There is a lot happening on the Central Coast. It is definitely worth a short drive south during the summer months.
Shady Palms has opened at Avoca Beach at Bombini's former home and is described as "Cali-cool", with splashes of tropical meets neon. There is an oyster and champagne "shack", an outdoor undercover wood-fire pizza oven, and the cottage for a more classic dining experience. Seafood, poke bowls and yakitori feature on the menu and live music is a staple.
The Lyons Den, an African-inspired bar and eatery, is opening in Gosford this summer. Expect a range of southern African meats and punchy cocktails. The Bon Pavilion at Gosford continues to impress, and last week was crowned best regional NSW contemporary Australian restaurant (informal) at the Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards 2020.
Terrigal continues to grow. Pastry house Bouffant has opened, along with Bowlarama (smoothie bowls), Acai Brothers (smoothie bowls and shakes, vegan soups, tacos and burgers), Loaded Dough (New York style cookies, brownies, scones and sundaes) and Daily Dough (think bacon-covered and crème brulee-filled donuts). Milky Lane is setting up shop at the coastal hub on January 4, and Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific's Florida Beach Bar is undergoing a major redevelopment and re-opening soon.
Long Jetty is also booming.Belle and Co, a new boutique coffee-house serving Glee coffee, has opened. So has Tacoast (South American) and Yasaka (authentic Japanese dining).
Then there's the Meet the Makers Trail - from coast to hinterland, a collective of Central Coast makers and creators who are opening their doors for tastings, tipples and a variety of tours, intimate workshops and events. Stop-offs include Broken Bay Pearl Farm Pearls of Australia, Little Creek Cheese at Wyong, The Chocolate Factory at West Gosford, and Firescreek Winery at Holgate.
Breakfast with the alpacas at Iris Lodge Alpacas, a working farm in Jilliby in the Central Coast hinterland, is another option. This family-friendly experience takes place every weekend (and every day during school holidays).
Elixir Journeys has a selection of tailor-made and small-group tours crafted to show you the best of nature, food and wine on the Central Coast. Highlights include a Paddle and Pearls kayak tour to a pearling shed, a Sailing Safari with Seafood Lunch, and a Sundowner Stroll Nature Tour with sunset picnic in the Bouddi National Park. A gift idea for that hard-to-buy-for person in your life, perhaps?
You can also learn to shuck an oyster and sample river-fresh oysters at a Mooney Mooney Oyster Farm Tour. Visitors get to meet second and third generation oyster farmers and taste Broken Bay Oysters straight from the river.
The Beachcomber in Toukley is relaunching next yearwith a complete redevelopment and a new Hamptons-style look.
Bao on the move
Bao Brothers Eatery is looking forward to a big 2021.
Nathan Martin and Dave Griffin have restaurants at Charlestown Square and Greenhills, and are opening in the food court at Westfield Kotara in February or March. Not only that, they have looked at a site in Tuggerah and another two in Sydney.
"We've made a couple of offers and I dare say we will open in Sydney in around April or May," Nathan said.
"We made Urban List's best bao in Sydney - in fact we topped that list - so we thought that had to be a sign. It was time."
He and Dave have been working behind the scenes from their 701 Hunter Street, Newcastle, office "trying to nail" the business's branding and design.
"It'll be a lot easier to roll out once we've done that," Nathan said.
The Bao Brothers team has also started a Go Fund Me campaign for Helen Meki, their neighbour from Gypsy Hunters at 705 Hunter Street who is "going through a tough time" due to a stage 3 HER2-positive breast cancer diagnosis.
"She also owns Cyprus Kitchen Catering & Events. When she is not grinding it out at the markets along side us in her marquee or working at Gypsy Hunters she is busy with her five children under the age of 17. 2020 has been a hard year for most people in business including Helen. COVID has had a massive impact on her businesses. With all markets cancelled Helen has lost a major portion of her income. If that wasn't enough, Helen has been diagnosed with stage 3 HER2-positive breast cancer. We want to make sure Helen has the best Christmas with her family and ... we are calling on you guys to help us make this happen."
Their aim is $5000. Can you help? Any donation will make a difference.
Schilly Summer card
The grand opening of Schilly Thai Fusion's new eatery at Jesmond Central is tomorrow, December 17, but the celebrations will continue into the new year. Grab a "Schilly Summer" promo card and you can enjoy a range of meal deals until January 10.
Winnie's returns
Jamie Thomas got in touch late last week to advise Winnie's Jamaican was making a comeback at the Grand Junction Hotel in Maitland. Called Winnie's at The Junkyard, there will be goodies like jerk chicken, grilled corn, fried bananas, curries and even a rasta burger on the menu, with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options. Partygoers on New Year's Eve will be the first to sample the menu, with the restaurant expected to open in early January.
Pizza and pasta
In Forno, a woodfired pizza and pasta restaurant, has opened on Beaumont Street in Hamilton.
Freebie of the week
The Plan Buy Cook Book is your guide to beating the daily dinner grind while saving time, money and food waste. It uses the 4+2+1 formula (which will cut your weekly cooking time in half) and brings together 80 simple meals that go a long way, can be preserved in the freezer for a number of weeks and are based on pantry staples like beans, rice and pasta. You learn how to buy seasonally, how to store food and how to eliminate waste. These are meals the family are going to want to eat. The Plan Buy Cook Book is out now through Hardie Grant, RRP $29.99. Food & Wine has a copy to give away. To enter, send the words "Plan Buy Cook" with your name, address and number to freelunch@newcastleherald.com.au. Entries close on Monday at 9am.
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