The
Good Life
Organic Forrest at New Brighton Story and photo Kate O’Neill Some of Dougal Forrest’s earliest memories are of being out in the garden with his mum and dad, and crawling around in the macadamia orchard ‘helping’ to gather the harvest. His parents, David Forrest and Sue Mangan, moved to their Federal farm more than 40 years ago and were pioneers of the organic farming movement in the Northern Rivers – so for Dougal and his three sisters, helping out on the farm was a huge part of their life growing up. When Dougal finished school he moved to the Gold Coast and worked as an electrician, returning to the farm on the
NEW WINTER MENU. Authentic Italian by Chef Agostino Daniele Trimarchi. Local, organic and ethically farmed produce. Spacious heated alfresco dining area with lots of space to enjoy. NEW WINTER TRADING HOURS: Thurs – Sat 5pm – 8.30pm Sunday 12 noon – 7pm Byron Bay Golf Club, 62 Broken Head Rd 6685 6470 info@thepastabowlbyronbay.com
Contemporary Eclairs made at the Bay Pre-order Online and get your box delivered at home on Sunday
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Shop 1, Ozigo Complex, Cnr Ewingsdale Rd and Bayshore Dr, Byron Bay. 6685 6925. Open 7 days 10am–5pm. Shop 3, 4 Jonson St, Byron Bay 6685 5143. Open 10am–3pm Thur–Mon. Shop online: cookie.com.au
weekends to help out. But farm life was calling and when his parents offered to sell him a piece of their land to create his own patch, it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. Dougal now has his own burgeoning market garden. His produce includes ginger, garlic, turmeric, cucumber, potatoes and kale, which he sells at his stall Organic Forrest at the New Brighton Farmers Market. He also collaborates with his mum and dad – who have sold their organic produce at Mullumbimby Farmers Market for many years – by having produce from their farm available on his stall too. His stall offers macadamias, macadamia butter, leafy greens, coffee beans, and delicious home-made creations from Sue (a former food tech teacher at Mullum High) including Davidson plum jam, Jamu (an Indonesian health drink based on turmeric), and the ultimate winter tonic, Fire Cider, made with apple cider, horseradish, ginger, garlic, chilli, lemon and honey. Dougal says the move to full-time farming has been incredibly rewarding and he loves the face-to-face interaction with customers at the markets.
Dougal Forrest’s got the right stuff when it comes to organic produce at the New Brighton Market, every Tuesday morning.
Dougal reckons he’s got the right stuff; ‘When customers ask where it’s come from and how it was grown – I’ve got the right answers,’ he said confidently. Find Organic Forrest at the New Brighton Farmers Market every Tuesday.
Life is boring without pasta!
The extended Pasta Bowl family: Jerome Dionne, Pina Witzel, and Daniele Trimarchi, at the Golf Club.
Story and photo by Eve Jeffery What happens when you take a cup each of Italy, Holland and Canada, and add a pinch of Berlin? You get flavour filled pasta in Byron Bay! With Italian and Dutch heritage behind him, Daniele Trimarchi is the chef at the Pasta Bowl at the Byron Bay Golf Club, with his German-born partner, Emily Witzel. Danny has been cooking Italian food for 35 years. ‘My passion comes from my heritage. I was raised on a market garden farm in South Australia,’ he says. Trimarchi has also cooked his way across the globe, adding to his broad spectrum of flavours. ‘I worked for the Roux brothers in London, and at Icebergs and Fratelli Paradiso in Sydney, to name a few. It has been a lifetime dream to own
an Italian restaurant in Byron Bay.’ Danny says he wants to bring back the fun in food. ‘I want to make wholesome, real food – the honest food that we all love so much.’ The Pasta Bowl sources local and organic products where possible, and he likes to push the vegan agenda, so there are lots of vegan options on the menu, with his Vegan Bolognese a huge hit. Why pasta? ‘Life is boring without pasta,’ says Danny. ‘Everybody loves it!’ But there are also other great Italian favourites on the menu if, for some crazy reason, pasta isn’t your thing; with popular specials including handmade gnocchi and arancini. Danny says they opened pre-COVID and were lucky to build a strong local following in a short time, so reopening the Pasta Bowl has been a huge success. The Pasta Bowl does catering of all sizes, nothing is too big or too small – they do bespoke catering, events and weddings, with everything you need in the beautiful venue, overlooking the gorgeous Byron Bay Golf Club. Danny also has plans to start cooking classes in the near future. Danny says the thing he loves most on the menu is the orecchetti gamberi – prawns, zucchini and a light tomato broth with basil and parsley. Pina, who has been in the food industry her whole life, and has been trained in
fine dining, says her favourite dish is the fettuccine pesto genovese – pesto, potato and green beans, and house made vegan parmesan. But wait! Their crumble is to die for, with a great vegan option as well. The team at the Pasta Bowl is an extended-family business with sous chef Jerome Dionne, from Quebec in Canada, who also has a background in fine dining. ‘We always have lots of fun working together, and I think people can taste the love in our dishes,’ says Danny. ‘There is lots of space for large groups and families here, and plenty for the kids to entertain themselves, overlooking the beautiful landscape of the Golf Club – what could be more perfect?’ The Pasta Bowl is open evenings, from 5pm, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from 12–7pm for long lunches and high tea on Sundays, offering fresh baked scones with house made jam and cream. We were so excited about Loft Byron Bay opening last week that we waxed lyrical for far too long and forgot to put in this awesome photo, by Nuria Mele, of new chef Craig McFarland!
Happy Hour Everyd Everyday yday 4-6pm $6 LOFT LAGER $6 LOFT WINE $10 APEROL SPRITZ $12 MARGARITA Open every day 4pm till 11pm 4 Jonson St, Byron Bay 0266809183
22Loft-Echo-Ad-XL_260x88mm_V23.indd The Byron Shire Echo `ƖōƷ ǯǽ ǩǧǩǧ Loft-Echo-Ad-XL_260x88mm_V23.indd Loft-Echo-Ad-XL_260x88mm_V23.indd 1 11
Book online: loftbyronbay.com.au @loftbyronbay
North Coast news daily in Echonetdaily www.echo.net.au 2/7/20 2/7/20 2/7/2010:55 10:55 10:55 a.a. a. m. m. m.