ISSUE 8 SPRING ‘20
A LOCAL’S GUIDE TO THE AREA’S BEST
Israeli street food feasting!
Enjoy 1.5 hours of unlimited spritz (choose from Grapefruit & Basil, Pomegranate, Date & Mint, Rose & Almond, or try all four!) plus our share platters loaded with falafels, dips, pita, zucchini fries, and cauliflower salad - all for only $49pp!
24 Young Street, Neutral Bay 11.30am - 9.30pm Tuesday to Sunday Phone: 9909 0193 Email: pocketpitapopup@gmail.com Follow us at @pocketpitapopup
elcome to the Spring issue of northsider!
Belinda and I hope you are all doing well as we start looking forward to warmer weather and longer days. Community is at the heart of everything we do here at the magazine and now more than ever, it’s important for us all to support each other. So this Spring, let’s shop local, give the businesses down the road a like or a follow on social media, leave them a review online. Say hello to your neighbours, ask if they need any help and reach out if you might need some support too. Let’s come together as a community to keep everyone safe and healthy and make sure our special part of the world comes back stronger. #keepcalmandsupportlocal
Anna Gordon EDITOR
ART DIRECTOR: Belinda Spillane
THE ART OF
BIBI
northsider meets internationally renowned Aboriginal artist and Kirribilli local, Bibi Barba.
Colour comes to me, it speaks to me… art breathes, it moves, heals, creates adventure…that’s the beauty of it...”
It’s impossible not to be captivated by artist Bibi Barba as she speaks about her work, which combines traditional designs and storytelling with bold, modern colour.
The Wakka Wakka and Yuin artist nods towards the harbour foreshore near her home. “We’re coastal, saltwater women,” Bibi explains. “Inspiration comes to me when I’m near water.”
It was Bibi’s beloved maternal grandmother who encouraged her to reconnect with her heritage through art, a subject Bibi excelled in when she was at school.
“Nana told me ‘if you want to paint country, you’ve got to visit it, you’ve got to go back home and feel it,’” Bibi recalls.
“SHE’S ALWAYS BEEN MY INSPIRATION AND I USE ART TO EXPRESS HER STORIES”
“She’s always been my inspiration and I use art to express her stories.”
Passing her stories on was important to Bibi’s nana. She had been taken from her community in Mackay when she was 10 years old at the time of the Child Protection Orders. She grew up at Cherbourg mission, where the goal was to move Aboriginal children away from traditional tribal life, destroying their links to family, country, culture and language.
“Nana’s grandmother used to come and speak language to her in secret though,” Bibi says. “Nana went through a pretty horrific time. But she never complained once.”
As a young woman, Bibi took her nana’s advice and returned to the bush.
“I started to physically feel my culture,” she says. “Culture is about the present, living with Mother Earth. She accepts you and you accept her. When that respect is there, the world is a better place.”
When Bibi tragically lost a child just days after birth, it was art and her connection to country that became her way of coping.
“At night, when everyone was asleep, I’d paint,” she remembers. “It was my therapy as I started healing. I’d hide my artworks in a locked suitcase under the bed. No one, not even my husband, knew about them.”
Then one day, a friend spotted a piece Bibi had forgotten to hide away. By that time, there were 140 original works stashed in the suitcase.
Bibi’s friend persuaded her to show her paintings to a gallery owner, who was so impressed, he invited Bibi to host an exhibition.
“My hubby still had no idea I painted at all!” she laughs. “So I made him a beautiful dinner, sat him down and brought out the suitcase…he was pretty shocked!”
Bibi’s first exhibition sold out in just 40 minutes, propelling her from secret nighttime artist to the art scene’s newest sensation, with commissions pouring in.
“I painted a tree for a zoo in South Carolina, designed Queensland’s birth certificates, created many corporate artworks…,” Bibi says, recalling just a few of the many pieces she’s completed over the years.
From left: Women and Children; Desert Flowers; Oyster Dreaming; Women’s Business – just a small sample of Bibi’s diverse artwork.
As her reputation flourished, her marriage ended, and she left Australia to study at the prestigious Parsons School of Design in Paris. It was there she honed her craft and returning to Sydney two years later, she painted her breathtaking signature Desert Flowers work.
Representing a pivotal point in her life, Bibi was inspired by the feeling she was a flower going through a desert of emotions, with the optimistic bright yellow of the work representing a new dawn.
The acclaimed Desert Flowers collection saw Bibi’s work become even more known internationally. But not in a way she planned.
“I was at my sister’s house working on my website and had googled myself,” she remembers. “A picture of a carpet in a hotel appeared and I immediately recognised the design. It was the same colour, the same shapes, as my Desert Flowers.”
A spot more googling revealed the image was part of a series of promotional photos for a newly opened boutique hotel in Poland. Bibi discovered the design appeared on chairs, curtains, walls, tables...even soap dishes.
LOCAL LEGEND
Her artwork, so personal and unique to her storytelling, had been replicated by an interior designer. In a final twist of the knife, the caption on the main image of the carpet even read Desert Flowers, inspired by Bibi Barba.
Bibi couldn’t believe her artwork had been used commercially without her permission, disrespecting both her culture and her work.
“They thought I was living in the desert under a gumtree somewhere,” Bibi sighs. “They didn’t realise I was sitting in Kirribilli, where my great, great grandmother was born, just a few doors down from the Prime Minister…”
When the designer denied copying the artwork, Bibi took the case on, first to the Copyright Agency in Australia and then the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). Eight years later, there’s talk of going to the European Court of Human Rights.
“If that happens all hell will break loose,” Bibi says. “But if it does, I’m glad. This shows how easily Aboriginal art can be taken and reproduced under the word ‘inspired’. There’s people out there that this has happened to, or is happening to, who just think ‘I haven’t got the money’ or ‘I haven’t got the knowhow’ to fight this theft.
“That’s why my advocacy for artists is so passionate. We have to put mechanisms in place so if this happens, this is what you do. My case will show people the steps to take.
“As an Aboriginal woman I can see the clarity of culture and that’s why I fight for these things to be protected,” she continues. “Now I’m speaking to entire countries, not just individuals. I hope it makes a huge difference.”
Between Government consultancy work, conducting art lessons via Zoom (in person before Covid and even for A-listers, including Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s kids when they were visiting Australia, “Brad’s just divine,” Bibi laughs) and 1am meetings with her international law team, Bibi has been creating a new series of work for her first exhibition in almost 10 years.
The show, which will focus on her father’s grandmother’s dreaming, is taking place at The New Artisans Gallery in Milsons Point from mid-November.
“We have the oldest living culture in the world,” Bibi says as she heads to her studio. “If your artwork is an expression of stories that have been passed down, it’s priceless. I just love what I do and I’ll do it until the day I die.” l
Flowers of the Great Barrier Reef by Bibi Barba
CELEBRATE AT HOME
A catering experience that will keep your guests amazed and talking for months. We offer hatted restaurant quality food from a team of chefs that hail from Sydney’s awarded restaurants at your home or venue of choice.
Find these treasures just around the corner
Jones & Co Moth
Funnel Vase Tall, $140, Small $135
Rapture Living
150 Blues Point Road, McMahons Point
Saardé Hand Sanitiser - Lemon Myrtle, 500ml, $25 Village Emporio 500B Miller Street, Cammeray
Dog and Cat Bandanas Precious Puppies at Pet Medical, 28 Alfred Street South, Milsons Point or preciouspuppies.net.au
‘Little Tickler’ Kid’s Romper, $25 Wormticklers Northside Produce Market or wormticklers.com father’s day READER OFFER!
Levi & London, Handcrafted European Bell Whisky Glass, $64
Rapture Living 150 Blues Point Road, McMahons Point
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, by Charlie Mackesy, $34.99 Show this page and buy for $29.99! Blues Point Bookshop 131 Blues Point Road, McMahons Point
Douceur Immortelle, Uplifting Home Perfume, $39 L’Occitane Greenwood Plaza, 36 Blue Street, Nth Sydney
Organic Carrot Sourdough, The Grumpy Baker Bakery and Café 64A Clark Road, Neutral Bay and 85A Bay Road, Waverton Happy Hair Brush, Gold, $39.95 Happy Hair Brush happyhairbrush.com.au
Cotton ‘northsider’ Tote Bag, email hello@northsider.com.au for order details and more info
“There’s so much to love about our northside neighbourhoods”
#keepcalmsupportlocal
I’ve been enjoying both (literally both, in the same sitting!) the classic and the chicken Bahn Mi from Eat Mi Vietnamese in Neutral Bay. The lovely ladies in the laneway recently celebrated the shop’s first birthday. Congrats on your year in business and those delicious rolls packed full of fresh, quality ingredients! Yum!
“I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO COOKING UP SOME FUN IN THE KITCHEN AND DISHING UP MY TOP LOCAL TIPS”
kitchen rules!
My Kitchen Rules winner, top-selling cookbook author, restaurateur and local foodie, Will Stewart, joins the northsider team to share his top kitchen tips and neighbourhood hidden gems.
Hi everyone - I’m Will and it’s lovely to meet you all!
You might remember me as the pommy former banker turned cook on a little show called My Kitchen Rules. Five years ago, I was on the winning team after turning out palate perfect classic dishes under the watchful eye of Pete and Manu - a Scotch Egg recipe being a particular hit!
Out of the frying pan after the intense cooking lesson that was one of TV’s biggest shows, I was hungry to follow my foodie dreams in the hospitality world. Over the
DIARY DATE: RU OK Day - 10 September
I’ve been a long-time supporter of RU OK Day and this year, perhaps more than ever, we should all be asking ourselves and each other RU OK on the 10th September. It’s so very important to put your hand up if you’re not feeling 100% and be brave enough to get help. Let’s look out for our mates, colleagues and neighbours. Head to ruok.org.au for all the info on how to get involved and spread the word.
past few years, I’ve co-written a cookbook, helped run a couple of restaurants and hosted gourmet events all around Australia.
I LOVE all things food - cooking, eating, and above all, sharing my passion for cooking and creating….(although don’t be fooled when it comes to sharing when I’m actually eating though. You’re unlikely to find me sharing too much of what’s in front of me unless you’re super quick with a fork!) and I’m thrilled to be joining the northsider team.
As a devoted northsider myself, living in the beautiful area of Cremorne, I know there’s so much to love about our northside neighbourhoods. And now, more than ever, we need to support local and look out for each other. I’m looking forward to cooking up some fun in the kitchen and dishing up my top local tips for ingredients, restaurants, providores and more.
Catch me on Instagram @willstewart and make sure you’re also following @northsidersydney for my regular recipes, tips and a few laughs too!
Lots of love Will x
Got a cooking question, local recommendation or idea you’d like to see me rustle up in the northsider kitchen? Drop me a line at hello@northsider.com.au!
Finders Distillery Gin
FROM
yle and Georgia at the newly opened Finders Distillery in St. Leonards have created a handcrafted, batch distilled Australian Dry Gin using botanicals that include wattle seed and native gum. For more info, head to findersdistillery.com
WIN! A bottle of Finders Distillery Australian Dry Gin and a bottle of Capi tonic to make that first northside G&T! We’ve got three prize packs to give away. For a chance to win, email hello@northsider.com.au to tell us your favourite way to enjoy a gin in 25 words or less. Please write ‘Finders’ in the subject line of your email and include your name, address and phone number.
And make sure you’re following @findersdistillery and @northsidersydney on Instagram!
& STRESS MYTHS Relaxation realities
Relaxation is underrated and stress is often misunderstood, explains Dr Judy Lovas, a local expert specialising in evidence-based Relaxation Therapy for chronic conditions.
Relaxation is increasingly important as our pace of life speeds up and uncertainty grows in the community. But the sad reality is that relaxation is rarely valued, taught or encouraged in a world that awards busyness and constant productivity. When was the last time you heard anyone say “Go do nothing for a while!”
At the same time, few people appreciate that stress isn’t bad for us! Stressors are events that create responses. The food we eat is a stressor that encourages digestion to respond and function. This article is a stressor that prompts you to respond by reading and thinking. In truth, stress is a necessary part of life. Stress becomes distress when we find it difficult to cope with the events. So, when someone says they are ‘so stressed’, they really mean they are distressed, or not coping well.
Chronic conditions such as anxiety, depression, pain, sleep disorders and trauma are distress related and compromise our ability to cope with life’s demands. The effects of these conditions can be reduced by learning
“... THE MORE WE RELAX, THE LESS WE ARE COMPROMISED BY DISTRESS”
how to use relaxation techniques properly and regularly. The benefits of relaxation for mental health and physical wellbeing are well-researched, evidence-based, efficacious and relaxation techniques are slowly being integrated into our healthcare system.
Evidence-based relaxation techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing or slow, belly breathing, can short circuit our distress pathways, reduce production of distress hormones, encourage the release of calming neurotransmitters and provide more oxygen to our cells. Relaxation Therapy has a see-saw effect. The more we relax, the less we are compromised by distress.
Simple relaxation skills are evidence-based, non-invasive, non-pharmacological, easy and portable, and can be life changing. They can reduce distress, offer a self-help coping strategy and enable you to feel and live better. l
Dr Judy Lovas conducts Relaxation Therapy classes in Northbridge. For more information about learning relaxation skills and booking a class, head to artandscienceofrelaxation.com
Relaxation Therapy Classes in
Northbridge
● Do you experience stress, anxiety, depression, pain, sleep disorders or trauma?
● Are you a student who wants to cope better with school stress?
● Join leading expert Dr Judy Lovas for 45 minute Relaxation classes in Northbridge
● Learn simple skills to decrease stress and improve mental health and physical well-being
PUZZLES with Quizmaster Clay
The Village Quiz
1. Which three Australian states or territories do NOT observe daylight saving?
2. The North Sydney War Memorial is located in which park?
3. By what other names does the Northbridge go by?
4. Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts attended which local high school together?
5. In which suburb would you find Saint Peters Park?
6. Is the population of Cammeray closer to 5, 6 or 7,000 people?
7. What harbourside tourist attraction was officially opened on 7 October 1916?
8. Harry Seidler’s iconic ‘Blues Point Tower’ was completed in 1962, 1968 or 1972?
9. What is the postcode of Milsons Point?
10. Name the independent Catholic school for girls in Kirribilli. Do you have some local trivia for The Village Quiz? Email your question to hello@northsider.com.au
Village Emporio – your local fashion and lifestyle store with lots to love!
There’s lots to love at Village Emporio - situated in the heart of Cammeray on Miller Street next to the post o ce. From the range of all-Australian fashion brands to the beautiful complimentary accessories and the delightful gift ideas. All served up with a friendly welcome and expert advice from the Village Emporio team.
Come and visit us today!
Brands include: Brave and True, Holiday, ‘Est1971, Island Jade, Frankies Melbourne, Humidity Australia, Amici made in Italy, Peta and Jain Bags, MelanO jewellery, Moss St Fragrances, Saardé Home and more! Gift vouchers & Afterpay available
500B Miller Street, Cammeray
P 0435 785 179 E shop@villageemporio.com.au
@villageemporio
Local, family
dog walking business.
O leash group walks in local parks/beaches or personalised to suit.
Walks starting from $25*
WHAT’S ON
4-page
PULL OUT!
JACARANDA SEASON
Spring in North Sydney means it’s jacaranda time! Head out early in the morning to McDougall Street, Kirribilli to catch the luminous blooms at their best before the crowds. Bag yourself a front row seat at dog-friendly café The Flying Bear for coffee and brunch or head up to Foys for a delicious lunch harbourside on the balcony. Stunning displays can also be found in Neutral Bay, Cremorne Reserve and McMahons Point.
SEPTEMBER
5
WEEKENDS
MEET THE NORTHSIDER TEAM!
Come and say hello to the team behind your favourite magazine. We’ll be at the Northside Produce Market in North Sydney from 8am.
Say cheers to Spring with Pocket Pita Pop Up’s Bottomless Mediterranean Spritz! Enjoy 1.5 hours of unlimited spritz plus share platters of falafels, dips and more, all for only $49pp. Contactless ordering and pooch-friendly outdoor seating options make it perfect for those weekend brunches. 24 Young Street, Neutral Bay, pocketpitapopup.com.au
10TH
RUOK DAY
Every day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” and help support each other. Head to ruok. org.au for all the info.
Flex your art skills at the newly opened Pinot and Picasso paint and sip studio on Military Road. With classes running every week, you can learn to create your own artworks while enjoying a BYO tipple or two. Classes range from landscapes to abstracts and animals. You can even paint a pic of your own pooch! Head to pinotandpicasso.com.au/neutralbay for all info and to book.
13
ALL MONTH
FATHER'S DAY! Looking for some new ideas of what to get Dad this year? Head to the Virtual Markets from the Coal Loader! Find out more info at northsydney.nsw.gov.au/ CoalLoader
Aperitivo time is back at North Sydney’s most beautiful restaurant, Mount Street’s modern Italian, Glorietta. Say buonasera to $12 spritz and Negronis and $6 wine and beer matched with $10 serves of pizzette, aranchini and antipasto. Yum! Tues-Sat 3pm-6pm, 1/100 Mount Street, glorietta.com.au
ARTISAN BREAD BAKING
This online course is taught by award winning chef Brigit Marx. 10am-2pm, $100, booking essential at northsydneycentre.com.au
22
NORTHSIDE PRODUCE MARKET! It’s the Northside Produce Market's 21st birthday! Head over to Ted Mack Civic Park in North Sydney from 8am on the first and third Saturday of the month for farm fresh produce, baked treats and much more.
OCTOBER
ALL MONTH
BUY NOTHING NEW MONTH
Take part in the global movement to challenge yourself to buy nothing new in October. Head to preloved fashion store Studio 61 in North Sydney to discover clothes with conscience.
19TH – 25TH
4
AUSSIE BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
Take part in the largest citizen science event in Australia – all from your backyard! Anyone can help out – all you need is 20 minutes, a favourite outdoor area, some keen eyesight and the Aussie Bird Count app or website. Part of National Bird Week, the count is done for BirdLife Australia to track Aussie birds over the last 12 months. Go to aussiebirdcount.org.au for info.
START OF DAYLIGHT
SAVING Move your clock forward an hour at 2am.
SPRING READY!
Join F45 North Sydney ready for their next challenge! Power through fun circuit and HIIT workouts to boost your fitness levels and banish any lockdown kgs. The studio follows all Government advice relating to social distancing and practises strict sanitising routines before, during and after every session. READER OFFER! There’s 50% off 28 day kick start memberships for northsider readers! Mention the magazine when you contact the studio northsydney@f45training.com.au
LUHO'S BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH!
Gather a group (observing all the latest Covid rules on numbers of course!) and head to innovative Crows Nest restaurant Luho on Saturday or Sunday from mid-Sept and enjoy their Bottomless Brunch! For $60 per person, you'll be served five courses of their signature Southeast Asian hawker-style dishes accompanied by an hour and a half of bottomless vino. Dine-in numbers are limited so book early to make sure you don't miss out. Head to luho.com.au for all the info.
SUPPORT THE SQUADDY
There’s never been a better time to support your local club. Sign up for membership at the Sydney Flying Squadron and become part of Sydney Harbour’s living history. While sailing season might still be on hold as we go to press, you can bet there will be an epic party to mark the day when those beautiful 18-footers hit the water again! sydneyflyingsquadron.com.au
NOVEMBER
BEHIND THE SCENES
Free tours of the Northside Produce Market. In these info-packed morning sessions you’ll meet the farmers and producers to learn more about in-season produce and where your market fresh goodies come from. Bookings are essential. Three adults only tours with chef and market lover, Tawnya Bahr, starting from 7.30am. Head to northsydneycentre.com.au for all the info.
LATE NOVEMBER
Experience modern, original Aboriginal art at renowned artist Bibi Barba’s exhibition at The New Artisans Gallery in Milsons Point. Barba will be unveiling new works as well as showing some of her previous masterpieces. Head to @thenewartisansgallery on Facebook for all the up-to-date exhibition information.
ALL MONTH
PAINT AND SIP IN ST LEONARDS!
Set your creativity free at these fun BYO painting sessions in St Leonards. Savour a wine and play with paint in a studio filled with like-minded artists of all levels. As well as a full range of classes being held at the Albany Street studio, sessions are also being run over Zoom. A great way to spend an afternoon with friends or head out solo to meet new people. Head to corkandchroma.com.au for class timetables and to book.
Rediscover rock this Spring at the iconic Hard Rock Café in Darling Harbour! Great music, good times and delicious food are all waiting for you just a short ferry trip away. You’ll be transported to the States with their classic American menu and legendary cocktail list and there’s live music every weekend when the kids can also eat for free!
KNITTING GROUP Every Friday, 10.30am, the Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre kirribillicentre.org
SUNDAY ROAST at The Botanist, Kirribilli. Book a table at thebotanist.com.au
HAPPY HOUR! You can get selected beer, wine and cider for just $5! MondayThursday, 5-7pm at the Commodore Hotel. For more info go to commodorehotel.com.au
At the time of going to print, the Coal Loader’s quarterly Artisan Markets are taking place virtually! Head to northsydney.nsw.gov.au/ artisansmarketvirtual for all the latest news on these fabulous markets which support local artisan makers.
Desert Flowers , Bibi
Barba
Daniel Sofo, above, made quick decisions to pivot and relaunch his Neutral Bay restaurant.
STREET SMART
How an iconic north shore restaurant has pivoted to beat lockdown and come back stronger…
After serving the Neutral Bay community for 12 years, dining institution Firefly switched off its neon pinot noir sign for good when Covid-19 came to town.
The hospitality lockdown could have left the Young Street restaurant totally forked. But owner Daniel Sofo had other ideas.
“I knew I wanted to reopen but I knew things wouldn’t work in the same way they had before,” Sofo tells northsider. “We had to create something new.” Inspiration came from personal experience.
“When I was travelling years ago, I lived in Tel Aviv for a few months and I fell in love with the street food - hummus is one of my desert island dishes,” Sofo says. “It’s a
“I KNEW I WANTED TO REOPEN BUT I KNEW THINGS WOULDN’T WORK THE SAME WAY THEY HAD BEFORE”
combination of food that travels well, is easy on the pocket and tastes delicious.”
So out went the tapas and the pinots (there were over 90 on Firefly’s menu) and in came the Middle Eastern flavours of Israeli street food at new diner, Pocket Pita Pop Up.
The restaurant serves up a limited, but mouthwatering menu which includes 12-hour lamb in pillowy pitas, spicy falafels, spritzes with the flavours of the Middle East and, of course, lashings of creamy hummus.
And while Firefly’s neon sign might have gone – replaced by a portrait of Scomo in a Fez at the front door, a nod to the PM’s Corona-casts of late March and April - its infamous zucchini fries live on as a side.
The new dishes can be put together quickly but this definitely isn’t fast food.
“Everything has to be fresh and made straight to order,” Sofo says. “You just can’t fudge it.”
As well as home delivery and collection, at the time of going to print, the venue is welcoming limited numbers of dine-in
guests and has relaunched its signature weekend bottomless spritz events.
Menus are virtual, accessed via scanning the QR code on your table with your smartphone. You then order food and drink contactlessly using your phone. Genius.
The drinks menu is half the size, focussing on refreshing sodas, which can be turned into spritzes, and a small, but carefully selected, choice of wine and beer.
Launching a restaurant concept with an all-new menu during a pandemic is a bold business move. But it wasn’t the first new launch Daniel managed during lockdown. Just three weeks into the stay at home order, he had already pivoted his team to create The Goods, a delivery service which brought market fresh produce and restaurant quality wines directly to your door.
Partnering with a Michelin star chef turned providore, their website went live in 48 hours and the first orders were fulfilled just four days later.
“I had to do something to keep my team employed,” Sofo says. “It was all hands on deck. I was finishing work and then heading out to the the markets at 1am before boxing and delivering produce. There certainly wasn’t much time for sleep!
“We have a good database so we were fortunate we had an instant audience of
On the menu
➜ 12-hour lamb bowl (left) – slow-cooked lamb shoulder, babahummus, tahini, cucumber, pickles and amba (mango pickle).
➜ Pocket dip and falafel platter (below) –falafel balls, hummus, babaghanoush, pickles, za’atar chips, pita, zucchini fries, tahini, matbucha (tomato and capsicum)
➜ Espresso Martini with flavours of baklava
– pistachio, cinnamon and cardamom
➜ Rosewater, almond and lemon soda
people who trusted what we did and we have a strong team who are willing to get hands on. But I think we all underestimate the role luck has in what we do. It’s hard work, having a sense for innovation…and some good old-fashioned luck. Yes, we make calculated decisions but we also get lucky too.”
After nine weeks, The Goods went into lockdown itself as the Covid-19 restrictions began to lift. Now, Pocket Pita Pop Up is flourishing. Diners are flocking back, all socially distanced and in-keeping with current rules of course, and deliveries are flying out of the door. "I think we’re all wanting a bit of comfort food right now!” Sofo says. And when comfort food is this good, it's easy to see why. l
Made with l’amore by Giuseppe!
Our popular Waverton butcher serves up a slice of Italy
Ciao a tutti!
Originally from Calabria, south west Italy, Giuseppe Tirinato descends from three generations of butchers. Giuseppe’s Gourmet Meats is open seven days.
If you’re working from home or looking for an easy recipe you can prepare ahead while you get on with your day, give some classic slow cooking a go!
This dish is like a big Italian hug in a bowl. Buon appetito!
Giuseppe
■ Gourmet Italian sausages
CODA ALLA VACCINARA - ROMAN STYLE OXTAIL
COOKING TIME:
3-4 HRS SERVES 4
INGREDIENTS
1.5kg oxtail
1 bunch celery
3 carrots
1 brown onion
2 cloves garlic
2 tbs cacao amaro
1 glass white wine
1 handful roasted pine nuts
2 cans Mutti polpa
1 tube of Mutti tomato paste
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
150g grated Parmigiano
1 packet Delverde Rigatoni
■ Great selection of prosciutto, salami and cheeses
■ Fresh Italian bread delivered daily
■ Cooked crackling porchetta Saturdays
■ Ready-to-go options like lasagna, meatballs, spinach and ricotta cannelloni... and all things Italian!
METHOD
• Add a splash of extra virgin olive oil to a saucepan and sear the oxtail. Set aside. Finely chop veg and garlic. Add wine to saucepan with pan juices, followed by the rest of the oil and 1/2 of the veg. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the oxtail and 2 cups of water. Simmer for 1.5 hours.
• Add Mutti polpa, tomato paste, remaining veg and 1 cup of water. Simmer for 2 hours with lid on, stirring occasionally.
• Add pine nuts and cacao amaro and stir for 10 minutes. Take off heat and allow to rest. While your pasta is cooking, pull meat away from oxtail. Serve pasta with meat and sauce and a grating of Parmigiano.
The Bay Club Resort
We have been living at Bougainvillea for over two years now and we call it our ‘Cruise Ship on Land’. The residents and staff a now a part of our extended family. The gardens, grounds and atrium areas are beautifully maintained as is the rest of the r We have never regretted making the move to our new home.
THE GRAPE
escape!
Always stick with a Sauv or plump for a Pinot? Then now’s the time to take your tastebuds on a wine tour…
ISommelier Freddie Slater is the Food and Beverage Director at Glorietta Restaurant, 100 Mount Street, North Sydney. Previously Sommelier for the Bentley Group, he is renowned for his refreshingly innovative wine lists, with a focus on minimal intervention drops.
’m sure that when you plan a night in with a bottle of wine, you’ve already picked your favourite grape variety before you’ve walked into the shop. It could be a rich and opulent Chardonnay, a racy lime-zest Riesling or a generous Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. But what if you hadn’t done that preplanning? What if, this time, you walked into the bottle-o and asked for ‘something like
“IT’S LIKE RENEWING YOUR PASSPORT BUT ONLY TRAVELLING TO SURRY HILLS!”
a chardonnay’ or ‘a shiraz-y red but let’s give a variety I haven’t tried before a go.”
Did you know that there are an estimated 10,000 different varieties of grapes which produce wine? If you compare that to the number of varieties grown in Australia, you’d feel like there’s plenty of exploring still to be done! And what better time to start on your wine journey than now?
When customers come in to Glorietta and ask questions about the wine list, I ask them what they normally like to drink. Then I give them three wine options that are like what they drink, but are lesser-known grape varieties they might not have tried before. Everyone always enjoys the new experience.
Exploring different grape varieties and regions is what I love most about wine. I just can’t see an end to the number of regions I keep discovering or new ‘native’ grape varieties I didn’t know existed in a certain country. Take, for example, Sicily. Thanks to the hard work of Australian wine suppliers, we can now find more and more of these delicious wines on the shelves of good wine shops and on the wine lists of many restaurants.
It’s an island with a rich history of maintaining its native varieties. It’s also a wine region doing very well in creating wine with less additions and chemicals, both in the vineyard and the wine making process. Yes, they’re natural wines, but it’s not
something they bang a drum about. They’re just concerned farmers, keen to impose natural methods for their vines. The ‘natural’ side just comes, well, naturally.
So if you like Pinot Noir, why not try a Nerello Mascalese or a Frappato. Want a red that’s a bit bigger? How about a Nero d’Avola. Prefer a white wine? Give Carricante or Grillo a go.
For sure, Australia makes fantastic wine. But don’t limit yourself to just one country’s offering, or to just a handful of varieties. It’s like renewing your passport, but only travelling to Surry Hills…Go on! Nudge yourself to try something new. You never know, you just might like it. ●
Hi northsiders ! Rover reporter Ted the Puggle here. I’ve had a grrrr-eat chat with my mate Mintie the Jack Russell who is the o cial gift shop meeter and licker at Nutcote, the heritage listed Neutral Bay home of children’s author, illustrator and national icon, May Gibbs.
‘The ladies who bake the scones are some of my favourite humans!’
Ted: Hi Mintie! Thank you for taking time out from your busy day to chat. How did you start welcoming visitors to Nutcote?
Mintie: Officially I started coming to work with the curator, Stephanie, because there was building work at home. But I knew that really it was because they needed me to be the welcoming face of Nutcote in the gift shop.
T: What do you do in a day?
M: I’m the official meeter and licker. I make sure all visitors are welcome and I like to give them balls to play with. I’ve also been told I’m a husband distractor for ladies who like to spend lots of money gift shopping. I get to nap in the sun before we open and I also model some lovely doggie bandanas we sell that are very jaunty.
T: Are people surprised to see you? I bet you get lots of pats!
M: I’m often told that people aren’t coming in just to play ball with me and that they’re here to visit the Museum. But I’m sure they want to
visit me as well. Humans tell me about their dogs at home and my waggy tail gets lots of smiles.
T: I’ve heard there are some excellent cakes at the tea room. Do you ever get to have some?!
M: The ladies who bake the scones and cakes are some of my favourite humans! But I’m not allowed in the tearoom to play with them when the Museum is open. A magpie family lives in the garden and have been known to steal a scone or two. Of course I’d never be so naughty!
T: Who’s your favourite workmate and why?
M: Nutcote has lots of volunteers in the house, garden and tearoom and they’re all my friends. It was very sad not playing with them when the Museum was closed because of Covid-19. We get to play again now and every day a friend comes in, sometimes with a ball or a treat.
T: What’s the best thing about coming to work? I like the snacks : )
M: I get to meet so many people and have so many friends who live locally and walk
From left: May Gibbs’ in the garden at Nutcote with her beloved Scottish terrier. Me enjoying the sunshine on a break from my greeting and licking duties and an outake from one of my modelling shoots. I do love a bandana.
From left: Me outside Nutcote, May Gibbs’ home in Neutral Bay, a May Gibbs’ illustration of Scotty in Gumnut Land. He’s my fave character.
past the gate to say hello. I also get so many cuddles! I’ve been told I shouldn’t be kissing everyone at the moment because of social distancing, so I find that very hard.
T: Where are your favourite spots locally?
M: Warringa Park near Anderson Park is great to run around and chase balls. There’s a lovely beach near Hayes Street and the Cremorne Point walk is so much fun. Sometimes I meet brush turkeys!
T: Who’s your favourite May Gibbs’ character?
M: It has to be Scotty in Gumnut Land. Scotty is a Scottish terrier dog, based on May Gibbs’ favourite breed. He escapes to Gumnut Land and has all these adventures with the Gumnut Babies. The name Nutcote means the home of the Gumnut Babies. If you want to see them, you have to be very quiet of course. I find that very hard as I’m always so excited.
T: May Gibbs loved dogs didn’t she? Tell us about the special doggie day at Nutcote.
Animal MATTERS
with Pet Medical Milsons Point’s Dr Cate Plummer BVSC, BSc (Vet) (Hons) I believe strongly that we gain so much benefit from a close bond with our animal partners, and caring veterinary support is an integral part of this.
CANINE COGNITIVE DISORDER
During the colder months we often focus on the effects this has on our older dogs with regards to arthritis. However, there is another issue for our senior citizens that’s around all year called Canine Cognitive Decline (CCD).
Pet owners have long been frustrated by age-related behaviour changes, including house-training problems, apparent memory loss, disorientation, confusion, staring, wandering, getting stuck in corners, sleep disturbances (waking at the wrong time, sleeping unusually deeply, night pacing), restlessness, barking, separation anxiety, panting, drooling, obsessive licking etc.
Progression of clinical signs is so gradual that most owners fail to recognise the early stages. These changes are often written off as being due to normal ageing and can be quite common. The first step in dealing with CCD is to raise any concerns you may have with your veterinarian. They will then assess if there are other underlying medical issues that may be contributing to the clinical signs.
M: May Gibbs was a fantastic artist and author and she loved all animals, especially dogs. She designed many illustrations for the RSPCA and left land she owned in the Blue Mountains to them. Every year we celebrate her birthday in January with a Scotty Dog Birthday Party. So far, I’m not allowed to go. But maybe if I get a costume, I could sneak in…hopefully you can come too Ted! T: Wow! Thanks Mintie, I love parties! I’d better start looking for a costume…
For all the info on visiting Nutcote (and Mintie!) head to maygibbs.com.au and follow @maygibbsnutcote on Instagram. Nutcote, 5 Wallaringa Avenue, Kurraba Point.
When treating dogs with CCD the first step may be as simple as dietary changes or dietary supplements, particularly antioxidants. Behaviour modification training and environmental enrichment can also help in some cases. Drugs that help improve cerebral perfusion and anti-anxiety medications have also been found to be helpful in cases of CCD.
If you think your dog is showing any of these signs remember it is always worth mentioning to your veterinarian. ● @petmedicalmilsonspoint
Visit petmedical.com.au or call 8203 4390 or at 28 Alfred Street, Milsons Point (Opp. Bradfield Park).
Midlife and loving it 50 So What’s Jo Harvey has a spring in her step.
northsider chats to Milsons Point’s Jo Harvey, co-publisher of 50 So What, a thriving online community that celebrates and champions all things midlife.
What inspired you to start 50 So What? I remember looking up 50 on the internet and the first thing that came up was incontinence pads and then retirement homes. Bloody hell, that was a turning point for me. My husband James and I were far from any of that, and just wanted to shout, ‘We’re midlife not 150!’ We felt there wasn’t anything specific to us in this unique time of life. We were getting lumped in with everybody 50 and over and we didn’t think this was an accurate reflection of our lifestyle and mindset. Nothing really spoke to us. So, 50sowhat.com.au was born to celebrate midlife, talk, discuss, support and foster a
“NOW MORE THAN EVER WE NEED A COMMUNITY TO HELP MIDLIFERS FEEL
sense of community. We do matter and have a lot more to contribute. We also want to have a bloody great laugh too!
How did you go about launching?
We started our website first, then our other digital platforms (@50sowhatofficial has over 11k followers on Instagram). We knew our name had to say it all with a bit of attitude - we didn’t want to conform to what society was saying midlife was. Honesty has always played a big part in what we do and our intention has been to grow organically and authentically while addressing what’s relevant to our stage of life - the good, the bad, the funny and everything in-between.
What have been the most popular subjects? Hormones by far! Our honest discussion around this has been liberating. We talk about things most people don’t talk about
or find too embarrassing. It helps to stop the stigma, meaning women feel less isolated, and we have a laugh too. Travel, beauty, lifestyle and community are also popular but no topic is off limits.
You’ve had support from Aussie supermodel Elle MacPherson...
Elle posted a picture on Instagram and was attacked for the way she looked. It was horrible. Some of the comments were vile. I answered her critics and I think she appreciated that. While Elle’s life is completely different to mine, she’s still a midlifer living her life the best way she can. I’m all about supporting and encouraging others. It doesn’t matter if you are Elle, Jo, or whoever. My goal is to help other midlifers feel less invisible, less isolated and more relevant, no matter what you look like, who you are or what you do.
What is it about your messaging that you think people are identifying with?
For so long, midlifers have been ignored, set aside and cast away, especially by brands. It’s time we put a stop to this. Midlifers are the biggest spending consumers in the world. We’re at our peak! We’re more confident and have a lot to offer and while our life experience is a massive plus, we still have so much more living to do.
Why’s 50 So What is important right now?
Now more than ever we need a community to help midlifers feel connected and relevant. It’s important to be able to talk openly about this time of our life without feeling uncomfortable. We get lots of messages from women and men who say they’re grateful for the open and frank discussions we have. So many people are afraid of ageing. Our aim is to debunk the myths. Midlife can be bloody fabulous! Let’s stop ageism and enjoy the moment we’re in. ●
Jo’s top
“We’ve just released a popular range of 50 So What t-shirts at 50sowhat. com.au ”
northside picks
I’m always at Coco Chocolate in Kirribilli buying chocolate – it’s my biggest weakness! For coffee, I’ll head to Oski, which is next door. I love their karma bowl. Kirribilli Seafoods do the best fish and chips. For hair and beauty, Wildlife Hair are great and the flowers at Flowers at Kirribilli are beautiful. The Kirribilli Centre is at the heart of the community and I love the Kirribilli Markets too. I also like the Street Market Asian Tapas on Fitzroy Street and San Antonio bakery on Burton Street.
Want to be in our bumper Summer issue?
A SPACE FOR ALL
In need of a change of scenery? The Kirribilli Centre can help!
Working from home?
If you’re in need of a meeting room or some space to work with colleagues that’s easy to get to and doesn’t cost the earth, you can swap the front room for some space in The Kirribilli Centre, a heritage building in the heart of Kirribilli. Two of the rooms offer the latest in video conferencing equipment with a large 65 inch top-of-therange television - perfect for interstate Zoom calls and connecting to colleagues who can’t meet in person.
Just for fun!
Kids just love the shady courtyard for fun and games and the addition of a brand new cubby house means it’s all set for Spring! Let the young ones enjoy a run around knowing that the area is safe, shaded and securely fenced. There’s also space to hire for kids’ parties and small gatherings too. Signed and sealed
Did you know a Justice of the Peace is available at the Kirribilli Centre every Tuesday at 1.30pm? Bookings are essential. ● Head to thekirribillicentre.org for more info.
THE KIRRIBILLI CENTRE
Bring on Spring!
northsider Marni Little is mumma to Archie, ve, and Charlie, one, wife to Dave and an award winning comedy writer.
We made it through Winter! In a world where March went for 72 days, April went for 106 days and Winter went for eleventy-thousand years, we have FINALLY come out the other side. When Jon Snow said Winter was coming, boy did he mean it. Now we have a nicer climate to not see our friends, not travel interstate and not fulfil all those plans we made at the beginning of 2020.
So in this ‘new normal’ (sorry, I hate when people say that too) how are the kids? The Covid generation will be the first to know how far 1.5m is in kindergarten, the first kids ever to wash their hands for 20 seconds and the first to say “Kids’ mums used to come in and read with the class! I know! Sooo gross!” They will know remote learning, what Zoom is and how to use SeeSaw (which is 100% beyond me).
Hats off to 2020, you’ve pulled a blinder! Me and the boys are just happy the sun is shining and Spring is in the air.
So now that Spring is upon us, what can we do to bring some of that old-school normal back into our lives? Here are my top picks: 1. Grab a basket of local produce and head to Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden for an afternoon picnic 2. Kids + beach = day off from planning things to do. Parents, Balmoral is calling us! 3. Hikes, hikes and
more hikes. Blessed with national parks for days, Sydney-siders are about to reach peak sightseeing weather so grab a map (or Google map) and check out the millions of trails that can be found right behind our houses. Good luck, stay safe…and sane! ● For more lols, #mumlife and everything in-between, folllow Marni on Instagram @marni_little
“IN A WORLD WHERE MARCH WENT ON FOR 72 DAYS...”
anticsandartistry.com ‘Assemblage’
Acrylic on fine art canvas, 90x60cm by local abstract artist V. Butchatsky
Hire – right in the
Do you need a meeting room, office space, to hold a small function or a children’s party, then talk to us.
We are right in the heart of Kirribilli and have a number of room hire options. Two of our rooms offer the latest in video conferencing equipment. We have a large gallery room which is great for yoga, art exhibitions or gatherings, small weddings, and more intimate personal spaces for things like counselling. We offer party packages for children’s parties too!
Our spaces are extremely well priced. We are also a two minute walk from Milsons Point train station.
A FAMILY CRAFT
The Gordons have been building classic wooden boats in Lavender Bay for 75 years.
The late Bob Gordon was just 16 years old when he launched his first hand built wooden boat. He went on to build around 30 classic craft over the next 67 years.
After moving his business to a boatshed in Lavender Bay in 1945, Bob worked at the old Neptune Slipway before setting up his workshop under the railway viaduct in 1987, where he continued building timber boats with
his son, Rob. “I was taken out to sea before I could walk,” Rob laughs. “As I grew up I‘d help with the cleaning, painting...whatever I could do as a kid.”
And when he turned 18, Rob was working full-time with his dad, making boat building a truly family affair.
“Some days were joyful, others were tough,” he remembers. “There were a few heated debates shall we say – the kind you have if you work with your parents!”
While Rob returned to full-time education, heading to uni to qualify as a geologist, Bob continued to build.
“I remember seeing Dad on his back one day, working under a boat with a huge disk sander, surrounded by sawdust. He was 82 years old at the time and he just loved it.
“He was a sucker for work! Even as a kid. One of his jobs as a child was to use the milk churn and his parents had to drag him off it. That same relentless work ethic was definitely imbibed in me at a very young age.”
Rob returned to work with his dad on his final build, Ivy, which launched in 2005.
Bob passed away the following year, aged 84. The foreshore reserve in Lavender Bay is now named after him and Rob can still be found toiling away in his dad’s old workshop.
These days, boat building is for fun.
“There’s only two of us in Sydney building wooden boats these days,” Rob says.
His latest passion project is a 28ft Couta boat, complete with iron bark keel, New Zealand Kauri wood recycled from a beer vat and steam-bent spotted gum frames.
By the time the boat launches in the new year, the team will have spent close to 4000 hours working on her.
“Building a wooden boat is a bit like building the pyramids. There’s 1000 years of history and heritage in these methods and techniques. It’s deeply satisfying,” Rob concludes.
Some of his late father’s boats can still be spotted sailing locally, and with Rob now welcoming his own kids to the workshop, it looks like Gordon’s boats will continue to be part of our harbour’s living history. l
“DAD WAS UNDER THE BOAT WITH A HUGE DISK SANDER... HE WAS 82 YEARS OLD AND JUST LOVED IT”
Learning the ropes Renowned boat builder, Bob Gordon, passed on his nautical know-how to his son, Rob (above). Now, Rob’s teenage children visit the workshop to help out. “I don’t force boat building on them,” Rob says. “You’ve got to want to get involved, you’ve got to come to it and make it your own.”
Bob and wife Joan, sailing aboard Widgeon, 1964
Rob and Bob, launch day for Herreshoff Solitate 'Ivy', Lavender Bay archways, early 2005.
17-year-old Bob Gordon hard at work and right; in his Lavender Bay boatshed
Ship shape
A portrait of the late Bob Gordon watches over the Lavender Bay workshop. “He’s around the same age as I am now in the painting,” Rob says. “Dad was a character, a bit of a bush philosopher. I think a lot of people will remember him down at Lavender Bay and over at Berrys Bay.”
Rob’s latest passion project is a 28ft Couta boat
Local’s last word.
Broadcaster David Prior has lived in Lavender Bay for 11 years.
My favourite coffee place is…Side Part at Milsons Point, near where my partner Savit works with Precious Puppies at Pet Medical. I grab the homemade quiches and we picnic under the Harbour Bridge. The boutique onion jam is outstanding.
The best meal I’ve had in the area was at...my favourite Indian, Zinger Taj, on Blues Point Road. Pistachio Chicken and Goat Curry, ending with the sweet syrupy dessert of Gulab Jamun.
My fave local takeaway is… Thai Fusion Kirribilli. I order the Meang Lamb Pancake and duck dish, Pet Op. It’s ‘Aroy Khrup!’ (Delicious!)
If we’ve got guests, we take them to… Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden for a picnic.
My favourite local walk is…
the Peter Kingston Walkway. It’s lovely to sit in the sunshine with feet paddling in the water at Lavender Bay Wharf.
My ideal day in the area would consist of…ambling through Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden as the rain drizzles down. The leaves are collecting water and there’s a beautiful scent of plants as they get a drink. I’ll then unwind undercover in a cosy corner with my little dog, no doubt pondering, what are we doing?
The secret spot I love to go to is…Balls Head or Yerroulbine. Contemplating indigenous rock carvings of whale riding, meandering around the bush sensing Cammeraygal country, what must have been a sacred place. We are blessed.
The thing about living in this area that I love the most is…that it was an absolute dream to make this my home. I’d fly down from Bathurst as a teen and stay at the old Motor Lodge in Kirribilli. Then I’d sit at Lavender Bay Wharf for hours and think about how much I wanted to live here. And now I do! Dreams can come true.
The three words I’d use to describe this area are...community, home, sacred
WEBSITE: www.anchorrestaurant.com.au
BOOKINGS: 9922 2996
ADDRESS: 4/118 Alfred Street South, Milsons Point - North SYDNEY 2061
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