The Good Life Apron Ties That Bind Story and photo: Vivienne Pearson It seems Byron is a shire of apron lovers. We had a great response to last week’s story about aprons, including a phone call from Toots Dunn, an 81-year-young lifelong Byron Bay resident (who still teaches tap-dancing!). Vivienne Pearson, the author of the story, met up with Toots to accept the gift of a new apron. ‘I loved the story and remembered I had this apron in my cupboard,’ says Toots. Vivienne is delighted with her new pinny,
Vivienne tries out her new apron in Toots’ kitchen including the discovery of the genius idea of having a hand-towel sewn in at the waist. ‘I’m a great one for wiping my hands on my apron,’ says Vivienne, ‘so this is a perfect addition to my apron repertoire.’
A New Reason to Love Chocolate Story and photo: Vivienne Pearson
Love Food, Save Money – Free cooking workshops Are you a family of food lovers and keen to save up to $1,000 a year? A free cooking workshop will be held in Byron Bay on 23 June to help busy parents save money and waste less food. In last week’s paper, we heard from Alison Drover, the host of the workshop, about the psychology and cost of food waste. ‘This workshop will provide practical tools and cooking demonstrations on making the most of your food, menu plans for healthy, nutritious family meals, clever storage ideas and creative cookery with leftovers’, said Linda Tohver, education coordinator for NE Waste. Alison will equip participants to save money by reducing their food waste effectively and efficiently while enjoying healthy, nutritious family meals. All participants will enjoy taste testings of Alison’s delicious creations, as well as a free recipe book and leftovers storage container. The workshop is coordinated by North East Waste and Byron Shire Council supported by the Environmental Trust as part of the NSW EPA’s Waste Less Recycle More initiative, funded from the waste levy.
Tarra Martel, Tweed Shire Council and Linda Tohver, NE Waste enjoy Alison Drover’s leftover makeovers at a love food (hate waste) save money workshop Q The workshop will be held
6.30–9.00pm on Thursday 23 June at the Byron Community Centre. Bookings are essential as places are limited. Go to the North East Waste website: newaste. org.au or contact Linda Tohver on 0427 770 198.
Take the ‘L’ out of flood; it’s all about the food Story and photo: Vivienne Pearson
Emma-Lee and Chris say cheers! Do you have a ‘pep-up’ of choice when needing a dose of euphoria, or before a night out? I’m sure lots of substances come to mind, but did chocolate feature on your list? A new trend, coming out of Europe, is using cacao, the base ingredient in chocolate, as a pep-up. Entire dance parties are now reportedly fuelled on cacao. Thanks to Puremelt Chocolate, Mullumbimby’s Chocolate Lounge, it’s available for you to try! One part of the trend is snorting cacao. Yep, you read that right – inhaling cacao powder up the nose. This is not what’s available – Sarah Wheeler, owner of Puremelt, is no proponent of snorting, exclaiming: ‘What a waste, when it tastes so good!’ So, it’s drinking all the way, and what a pleasure it is. Sarah’s Elixir Shots are simply delicious! Served looking like a generous shot of espresso coffee, the base of the drink is Sarah’s house-made cacao syrup blended with a host of spices: cardamon, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, black pepper, oil of orange and coconut nectar. ‘We add the nectar as it is simply too bitter without it,’ says Sarah. Only a small amount is used and there is no way the shot would be
described as sweet. The way I describe it is warming, both temperatureand taste-wise. The shot is served warm and the spices create a flavourful hit followed by lingering warmth. The cardamom, cinnamon and orange are the dominant notes. Optional extras are cayenne (for those who like an additional warmth), and coconut milk (served on top, making it look similar to a macchiato coffee). Tasting alongside me, popping in from their office nextdoor, were Chris Deckker and Emma-Lee Luther, from UPLIFT. Emma, sporting a serious case of jetlag, was impressed by the positive effect the elixir had on her. ‘Thank you!’ she said to Sarah, describing feeling more alert with a slight euphoria. A cacao elixir shot is perfect as a simple winter warmer, for a pep-up before a night out, or simply if you want to try a European trend without the airfare. Q Cacao Elixir is sold by the shot or bottle at Puremelt Chocolate Lounge (2/53 Stuart Street, Mullumbimby) – open MonThurs 7am–5.30pm, Fri/ Sat to 8.30pm and Sun 8am–2pm.
North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au
Most of us were affected by the recent ‘ECL’ (that’s East Coast Low for those more into food than weather), but few more than those in Billunudgel, who experienced its worst flood since 2005. I visited to check out how the food businesses in town fared. Billi Indian Restaurant consider themselves fortunate that the water stopped rising before it came inside, especially as they have recently redecorated. The outside area flooded, but only after staff and customers had heeded warnings to evacuate. Also fortunate were other businesses on slightly higher ground – those in the Industrial Estate, and the Humble Pie Garden Café (though, unsurprisingly they had a fair bit of foliage debris). The Bilinudgel Hotel was not so lucky. By 10.30pm on the Saturday (4 June), the water was a foot high indoors. It fell as quickly as it rose though, so was down and out by 2.30am. ‘It was not too bad in the scheme of things,’ says manager Craig Barnham. Having seen a few floods in their time, the staff and customers knew what had to be done. ‘The boys here all chipped in to lift the pool table up onto some kegs,’ says Craig nonchalantly. This ‘just get it done’ spirit continued into Sunday morning for the cleanup. A relative newcomer to the area, Michael Langtry of New World Foods (with offices in the centre of town), was impressed as he watched people arrive with shovels, brooms and mops. ‘They just turned up and knew exactly what to
do,’ he recounts. This response doesn’t surprise local stalwart Wally Walsh, who has lived in Billinudgel for the better part of 70 years. ‘We all get on well, and help each other out,’ is his succinct description. This was so much so that the pub was open on the Sunday and The Billinudgel Store from Monday. ‘A lot of people were surprised so see us open,’ says Jim Hedditch, from the Store. By the time I visited, nearly a week later, there was no sign of water; only bright sunshine, the clink of glasses on the pub’s verandah, green oasis calm at Humble Pie, and a queue of people in the Store. That evening, as the winter chill took hold (thankfully without any rain), diners expressed their gratitude for Billi Indian’s bright lights, open fire, outdoor heater and warm food.
Craig and Graham showing the water level at the pub
Enjoying the warmth at Billi Indian
Exhibit at Sample Stallholder applications are now open for the sixth annual Sample Food Festival. The event has 200 stallholders and has room for producers, growers, farmers market and creative lifestyle stalls. Cafe/ restaurant/alcohol/coffee sites are now closed. Sample Food Festival is on Saturday 3 September 2016 at the Bangalow Showgrounds and normally attracts more than 15,000 people. Email for application: admin@samplensw.com.
Coming soon in the heart of Byron Arts & Industry Estate. The Byron Shire Echo June 15, 2016 29