The Good Life
Advertising enquiries: adcopy@echo.net.au | 6684 1777 Editorial enquiries: goodlife@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au/good-life
Byron has the east coast’s best pork
Bliss in a Tea Cup Local northern rivers mother-of-three Jordana Edwards opened the doors of her boutique tea store Clean Tea last week, after years of brewing a healthy and therapeutic alternative to a morning cuppa. The family-owned and -operated boutique tea store opened to the public on Friday 1 December, on Banksia Drive in the Byron Bay Arts and Industry Estate. Young mum Jordana founded Clean Tea in 2013 while on a journey to regain her health and wellness after having her third child. ‘My mum Amanda is a herbalist and naturopath who helped me to discover a clean approach to health. We developed three teas from our small kitchen, hand-blending organic ingredients,’ Jordana said. ‘There’s something special about a hand-blended, boutique tea. There’s love that goes into every cup.’ The store’s opening date has a special significance to Jordana. ‘It was the first of December in 2013 when I sold my first Clean Tea at the Byron Markets. It was also the day my husband proposed to me at the Lighthouse. It’s a very special day for us so there’s no better day to open our first retail store,’ she said. Despite the success and growth of the family-run business,
Jordana Edwards in her boutique tea store Clean Tea
every tea is still hand-blended with care, love and pure organic ingredients. ‘Mums can enjoy pregnancy and breastfeeding safe teas, or indulge in a guilt-free treat with a chocolate tea. There are infusions for almost any ailment: help with digestion, getting a good night’s sleep or to boost immunity,’ said Jordana. Local tea-lovers are invited to a special open day on Saturday 9 December with 30 per cent off all Clean Tea offerings, just in time for Christmas.
Picture the new food at the Picture House By Vivienne Pearson
Cam is no stranger to performance. As well as having been A new operator of the Brunonstage in variety shows, kids’ swick Picture House kiosk is set entertainment and lip-syncing to add a dash of food-based competitions, he sees working showmanship. in hospitality as akin to being onstage. ‘The cafe floor, or bar, ‘With cabaret, circus, cinema is my stage,’ he says. and comedy in our Pandora’s box, we want our food to be Cam has put together a likeas exciting as our shows,’ says minded team. Front of stage will Picture House co-owner Brett be Jocelyn Martin as manager Haylock. and Samantha Fisher as chef. ‘Samantha comes from a funcSundays, previously running tions background so, as soon as as Homemade Jam, will have I mentioned the Picture House, a complete makeover without Jocelyn and Cam do the Yum Cha Cha. Photo credit she immediately had amazing losing the relaxed deliciousKate Nutt Photography. ideas of food to complement ness in the garden oasis that the diff erent events, ’ says Cam. Think fruit rockets and homemade locals have come to love. On offer will be yum cha but, being the Picture House, the dumplings will have a dramatic flair. The name, chocolate bars for kid events and oysters and roast beef tartlet canapés for Cheeky Cabarets. perhaps the cutest around, gives a hint: Yum Cha Cha. ‘Wall flower’ will not be part of the job description for staff. ‘No‘Our yum cha will be served in traditional bamboo steamers on one will work here if they’re not over the top,’ says Cam. ‘They’ll be very non-traditional red trollies by very non-traditional servers,’ wearing everything from drag to tuxedos.’ says co-owner Chris Chen. Food is not the only change underway at Brunswick Picture This performance element will also be present in Picture House House. Pete Castaldi, a name that will be familiar to a generation food served before events and during private functions. ‘Expect of Triple J radio listeners, is joining the team as producer. Bringing spectacle, flourish, and the menu being as memorable as the his extensive experience in film and screen festivals, Pete will also acts,’ says Brett. The owner of the new food venture is Cam Willis, known to many further develop the live performances. locals as owner of Footbridge Café (which will continue as usual). Not many know that Pete has also been a chef and restaurateur. Cam, a regular Picture House audience member, is super-excited Though you are unlikely to see him active in the kitchen, this experience will further enhance the flow of ideas between food about becoming part of the Picture House team. ‘It is a unique and performance. commercial space in Bruns,’ he says. ‘To have the opportunity to serve people in that environment is out of this world.’ The new food venture is so new that it’s overall name (Yum Cha Cha being Sundays only) is still in development. Stay tuned – VEG there will be a long drum roll while options are carefully considAN & FOO GLU D AV TEN ered – see next week’s Echo for the big revelation. AIL A FRE BLE E Brunswick Picture House: be the first to try the new food – before Cheeky Cabarets Friday 15, Sat 16 December and Yum Cha Cha Sundays from 17 December (3 sittings, no need to book). www.picturehouse.com / Facebook: @brunswickpicturehouse
Billi’s Indian Authentic
Indian Restaurant NEWLY RENOVATED! GREAT NEW LOOK
indian
billi
OPEN TUESDAY– SUNDAY 4.30PM TO LATE CLOSED MONDAY
8 Wilfred St, Billinudgel • 6680 3352 BYO • Credit cards
50 December 6, 2017 The Byron Shire Echo
Chocolate Lounge
SER y N VIN OW GG ELA TO y Chai y y Coffee y Hot Chocolate y Milkshakes y Chocolates y Fudge y Light meals
1/53 Stuart Street, Mullumbimby 0406 422 465 y www.puremeltchocolate.com
The pigs with a million dollar view. Photo Jeff ‘That’s not fat that’s marbling’ Dawson.
The Byron Bay region is famed for its laidback lifestyle and beaches, but now it can add the east coast’s best pork to that list, thanks to John Singh from Byron Bay Pork. Australian Pork Limited’s Steak Your Claim competition attracted entries from across the country and sought to find Australia’s best pork. Byron Bay Pork took out second place in the competition, with first and third awarded to Western Australian pig farmers. ‘They found the Byron Bay Pork, which had Berkshire marbling and had been fed a special mixed grain diet, was one of the best. John Singh’s family have run pigs for many years, initially showing pure Landrace and winning trophies, selling the pork to local butchers and wholesalers. However, John first began using Berkshires in 2000, when he was selling into the Japanese market, before introducing them for the domestic market in 2005. He found Berkshire pork met a demand for quality pork through people like Gerry Harvey’s Security Foods and Vic’s Meats, which supplied it to high-end restaurants. Byron Bay Pork now uses an F1 (Landrace and Large White cross), crossed with Berkshire to make a good pork with Berkshire traits that’s more affordable. Byron Bay Pork has 250 sows that are fed a diet formulated by John Sprag that is a mix of grains and a bit of macadamia meal. Male pigs are castrated and the pigs are processed at Booyong. Byron Bay Pork has its own butchers, Byron Pork and Meats, and sells about 100 pigs per week, mostly to the Sydney market. Judges said the pork had a little marbling and good even grain, and when cooked was sweet and tender, which was very pleasing for Byron Bay Pork’s John Singh. ‘Competitions like this are very important for us, as they help benchmark us against other products and, of course, help develop our brand,’ he said. ‘We have about 250 sows now and 80 per cent of our pork goes into the Sydney restaurant market, with the remainder sold locally. We’ve been using Berkshires for a while now, as people discovered that this pork is moist and with a more appealing texture.’
KIMBERLEY creative workshops Ar t ~ Creative Writing ~ Photography ~ Horse Riding Discover for yourself the iconic beauty of the Kimberley wilderness from our base on a working cattle station. In 2018, treat yourself to a 7 or 9 day adventure and a unique creative experience. Meals, accommodation, transfers & activities included. For itineraries and prices go to www.ontheverandah.com.au or phone: 0428 254 529. Accredited Tourism No. CWA-ANW-02-0395
Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au/byron-echo