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Feeding the hungry hordes of visitors Story & photo by Susanna Freymark
Friends and family from everywhere but here want to visit. When they arrive in dribs and drabs it isn’t too bad but the unexpected arrival of hordes of hungry guests can have you groaning in the kitchen, wondering how to feed them all. Byron Bay’s Three Blue Ducks’ chef Darren Robertson: ‘I make sure I’m stocked up on krout, pickles, mustards and a decent smoked ham. I glaze the ham on Christmas Eve with apple cider, spices and honey, and so long as it’s big enough, it will keep us going throughout the festive season. It’s
MAKE WEDGIES FOR THE KIDS Bring a large pot of wedge-shaped cut potatoes to the boil then drain and add to seasoned oil mix. Paprika, curry powder, salt and pepper in two tablespoons of oil. Preheat a large tray and then spread out potatoes in a single layer and cook in a hot oven turning as they brown. Sweet potato works well also. Recipe from Janet Walker, Goonengerry
perfect for those unexpected parties. Throw together a couple of salads, a decent loaf of rye bread, and you’re laughing.’ Sounds easy for a professional chef but what about the rest of us? Myocum’s Heather Stevenson has a trick that is more about assembling than cooking. She calls this approach Splatters. ‘Everything comes out of the fridge, creatively displayed on a mismatched collection of plates and bowls.
Fresh loaf of bread and a whole lot of wine. Always a winner.’ Heather says. Goonengerry’s Janet Walker makes oven-roasted wedges and they are a crowd-pleaser, especially when she uses sweet potato. Jen Djula from Rosebank says a barbecue is the simple solution to cater for lots of guests. ‘Always the barbecue. Marinate meat in Zest wet spices – they’re yum,’ she says. Peta Marks has several meals ready to go if guests turn up en masse at her
Eureka home. ‘I have have penne with freshly cooked bacon sliced into thin pieces, halved boiled eggs, avo, baby tomatoes, chili oil, parsley, sometimes Danish feta if there is any lurking in the fridge,’ she says. Diane Hart from Mullumbimby makes singing pasta to feed her family and anyone else who drops in. ‘The family called it this because I always sing when I’m cooking it. It only takes 15 minutes.’ My personal favourite is pancakes. There are always
Chef Darren Robertson at The Farm.
flour and water and eggs in the cupboard. Pikelets piled high with any fruit in season is delicious.
If they’re still hungry send someone to the Seafood Co-op at Bruns for fish and chips.
This year I will learn to cook (something better) By Susanna Freymark
For years I sprinkled smashed potato crisps on top of the weekly tuna mornay casserole I made for the family. The kids loved it. Times have changed and my friends stare in abject horror when I do the same thing. It has taken a while to sink in but my cooking skills need a serious update. Where better to start than at the Byron Community College in Mullumbimby? Vicki Walker is the marketing and course coordinator for Byron Commu-
Gallette photo, Belinda Jeffery in Mullum garden, images, Rodney Weidland.
nity College and says the college is open to offering cooking courses in anything.
The cheese classes are the most popular. Local cheesemaker Debra Allard teaches how to make
haloumi, ricotta, labna and kefir. There are still some places in the 7 February and 6 March cheese workshops. If anyone wants to organise a group of people together for a birthday or special occasion, the college can organise a private cheese workshop, Vicki says. For the first time the college is offering Fruit and Vegetable Art Carving with Gitta Radau, who has travelled to Thailand to learn about carving food into
works of art. Belinda plans to run classes next year in Federal. The classes will specialise in baking and cater for all cooking levels. Further classes will run at Peppertree Kitchen in Lismore. At the end of the day she says, ‘it is the whole feeling of making something for people you care about’. One day, my sons or daughter will make a casserole for their children and crunch crisps over the top. I will smile and ask for seconds.
BANGALOW
BALLINA
Ballina RSL Club Boadwalk Buffet Breakfast
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River St, Ballina Phone 6686 2544 www.ballinarsl.com.au Open 7 Days from 8am Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snacks
Sunday 27 December 3 and 10 January from 8am Adult $19.90 Child 12 Years and Under $9.90 Under 5 Years Free
Bangalow Dining Rooms
Enjoy our balcony restaurant, intimate dining room and generous bistro food in the pub. With reasonable prices our menu reflects the wonderful local and fresh produce of the region. SMH GOOD PUB Large groups welcome. FOOD GUIDE We also offer off-site catering. 2013 AND 2014 www.bangalowdining.com
Bangalow Hotel Open 7 days Lunch: 12 – 3pm Dinner 5.30 – 9pm All day bistro menu
6687 1144
Good Taste 30 December 30, 2015 The Byron Shire Echo
Basiloco
Wood fired pizzas and pastas take away and delivery
Ristorante Pizzeria Mon, Wed–Fri from 6pm, Sat & Sun from 12pm for lunch Closed Tuesday
Come and experience the best Italian/Mediterranean cuisine, made with the best local products, plus Byron’s best wood fired pizza. Kids meals $9 from.
32 Lawson Street 6680 8818 info@basilo.co
We do weddings, Christmas and special event functions. Visit and book at www.basilo.co
Summer Menu’s Out Now!
The Rocks @ Aquarius Breakfast/Lunch 7 days from 7.30am 16 Lawson St, Byron Bay Reservations 6685 7663 therocksbyronbay.com.au
Success Thai
Eating out guide
BYRON BAY
Good Taste Eating Out Guide
Mon-Fri 12-3pm Dinner 7 days from 5pm. 3/109 Jonson St, Byron Bay 6680 7798
Come and enjoy the quintessential Byron Bay dining experience, with head chef Patrick Hobbs and his team. From beautiful breakfasts to lazy lunches, The Rocks @ Aquarius is the perfect summer setting. From deliciously fresh banana, raspberry, yogurt and granola cup, to our huge AQ signature breakfast, there is sure to be something that tantalises your tastebuds. We also have a selection of freshly squeezed juices and locally sourced coffee from the Byron Bay Coffee Company to awaken the senses! Visit www.therocksbyronbay.com.au for details and new menus.
SPECIAL $10 LUNCH AND DINNER MENU All your favourites every lunch and dinner Experienced Thai chefs cooking fresh delicious Thai food for you. Fully Licensed and B.Y.O. for wine. Welcome for lunch, dinner and take-away. www.facebook.com/pages/Success-ThaiFood/237359826303469
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