at Milky Lane, 13 Darby Street, Newcastle.
Emma's Cottage sells
Mulpha Australia has expanded its tourism footprint in the Hunter Valley wine region with the purchase of Emma's Cottage Vineyard on Wilderness Road at Lovedale. Mulpha will run the existing business before launching a bespoke offering in 2022 that will include a food offering at its existing (but not used) 40-seat cafe with commercial kitchen.
Emma's Cottage Vineyard is a boutique vineyard with a fully licensed cellar door. Accommodation includes a five-bedroom two-storey family homestead, plus four self-contained cottages.
"Emma's Cottage Vineyard is a quality boutique property in this premium tourism region that complements our existing Bimbadgen Estate offering nearby," Mulpha Australia chief executive officer Greg Shaw said.
"While the past 18 months have been difficult for most tourism operators, one benefit is that it has reawakened people's interest in enjoying unique regional experiences in their own country.
"Emma's Cottage Vineyard is a welcome addition to our premium portfolio that will capitalise on that trend as we look to rebound strongly into 2022 and beyond."
Mulpha's general manager of hospitality, Belinda Stapleton, added: "This is an exciting opportunity for the rising stars of the Bimbadgen team to create something different in the Hunter whilst allowing the Bimbadgen brand to stay true to its winemaking roots."
Festive treats
Christmas goodies are starting to pop up so get your orders in, pronto.
Cupcake Espresso (Adamstown, Westfield Kotara, Stockland Greenhills) has delightful Christmas-themed cupcakes and cakes to pre-order from December 1.
Chunky Boiz Cookie Co is launching its Christmas menu on December 1 (original dough cookies with a milk chocolate centre and milk choc chips, topped with candy canes and more milk chocolate).
Choux Patisserie (Charlestown Square) has a dedicated Christmas menu on its website (chouxpatisserie.com/christmas) featuring Panettone (toffee, chocolate and peanut; white chocolate and dried fruits); Golden Fruit & Nuts; Tropical Fruit Jam; Eclairs; Christmas cakes and festive macarons (cranberries, chocolate, gingerbread and pistachio).
And then there's Cocoa Nib (The Junction, Pokolbin), whose stunning creations will this season include chocolate Christmas trees and baubles.
Happy birthday
Covered in Crumbs at Mayfield East is celebrating its fourth birthday today (November 17). Time flies! Pastry chef Gareth Williams and his wife Paula have a great little business on their hands.
They will be launching their Christmas menu soon.
French cooking classes
Chef and owner of The Deck Cafe Lovedale, Matt Dillow, is hosting a "Classic French" cooking class this Sunday, November 20. You'll learn how to cook duck liver parfait, confit salmon, beef Wellington and a chocolate souffle, all paired with Gartelmann wines. Tickets cost $160 (at deckcafelovedale.com.au) which includes the class, dinner and wine.
If you miss out this time, two more classes will be held on March 4 and 5. Dillow will also be hosting two Classic Italian cooking classes in January.
Korean BBQ at home
Miss Korea launched this week, delivering Korean barbecue meal kits to the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle local government areas. Or, you can pick-up from Black Sheep Espresso in Warners Bay.
You can order a Small Family Box ($75) which contains meat (sliced wagyu beef, sliced pork belly and marinated chicken thighs); a ssam lettuce pack (wild sesame leaves, assorted lettuce leaves, and carrot and cucumber sticks), and a condiment pack (ssamjang paste, bulgogi dipping sauce and a cooked rice bowl).
There's also a Family BBQ Box ($145) and a Large BBQ Box ($205), and you can even hire a tabletop Korean BBQ grill and burner.
A preparation and cooking guide is included and each pack takes no longer than 15 minutes to prepare.
Visit @misskorea_newcastle on Instagram to order.
