The
Good Life
Byron Bay Tempeh
Good Taste BALLINA
Wharf Bar & Restaurant
EVERY DAY
HAPPY HOUR
Ballina
4–6PM Dine in and takeaway Great summer menu www.wharfbarballina.com.au
FB/Insta: wharfbarballina 12–24 Fawcett St, Ballina 6686 5259
BANGALOW
Bowlo Kitchen
Family friendly, tradies’ local, restaurant quality. Wednesday to Friday happy hour, midweek specials, excellent wines, foodies delight, creative cocktails, local produce, massive kids’ space, welcoming staff, Open Wed–Fri 12–2.30pm & 5–8.30pm; and COVID Safe. Sat 12–8.30pm; Sun 12–7pm.
The Bowlo, Bangalow 6687 2741
Lisa Machin There’s a reason everyone wants to live in the Northern Rivers, and a big part of that is the fresh food that’s made locally and the sustainable principles that many businesses make sure are underpinning that food. Many will have tried Byron Bay Tempeh around the family table or spotted Sarah Bourke and Luc Bernard’s smiling faces at the Mullumbimby Farmers Markets already. Sarah says she and Luc enjoy being at the local farmers markets because they love being involved in their community. ‘It’s good to be a part of something that contributes so much sustenance into the community,’ she says. ‘It’s very inspiring to see how many people are making a conscious effort to shop wisely. ‘As consumers, we have a lot of power and it’s a great way to ensure your dollars remain within the local economy.’ For those not yet in the know, there is a perfect autumn burger you can make with Byron Bay Tempeh’s fresh products below. If you’ve ever been to the New Brighton or Mullum Farmers Markets you’d be forgiven if you thought you were seeing double. Over the 15 years the Sanson family have operated Seedlings Organic in the region, countless customers have been served at their local market by father-and-son team Luke and Kyan. Kyan has taken over the market duties from Dad (and doppelgänger) Luke. ‘People mistake us for each other a lot, and often people think Dad’s my brother,’ says Kyan. The family-run business, started by Luke and his wife Leisha and now supported by their children, Seedlings Organic, supplies high-quality, productive seedings to many commercial growers in the region, as well as to backyard growers and food lovers. Everything is organic, and everything is grown to meet a standard the family is proud of. ‘We’ve always worked with farmers,’ says Luke. ‘We have about 60 farmers whom we work with pretty regularly within 100km – from up to Cudgen, south as far as Yamba, and west out to Kyogle.’
The business is proud to be part of a connected, local food chain, whose seedlings sustain the vege boxes of growers as well as ending up in the stocks of food-processing businesses dealing in everything from kale chips to sauerkraut. ‘We have a lot of people here who have dedicated a lot of their life to quality food – farmers we’ve worked with for over a decade, rain, hail, or shine, who are out there picking, planting, harvesting – doing what needs to be done and getting it to market,’ says Luke. ‘It’s good connecting with the growers – they’re customers but it’s always been a partnership in growing and producing food. Working together in an organised way to do something that contributes – and the farmers markets are a good example of that. ‘When you’ve got people’s livelihoods to be responsible for, you have an obligation to have a really good product.’ Kyan, who is now running both market stalls, says it’s been great to watch the uptake in growing food in their backyard from local customers. ‘Recently with Covid people are looking to be more sustainable and selfsufficient and growing their own food – we’ve seen a really big change happening. ‘One of the biggest things for us is having a good quality product and to have good feedback coming back in when people come back to the farmers markets each week, saying the seedlings are growing great.’ The family says while many growers do wholesale, the markets create the opportunity for growers to sell direct – and watching seedlings grow into food producing plants and be harvested and sold locally is a special process to watch. ‘You know whom you’ve bought something off and when you make it into a meal you can talk to them later and share that experience and feedback. ‘Food is a key aspect of culture, and these are experiences you wouldn’t have in disconnected food chain.’ The New Brighton Farmers Market is on every Tuesday from 8am to 11am, and the Mullumbimby Farmers Market every Friday 7am till 11am.
Beetroot, Black Bean & Tempeh Burgers Makes 6 large burger patties Ingredients 1 medium beetroot, peeled and ends trimmed 1 packet Fava Bean & Wakame tempeh, crumbled 1 x 420g organic black beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup cooked quinoa (white or tri-colour) 1/2 tsp cumin powder 1 tsp smoked paprika 2 pinches sea salt Herbed yoghurt 1/2 cup natural yoghurt (coconut if dairy free) 1 small handful dill, finely chopped pinch of sea salt To serve: Gluten-free buns or buns of choice 1 avocado, sliced rocket leaves
www.echo.net.au
To make burgers, add beetroot, tempeh, black beans, quinoa, cumin powder, smoked paprika, and sea salt to a food processor. Pulse to combine and until mixture sticks together well. Divide mixture into 6 and form into patties. Place each patty onto a baking-paper-lined tray. Place tray into oven for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes remove from oven. Add natural yoghurt with dill, lemon juice, and salt, and mix together well. Create burgers by spreading herbed yoghurt on base of each bun, top with beetroot and black bean patty, avocado slices, and rocket. Serve straightaway.
Club open Wed–Sun from 12 noon www.bangalowbowlo.com.au bangalowbowlo @thebowlo
Come along to the Bangalow Bowlo and find out.
BYRON BAY
Fishheads Byron Bay 1 Jonson Street, Byron Bay 6680 7632 FISHHEADSBYRON
St Elmo Dining Room & Bar Open Thursday–Sunday 5–10pm Cnr Fletcher St and Lawson Lane, Byron Bay 6680 7426
GREAT SUMMER MENU
Indulge in one of our new creations! We are proud to say, that for over 20 years, we have been serving the Byron community fresh, local seafood and ingredients. To improve your dining experience, we have developed a smaller plate menu, designed to be shared, and enabling you to try a greater variety of dishes. Enjoy! The Fishheads Family
St Elmo is a place where you can enjoy great company, first-class food, sophisticated cocktails and an extensive wine list. St Elmo is plating up modern Spanish cuisine to be enjoyed amongst friends and family. Our menus change regularly and feature daily specials.
www.stelmodining.com
Chupacabra
Fresh authentic Mexican in a relaxed atmosphere. This is food made with love, all produce sourced locally. Eat in or take out. Margaritas and tacos all night long! Shop 12A, 3 Clifford St, Family friendly, totally GF menu. Suffolk Park DINNER 5pm–9pm 6685 3059 WED–SAT www.chupacabra.com.au Book via Resy @chupabyron
Forest Byron Bay 77-97 Broken Head Rd, Suffolk Park 6685 4969 www.crystalbrookcollection. com/byron/forest
@forestbyronbay
Oma Food and Wine 6 Lawson Street, Byron Bay 8960 7478 www.omafoodandwine.com
Legend Pizza Open 7 days 9am till after midnight Shop 1 Woolworths Plaza 90-96 Jonson Street 6685 5700 www.legendpizza.com.au
Main Street Open 7 days 11.30am until late Call to make a reservation or for takeaway orders 18 Jonson Street 6680 8832
Set next to a lush rainforest oasis, Forest celebrates sustainability working hand-in-hand with local farmers, growers and artisans. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and just-drinks… the perfect place to feed your soul. Stay awhile. As a Byron Bay Crystalbrook Local you get to enjoy 15% off food and drinks when you sign up online.
Who needs chocolate Easter eggs when you can have Oma’s famous ramen eggs... with a side of house made focaccia, followed by whole prawns in citrus butter, then lamb shoulder washed down with a special cocktail – The Hot Cross Bun Sour. We are not doing Easter in halves at Oma. Book now so you don’t miss out.
FRESH PIZZA BYRON STYLE Check us out on
facebook.com/byron.legendpizza Scan code for our menu! BYO Home delivery 7 days Established 1992
Gourmet burgers created by chefs Cocktails, wine and beers served all damn day. Group bookings available, please email mainstreetburgerbar@gmail.com for reservations.
lëſĈIJ ǪǨǽ ǩǧǩǨ The Byron Shire Echo 23