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Lismore Snippets
and public holidays, or if you find yourself in need of some Wi-Fi time or a craft beer (there are 21 to choose from). Friday nights are A few months ago we discussed just a couple of spots on the Lismore food scene dubbed Buns & Hops with live music. Owner (Mecca and Goanna) and found out that our readers wanted to know more about Brad Rickard will happily share his local what was available outside the bubble enclosing the printed Byron Echo’s home knowledge on all things Lismore. 67 Molesdistribution area. Again, intrepid reporter Vivienne Pearson ventures to the town worth Street. 7 days 7.30am–3.30pm and where Rupert Murdoch’s Lismore Echo* is the ‘local paper’, and provides a further taste Fri night dinners. Facebook: @thebankcafe
of what’s on offer…
Alfresco option
By: Vivienne Pearson
Possibly the best-known eatery in Lismore is The Lismore Pie Cart, offering single-serve sweet and savoury pies (including curried lentil and duck & mushroom) under the shade of trees opposite the Transit Centre.
Secret Garden What do you do if you’re a chef who can’t find a job that doesn’t involve cooking meat? You open your own cafe! It is no secret that The Garden Plate offers vegetarian and vegan food. The secret bit is the hidden-away courtyard, which is painted with a huge rainforest mural. 86 Magellan Street. M–F 7.30am–4pm, 6622 5160. Facebook: @thegardenplate
Lismore Pie Cart, 11 Magellan Street, M–F 6.30am–4.30pm, Sat 7am–2pm. Facebook: @lismorepiecart
Dragonfly
A Little Nook Little is the operative word when describing Nook Laneway 2480. The space really is a nook, snuggled into an arcade. It is a credit to the team that they make everything onsite, despite not even really having a kitchen. How do you find it? ‘Just look for the bicycle,’ says one Trip Advisor reviewer, referring to the bike that is parked on Keen Street by a blackpainted telephone pole at the entrance to the arcade. Embassy Arcade. M–F 7am–3pm. Facebook: @nook-laneway-2480
If you prefer your cafe a little bigger and less hidden, try Dragonfly. You can’t miss it – the dragonfly motif is beautifully enacted in all sorts of ways – from metal sculptures inside to Banksy-style street art outside (created by a customer). The team of year years prides themselves on their friendliness, experienced baristas and full-time bakers creating yummy cakes. 36 Carrington Street. M–F 7.30am– 5pm, Sat 7.30am–3pm. Instagram: @dragonflylismore
A 5–10-minute drive out of town is The Spotted Pig, a delightful cafe-in-an-oldchurch. One section is sombrely beautiful with stained-glass windows, and the other section is light with a green-ensconced verandah. Breakfast and lunch are the go, with occasional pop-up dinners and functions (including weddings). Named after the
Outro: These are only some of the great places to eat and drink next time you’re in Lismore. Head to Echonetdaily to add your comments about those you have discovered.
‘Terroirist’ or terrorist? Spanish wine at Fins There’s something quite special for wine lovers, and food lovers, at Fins next week. Spain’s most revered and dynamic winemaker Telmo Rodriguez is coming to Fins. This will be the only dinner event in Australia for Telmo on his international tour. According to the organisers of the event, Telmo is often referred to as the ‘terrorist of Rioja’ for his anti-establishment attitude to the old-school traditions in the Spanish wine world. However, he could also be called a ‘terroirist’, because he actively seeks out vines that are not only indigenous to Spain, but also reflect the unique character, or terroir, of their site.
cally farmed with long-established ethical practices. Fins chef and sommelier duo Steven and Morgan Snow have had a longstanding love of Telmo’s wines. After cooking at Telmo’s family vineyard in Rioja a few years back (and working their way through his entire range) they’ve been hoping to see him in Australia. Teaming up with Melbourne-based wine merchants The Spanish Aquistion, this intimate dinner experience is a rare opportunity with one of the worlds most inspiring wine figures.
Fins opened a new Spanish Tapas Bar a couple of weeks ago called Bar Español so Telmo’s imminent arrival is very fitting! Fins’ Telmo has an unbridled commitment to reinvigorating traditional viticultural methods chef ‘Snowy’ had a second Fins in the Iberian and produces wines solely from native Span- region for many years, so this theme is deep in his heart. Bar Español is the 7th ‘pop-up’ in ish grapes. His vineyards are all biodynami-
26 March 22, 2017 The Byron Shire Echo
Allison the Cake Maker bakes at home in the quiet of the early morning so she only needs a tiny space to serve her creations hidden away in the Star Court Arcade. ‘I cook what I feel like,’ Allison says. ‘So there’s a surprise every day.’ She always has one savoury option – brie tarts and duck crepes on the day I visited – and your cake can be accompanied by a pot of tea or plunger coffee. Star Court Arcade. Tues–Fri 10am–4pm, Sat 9.30am–12.30pm. Instagram: @allisonthecakemaker
*Q: Does The Byron Echo own The Lismore Echo? A: No. The Byron Echo is independent, and The Lismore Echo is owned by Rupert Murdoch. The owners of The Byron Echo sold The Lismore Echo to its staff ages ago for a song, along with the name. Sadly, in 2008 those staff sold out to APN, who in turn sold out to an even bigger corporation in NewsCorp, a process over which The Byron Echo had no control.
There are not many cafes who can claim that their dishes are washed in a strong room. Well, an ex-strong room, anyway. The Bank Café premises were built in the 1930s, though I suspect it wasn’t blue and purple then. This is a good one to keep in mind for Sundays
Like an elongated version of Nook, Flock Espresso and Eats started life three years ago in just a tiny laneway shop and gradually expanded lengthways as neighbouring shops became available. It is now a long, thin and colourful cafe. ‘We make nourishing food that we like and everyone else seems to agree,’ says one of the owners, Sarah Jones. It seems she’s right – people really do flock here – the queue was out into the laneway at lunchtime. 4/39 Woodlark Street (also known as Mathers Laneway). M–F 7am–4pm, Sat 8am–2pm. Instagram: @flockespressolismore
Tiny space, yummy cake
This little piggy
Transactional eating
Flock to flock
spotted breed of pig that chef Iohne Simpson grew up naming then eating, there is usually some pork on the menu among heaps of other options, including vegetarian. Regular readers might remember Iohne as the chef who partnered with then-Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell to (ahem) beat Simon Richardson and Sean Connolly in the My Mayor Rules cook-off at Sample last year. But we won’t hold that against them… 3 Alphadale Road, Lindendale (5–10 min drive from Lismore). Wed–Sun 7am–2.30pm, occasional dinners. Facebook: @thespottedpigcafe
the Fins series and and perhaps one that will stay for a while. More info: Fins. Tuesday 28th March 6.309pm (NSW daylight saving time). 6 dishes paired to 7 of Telmo’s wines. Seats are extremely limited. $89 p.p Book live at www.fins.com.au
Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au/byron-echo