Nowra
FRE
ISSUE 10 Summer 2011-12
Festive Food
Top chefs share their best party season recipes
The Wish List All presents accounted for
Party Dress
Looking Cool as the fun heats up
Recipe inside: Celebrate with The Cake Store’s scrumptious dessert!
E
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Encouraging residents to buy locally
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If you want to be part of Shoalhaven Rewards like these CBD based businesses, please contact the Economic Development Office on 02 4429 3388 or business@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au www.shoalhavenrewards.com.au
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ISSUE 10 Summer 2011/12 COVER photograph of Spiced Cherry Tart from The Cake Store, Kinghorne Street, by Adam Wright.
www.nowracbd.com.au
inside 7 16
Shopping: The Wish List: Gifts for the whole family Fashion: Get ready to party: Summer style is all about colour
24 People: Enduring Style: Businesses with longevity 30
Food: Festive Flavour: CBD Chefs’ favourite recipes
36 Events: Concerts, exhibitions, happenings
Thanks for picking up this copy of the Nowra CBD Magazine. By doing so you are supporting local business and local families from all over the Shoalhaven.
i
t’s the holiday season so we asked top local chefs and providores to reveal what will be on their own tables this Christmas. And for even more recipes, look on our website. • Don’t know where to start on your Christmas shopping list? We have done the legwork and unearthed some great gift ideas for everyone in the family. • Summer is all about parties and fashion is all about bright colours. We have styled some great looks sourced exclusively from local boutiques. In fact, all our models even work in the Nowra CBD! • This issue we celebrate some of the long-standing retail businesses and find out the secrets to their success. • Our new Nowra CBD website also launches this month so go online and check it out.
Catherine Shields
Chair, Nowra CBD Promotions Committee Email: cbd@shoalhaven.net.au The Nowra CBD magazine is an initiative of the Nowra CBD Promotions Committee, looking at providing information about the excellent facilities and services available in the Nowra CBD and building pride in the town. Our aim is also to ecourage Shoalhaven residents and visitors to support local businesses. Editorial team: Catherine Shields, John Hanscombe, Michelle Thomas, Adam Wright, Estée Chanel Davis, Samantha Keats, Russell Quinn, Chris Dobie.
Advertising:
For all advertising enquiries for the magazine and the website contact
Nowra CBD on (02) 4423 3582 or cbd@shoalhaven.net.au 4
Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12
Nowra CBD magazine is published by Regional Publishers Ltd, publishers of the South Coast Register, for the Nowra CBD Promotions Committee of the Shoalhaven Business Chamber. Regional Publishers is a division of Fairfax Media Pty Ltd (ABN 20 000 014 700). For advertising enquiries or more information regarding our publication, please phone 4423 3582. We would appreciate any feedback regarding this edition and emails can be sent to cbd@shoalhaven.net.au
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Wish list
Large or small, inexpensive or totally indulgent, everyone has a favourite item on their list for Santa.
Christmas decorations: Felt angels and recycled paper bird and heart, handmade in Nepal, from Bonza Beads, Schofield Lane. Tin star, wooden Noel deco and sequinned birds from Designs by Debbie, Kinghorne Street. Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12
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South Coast Register editor John Hanscombe has a thing for cars, with a
Mazda MX5 and a veteran Triumph GT6 in his garage. And he wouldn’t mind adding to fleet, with a car that shares the badge of the one he learnt to drive in – a 1967 Beetle. “Now, I know Santa would struggle to get this one down the chimney but if I was to name the ultimate Christmas gift available in the Nowra CBD, it would be the Volkswagen eos. It’s simple, elegant, beautifully made and exudes quality. And it’s a convertible, which is what you want in a beautiful part of the world like ours. Not only that, when winter comes and the rain sets in, all it takes is the press of a button to turn it into a sleek coupe,” he says. “The thing I love about the Volkswagen marque is that it doesn’t have to scream prestige, like its German rivals. It has great kerbside appeal without having to try … and it would definitely go with all my outfits.”
Wish list
Ben Sherman leather wallet, left, and gift boxed underwear from Hugh Palmer, Junction St.
DVDs from DeanSwift Books, Junction St.
Game fishing rod from McCallum’s Sports, Kinghorne St.
Leather clutch bags from Sole Addiction, Schofield Lane.
Travel book from DeanSwift Books, Junction St.
Beaded bangles from Alluring Jewels, Kinghorne St. Lazybones cotton voile dress from Mr Pickles & Me, Stewart Place.
Calvin Klein perfume gift box, Priceline Pharmacy, Junction St.
Bomaderry mother of three and quilter extraordinaire Karen Swibel didn’t hesitate when asked to name the Christmas present she most craves.“Quilting supplies – patterns, fabrics, anything really.” A trip to Jukejema Quilting Barn in its new location at 124 Kinghorne Street turned up more than a few objects of desire – from lushly coloured bolts of fabric and fat quarters to a pattern for the cutest shoulder bag in town. “I’d ask for a gift card for Christmas so I can choose something myself, but my husband just says I’ve already got a gift card – it’s called my credit card. Every day is Christmas!” laughs Karen. A need for more space for quilting classes and parking led to Jukejema moving down the road from its former location in the middle of town. Owner Kim Goatcher says there is still time to put together some cute Christmas crafty items, and all patterns and materials are in store. Or drop by from 10am on December 3 for morning tea, and enjoy the students’ show and tell day, when local ladies will keep you in stitches demonstrating all the beautiful things they have made this year.
Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12
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Wish list
Bigger is better for five-year-old Shiuan Jones of Bangalee, who has requested the Littlest Pet Shop’s Magic Motion Tree House ($79.99 from Uncle Pete’s Toys) for Christmas. The big box contains an elaborate tree house with a place for every Little Pet to sit, and plenty of fun stuff for them to play on. “You can do lots of things with it,” says Shiuan. “There’s swings and slippery dips, and a special place to put them all.” Shiuan has some Little Pets at home and thinks it would be great to have somewhere to keep them, although the tree house does come complete with a number of the covetable little animals. Guaranteed hours of fun for little girls, and perhaps a few hours of Christmas peace for Mum and Dad.
Girls wetsuit from McCallum’s Sports, Kinghorne St.
Kimi collectable dolls from Sturgiss Newsagency, Junction St.
Giggle & Hoot toy and beach towel from DeanSwift Books, Junction St.
Story book from DeanSwift Books, Junction St. Cotton smock tops from Mr Pickles & Me, Stewart Place.
Ten-year-old Wes Thomas has one thing on his mind this Christmas – sport. So a pit-stop at Sportspower to plan his Christmas list turned up a wealth of possibilities, including this Maddog surf mat ($39.95). Made with heavy duty nylon oxford coated PVC and tough sewn handles, it will handle all that the waves – and Wes – can toss at it. “I really like body boarding, but this surf mat will give me something to muck around on,” he says. Sportspower owner George Kulcsar said the big ticket items in store for Christmas include table tennis and pool tables, and trampolines, none of which are small enough to set up in store. There are also boxing bags (great for teenagers to vent their frustrations on, says George), and sport items for all seasons and all codes. “With summer here already, the cricket and surf equipment is popular, and you can’t go wrong with the family games like badminton and volleyball,” says George.
Retro-styled skateboard and scooter from Society, Rodway Arcade.
Boofle soft toy from Sturgiss Newsagency, Junction St.
Books from DeanSwift Books, Junction St. Captain America shield from Not Just Comics, Stewart Place.
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People
Kitchen Aid mixer from Walsh’s Mitre 10, Junction St. Cook book from DeanSwift Books, Junction St.
Cook book from Dymocks, Kinghorne St. Geoffrey Beene shirt and tie from Hugh Palmer, Junction St.
David Clendinning, of Berry, is known among his friends as a bit of a wiz in the kitchen. “David is a wonderful cook,” confirms his wife Gaby. He likes to whip up the odd omelette, but has been mourning the loss of his favourite Italian omelette pan for some time, after its non-stick surface deteriorated. “It’s hard to turn out the perfect omelette if you don’t have the right pan,” says David, who has a flourishing herb garden but no pan in which to make his favourite herb omelette. So when a little pan from Harris Scarfe caught his eye (it’s actually a crepe pan, but it should do the trick), he added it to his Christmas list. The little pan (23cm crepe pan from Cucina Ware, $24.95) has low sides and a perfectly flat base, just the thing for turning out a light, fluffy omelette. 12
Nowra CBD Magazine Spring 2011
CWA Stories book from DeanSwift Books, Junction St. Jewellery chest from Gallery Seven, Rodway Arcade
Wish list
Bag from Alluring Jewells, Kinghorne St.
Crabtree & Evelyn from Nickerboxers, Kinghorne St. Best selling novel from DeanSwift Books, Junction St.
Decorative plate from Shady Fig, Kinghorne St.
Gaby Clendinning and her husband David have a thing for dragonflies.“Our house is full of dragonflies,” laughs Gaby. “They are our motif! We see them everywhere so it is not hard to augment one’s collection.” “Yes, we have a plague of them,” adds David. “They’re on jewellery, teapots, bookmarks, everything. They are a symbol of balance – we like that idea.” This Christmas, Gaby has her eye on a beautiful filigree 9ct gold dragonfly pendant with diamond detail ($199) from The Nowra Jeweller on Junction Street. “I just love it,” she says, holding it up so it catches the light. And if dragonflies aren’t your thing, The Nowra Jeweller has everything else, from the popular Pandora brand to precious stones, and a very individual range of pendants, rings, bracelets and earrings, all in high quality gold and silver. They also offer repair, design and manufacturing of jewellery on the premises.
Callof Duty PC game from Gametraders, Kinghorne St. Mario Bros DS game from EB Games, Stockland Nowra.
Manga Collectors Box and Munchkin game from Not Just Comics, Stewart Place.
Maxum watch from Barretts Jewellers, Stockland Nowra.
HT Monaro Norm Beechey model car from High Performance Diecast Models, Kinghorne St.
SOFTWARE technician Jamie Bousfield likes to stay up-to-date on news and current affairs when he’s on the go, so the Kindle e-reader with 3G and WiFi would be the perfect Christmas gift for him. Available in the CBD at Dick Smith for $219, the Kindle holds up to 3,500 books. “Its lightweight, the technology makes it easy to read and it’s affordable,” he says. The six-inch screen is clear and compact and with 3G Jamie can shop, purchase and read books on the spot. “I study via distance, so it would be great to have a portable technical library,” the North Nowra resident says. And with a battery life of up to two months, he will have all of his textbooks at his fingertips.
Festive parties will be that much more fun for Ashlee East, 19, if she finds this pretty, strappy dress slipped into her stocking. The dress (Brianna Frill Dress, $69.99 from Jeans West, Stockland) is bright and summery, just the thing for Christmas with the family, a summer wedding or a night out on the town. “Orange is not normally my colour but I love the pattern on it and it’s a really pretty shade,” says Ashlee, who lives in St Georges Basin. “The shape and style is very flattering too.” Ashlee often shops at Jeans West, which runs a good line in floaty dresses for the festive season. There are long ones, short ones and everything in between, with a range of fabrics, styles and colours to suit everyone. Tresor Paris crystal bracelets from J’Adore Diamonds, Rodway Arcade.
Red lace slip from Nickerboxers, Kinghorne St.
Thomas Saba bracelet from Barretts Jewellers, Stockland Nowra.
Wish list Garnier gift bag, left and Maybelline nail polish set both from Priceline, Junction St. Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12
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Fashion
Celebrate
Summer Photos by Ross Pulsford, assisted by Russell Quinn Make-up by Fabulous Faces - Estee Chanel Davis, Hair by Erin Green
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All our models were ‘discovered’ in the Nowra CBD: From left: Jason, who works at Camera House in Junction Street, knows a few things about taking photos. He wears a V-neck T-shirt from Hugh Palmer, shorts from Stanley Johns Menswear and shoes from Comfort Shoes, all in Junction Street. Chris’s job at Stanley Johns Menswear in Junction Street gives him the heads up on style. He wears green polo and jean shorts from Stanley Johns and shoes from Comfort Shoes, all Junction Street. Claire works for the Regional Development Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12
Australia office in Nowra and wears a long dress by Sugarbabe, Morrisons Arcade and shoes from Comfort Shoes, Junction Street. When she’s not striking a pose, Bec doubles as a waitress at Jamaica Blue in Stockland, Nowra. She wears a mini dress from Melrose Parade in Kinghorne Street and bracelets from Equip, Stockland Nowra, necklace from Sugarbabe, Morrisons Arcade and shoes from Sole Addiction, Schofield Lane. Photos shot on location at Boatshed By The Bridge restaurant.
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Fashion Brightly coloured shoulder bags from Equip, Stockland Nowra.
Bec wears coral strapless dress from Mojo, Schofield Lane, gold sandals from Sole Addiction and pink bangles from Equip, Stockland. Chris wears lilac shirt and Jeans from Stanley Johns Menswear, Junction Street.
Cobalt blue satin shoes from Payless Shoes, Stockland Nowra.
G Shock watch from Angus & Coote
Print dress from Sahara, Kinghorne Street
Claire wears dress from Kerry’s Boutique, Morisons Arcade, shoes from Sole Addiction and earrings from Equip, Stockland. Jason wears green polo and shorts from Hugh Palmer, Junction Street.
Cork platform shoes from Comfort Shoes, Junction Street.
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Fashion
Jason wears V-neck T-shirt and shorts from Hugh Palmer, Junction Street, shoes from Comfort Shoes. Claire wears dress from Kerry’s Boutique, Morisons Arcade, shoes from Sole Addiction, Pandora bracelets from Barretts Jewellers, Stockland and bag from Equip, Stockland Nowra.
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Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12
Chris wears T-shirt and Jeans from Stanley Johns Menswear. Claire wears vintage 70s maxi dress from Mickey & Mallory, Junction Street with pendant necklace and bangles from Equip, Stockland Nowra.
Lily Bloom recycled material bag from Strandbags, Stockland Nowra
Green necklace and bangle from Equip, Stockland Nowra.
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Fashion Beauty
Lynelle’s vintage selection: White jeans and Chanel style jacket from Vinnies, Berry St. Silk top and crocheted handbag from Mickey & Mallory, Junction St. Bracelet from Miscelaneum, Morrisons Arcade. Shoes from Sole Addiction. Nowra CBD stylist and make-up artist, Estée Chanel Davis, far right, wears top from Sugarbabe, Morisons Arcade.
Bec wears dress from Carey’s City Fashions, Kinghorne Street and bangles from Equip. Jason wears shirt from Stanley Johns Menswear and plaid shorts from Hugh Palmer, Junction Street.
Pink feather necklace from Equip, Stockland Nowra.
Green cork platform shoes from Comfort Shoes, Junction Street.
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Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12
Hot pink leather handbag from Strandbags, Stockland Nowra.
Chris wears Stanley Johns shirt and white shorts with white canvas loafers from Comfort Shoes Junction St. Bec wears A-line dress from Lily & Minx, Junction Street, shoes from Sole Addiction, Schofield Lane, earrings from Equip, Stockland Nowra.
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“He tells stories about the four cobblers who used to mend shoes in the back room, and the days when Fosseys (now Target) used to route their urgent requests to staff from head office through the shoe shop, since they didn’t have a phone.”
Rob and Sally Bruderlin at the store Robís family has run since 1946, Comfort Shoes on Junction Street.
Enduring
People
Style
For nearly 100 years one store has been keeping Nowra feet happy.
L
et’s say a Nowra resident from the early part of the last century were to time travel to the present, and let’s say – given the wear and tear of their journey – they needed to buy some shoes. Well, they’d have no trouble finding a shoe store, as shoes have been sold from the same spot on Junction Street for nearly 100 years, 65 of them by the Bruderlin family. “There’s the smell of leather in the walls,” says Sally Bruderlin with a laugh. “Businesses come and go,” chimes in her husband Rob, “but we’ve focused on longevity.” Which is something of an understatement. Rob’s parents – Bob and Glad – came to Nowra on their honeymoon in 1941 and a shoe store on Junction Street caught their eye. Bob’s brothers had started shoe stores in Tamworth and Dubbo – both called Comfort Shoes – but a war got in the way, and Bob didn’t manage to get back to start his own in Nowra until 1946. He opened Comfort Shoes in the shop that had already been McLaren’s Shoes for about 30 years. A thriving business began, passed onto Rob and Sally the year they married, in 1982. The secret of their long success, says Rob, is the quality of the relationships they have built with their customers.“We look after customers, so they come back,” says Rob. “That’s how you build a business in a country town. “We have that personal side – we’re a dying breed, but people find it reassuring. We ask how we can help you, put the shoes on your feet and lace them up. “People sometimes come in just for a chat!” The shop is full of
brightly coloured, funky footwear, with a range of more than 140 different brands, but Comfort Shoes is also an unashamedly familyorientated business. Customers bring in their children to be fitted for school or sports shoes, sitting in the same place their parents did a generation ago, while farmers can come in and buy the best, high quality work boot, just as they have for years. “People give us their trust. They come in and say, ‘I’m going to a wedding’, or ‘I need a pair of work boots,’ and the staff know exactly what to do,” says Rob. “There are always lots of challenges,” adds Sally. “Over the years, we’ve computerised, there have been changes in marketing, how the business works. Now we’re working on our own website. We see it all as a great opportunity.” As Rob proudly shows off old photos of the shop in the 1940s and beyond, his enthusiasm for his well-loved family business is evident. He tells stories about the four cobblers who used to mend shoes in the back room, and the days when Fosseys (now Target) used to route their urgent requests to staff from head office through the shoe shop, since they didn’t have a phone. So much has changed, but some things stay the same. Comfort Shoes has a couple of brands – like Clarke’s and Julius Marlowe – that they have been stocking for decades. “Some last a season, some last forever,” says Sally. Whichever, Comfort Shoes looks like it will still be there to sell the best of them to the people of Nowra. Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12 25
People
Above: Peter, Jim and George Economos with Peter Metseas, pictured in 1985. Right: A familiar sight – Willy Economos has been handing food over the counter of The Oasis take away since 1980.
Chip off the Old Block
A
s a young mother in her 30s, Willy Economos started feeding the workers and shoppers of Nowra. Now 67, she still turns up at The Oasis takeaway at 6am to get ready for a day of cooking and selling food, but these days she alternates her time in the shop with days looking after her young grandchildren. Generations of the Economos family have grown up in The Oasis, and it’s no different for their customers. “We still have original customers coming in here, but now they bring their grandkids,” says the enthusiastic manager of the shop, Matina Economos, daughter of Willy and her husband George who started the shop in 1980. “I love that it has been around so long. Mum and Dad have been in here every day for 31 years – that’s pretty spectacular.” George and Willy came to Nowra on a day trip and fell in love with the town. They noticed an old wallpaper shop on Junction Street and before long opened the doors of The Oasis. They worked incredibly hard – from 7.30 in the morning to 26 Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12
The priceless appeal of an old-style hamburger served with a smile
10 at night, seven days a week – to establish themselves. They have always had a commitment to high quality food and to their customers. “Not much has changed,” says Matina. “But in those days they mainly sold hot food with just a few sandwich options. Now there are over 40 ingredients for sandwiches, as well as salads. It reflects the way people are eating these days.” Matina credits her parents with building the business up into what it is today. She has worked in the shop 26 years herself, since she left school at 14, and thinks that their faithful staff are a big part of their success. Colleen Little has been working in the shop for 21 years, and Amanda Moulds 11 years. “We have the best staff in the world, that’s why we’re still here,” Matina laughs. Thirty-one years might sound like a long time but, along with her brother Leo, Matina hopes to continue the family tradition well into the future. “We’re proud of the business,” says Matina, “and of our family.”
Barbers Ed and Bill Arif and Matt Walker can give you a clean cut in their classic barber shop.
Making The Cut
There’s nothing quite like a traditional trim
i
t doesn’t quite have a stripy pole out the front, but in every other way, Bill’s Hairdressers on Kinghorne Street looks like the barber shop from central casting. Long and narrow, there’s a wall lined with mirrors and three large, comfortable chairs for customers, who walk through the door and take their turn in a steady stream. Wooden-handled brushes on the shining benches hark back to an earlier era, but the fresh white paint on the walls gives it a new edge. Bill’s has been operating like this since 1984, when Bill Arif came to Nowra to be close to extended family members (who operate Shoalhaven Fruit Market). Bill had moved to Australia in 1974 from England (where he trained as a barber) after coming for a holiday – he loved the place so much he decided to stay. After operating successfully in Goulburn, Bill settled himself in Nowra and set up shop, only four doors up from where they are now.In fact, things have changed so little that some customers haven’t even registered the recent move to slightly larger premises. “People come in and ask if we’ve moved the walls out,” says Bill’s son Ed, who served his apprenticeship under his dad. They now run the place together as a father-and-son business. “We kept everything looking the same – it’s the same business, the same family.” Continuity is important at Bill’s Hairdressers, where men who have been having their hair cut there their whole lives can now bring their own sons in for a short back and sides. Ed grew up wandering in and out of the shop, the smell of shaving cream always in the air. When he left school he pushed aside his initial thoughts of becoming a chef because the late-night lifestyle was unappealing (although he still works part-time as a pizza chef at Trevi Fountain). The steady work of a barber suited him and he never looked back. “When I started in 2000, Dad said, ‘In the shop, I’m the boss, you’re the worker; if you don’t like it, you can leave!’” recalls Ed with a laugh. “It’s worked out pretty well. Being a barber is just who I am.”
People James Bricklebank and Laurie Wright in the largest Stihl dealership in NSW.
Blade Runners
Equipment you need to tame your backyard jungle this spring and summer.
L
aurie Wright is quick. If you gave him a 60cm log at the peak of his racing career he could cut through it in four seconds. Chainsaw racing was pretty big in the 1980s and Laurie was a force to be reckoned with. He didn’t muck around; he built a twin engine chainsaw that could decimate anything in front of it. One year at the Melbourne Show he placed second in the Australia Hot Saw Championships. While those high-speed chainsaw wielding days are behind him, he still supplies more than $20,000 worth of chainsaws for demonstration races at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Laurie is better known locally behind the counter at Wright’s Chainsaws, where he has worked since 1975. Laurie’s journey into the world of chainsaws started – coincidentally - with a starter motor. “I used to own a service station in Kangaroo Valley. One day a bloke came into the shop with a chainsaw that wouldn’t start, he asked if I could fix it,”
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Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12
he said. “There was something wrong with the starter motor and I phoned Stihl to get a spring, they said they didn’t have a dealer down this way and asked if I’d do it.” In 1981 he moved his business and his family to Nowra. The move, along with Laurie’s plan to deal exclusively with Stihl, stock the entire range and offer same-day service turned out to be a successful one with the Nowra store holding the position as the largest Stihl outlet in NSW. Among that massive range is all the equipment you need to tame your backyard jungle this spring and summer. The latest Stihl offering is battery powered hedge trimmers with future plans to make blowers/vacs, and chainsaws able to share the same battery pack. Laurie likes the fact that Stihl is a massive international company still owned by one family, an idea he’s borrowed for his own store. His daughter Juanita and her husband Dave came on board the business about 10 years ago.
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Food
Cherry on top: the Cake Store’s Danielle and Glenn Parkes’ Spiced Cherry Tart is a new take on festive puddings.
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Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12
Nowra CBD chefs open their recipe books to help you assemble the perfect Christmas menu.
flavour Turkey may be traditional Christmas fare but it doesn’t really work for our Australian climate. Even if you eat it cold on the day, it requires a hot oven for hours the day before, and with the average December temperature in the mid-20s, that’s no good thing. So what can we cook that only takes a few minutes but still has that special wow-factor we all want on our Christmas dinner tables? “Atlantic salmon,” says The Boatshed’s Tracey Hain without hesitation. “It’s delicious, it’s special occasion food, but it’s easy to cook and perfect for a hot summer’s day.” And perfect to round off the festive meal is the spiced chocolate and cherry tart devised by The Cake Store. And if you want to keep it simple, The Cake Store people will happily prepare the pastry for you. (For all these and more festive season recipes, please go to our website at www.nowracbd.com.au)
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Food
Bruschetta Tartlets From Pam Gokgur and Jeff Gough at Peckish on the Park (57 Graham Street, Nowra)
Need a nibble? How about these tasty bruschetta tarlets from Pam Gokgur and Jeff Gough, who run the new café – Peckish on the Park – across from Harry Sawkins Park. “They have all the Christmassy colours – red, green and white – and they are bright and pretty, but simple. Anyone can make them,” says Pam, who only recently chucked in her job as a chief financial officer to pursue her love of food and entertaining. These tarlets pack a flavour punch, but are put together with all the ingredients you’ll have close to hand during the party season, so you can whip them up in a flash when festive friends come calling. You can use up day-old bread for the cases and leftover salad for the filling, or even pop in some chopped ham on Boxing Day. 32
Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12
Makes 24 Ingredients 24 slices of white bread 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 small clove garlic, crushed 250g cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters 75g kalamata olives, pitted and diced finely 1 chargrilled red capsicum, diced finely 1 Spanish onion, diced finely 2 tsps red wine vinegar 2 tsps olive oil 12 basil leaves, chopped finely 60g feta cheese, crumbled Method: Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Using a rolling pin, flatten bread slices, then using a pastry cutter, cut 9cm rounds from the bread slices. Combine ¼ cup of oil and garlic in a small bowl. Grease two, 12-hole tart or cupcake trays with the oil mixture. Press bread rounds into tart trays then, using
the bottom of a glass, press down firmly on bread to fit the base of tray. Brush bread generously with oil mixture and bake in oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside to cool. Combine olives, red capsicum, Spanish onion, vinegar and extra oil in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Just before serving, place some of the olive mixture into the bread cases, place three pieces of cherry tomato into each case and garnish with chopped basil and crumbled feta. Serve on a white platter with whole basil leaves to garnish. Note: You can make the bread cases up to six hours ahead of time and combine the salad ingredients up to four hours ahead of required time. As an alternative you could add finely chopped Caesar salad, with the cases substituting for the croutons, or add finely diced ham for a more filling treat.
Ingredients: 4 x 200g salmon steak with skin still on 1 pear sliced 60 grams walnut pieces 1 bunch watercress, picked over 4 potatoes cooked and quartered 2 tablespoon oil salt and pepper Method: Heat oil in a heavy fry pan that can go into the oven. Salt the skin side of the salmon only, place skin side of the salmon into the hot fry pan and press the salmon firmly down in the pan. Season top of salmon with pepper only and cook for about two minutes. Then place the fry pan into a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees for seven to eight minutes. While the salmon is cooking put the salad together. Place the sliced pear, watercress, walnuts and potatoes into a bowl, add seasoning and a little pear dressing. Mix together then divide the salad between four plates. Take salmon out of oven when ready, then turn the salmon over in the pan so the skin is facing up and leave in pan for two minutes. Place salmon onto the salad and spoon over the rest of the pear dressing. Dressing: 1 teaspoon oil 1 pear diced 1 clove peeled garlic 20 ml white wine vinegar 100ml walnut oil salt and pepper hot water Place pear, garlic and oil into an oven pan. Roast at 180 degrees for 6–10 minutes, or until soft and a little brown. Allow to cool. Place pear, garlic and vinegar into a blender. Blend slowly, then add oil, seasoning to taste. Strain thorough a fine strainer. If too thick use hot water to thin the dressing out.
Crispy Skin Salmon with Watercress, Pear, Walnut Salad and Roasted Pear and Garlic Dressing From Tracey and Nigel Hain at The Boatshed Restaurant (10 Wharf Road, Nowra)
Food
Slow Roasted Pork Belly stuffed with Fennel and Apple From Heidi Gulliver and Brinley Sheppard at the Red Raven Restaurant (55 Junction Street, Nowra)
“Pork belly is succulent, easy to make and everyone loves it,” says Heidi Gulliver of the Red Raven Restaurant. “It’ll have the wow-factor at the centre of the table, is perfect with a salad, and best of all could be cooked on a Weber barbecue to keep the heat out of the kitchen.” Heidi, who co-owns the Red Raven with fellow chef Brinley Sheppard, likes the fact that pork belly keeps ties with traditional Christmas fare, but brings a deliciously modern and fuss-free sensibility to the table.
1 whole pork belly (4kg approx) 1 fennel 2 granny smith apples 1 red onion olive oil salt and pepper butcher’s twine
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Method: Have your friendly local butcher remove the bones, score the rind and butterfly the flap so you can roll the pork with stuffing inside. Preheat the oven or your hooded barbecue to 200 degrees. Grease a roasting tray that will fit the pork belly. Remove the tops off the fennel, cut the bulb into quarters, removing any of the hard woody core bits, and then slice the fennel. Peel and slice onion.
Peel and core apple and slice up. Heat a frying pan with a little of the olive oil. Add the fennel and sauté for a few minutes without browning, then add the onion and after another couple of minutes add the apple. Cook till just soft and allow to cool. Take the pork belly and lay out. Season with salt and pepper and add the filling lengthwise on the meaty part, then roll. Tie the pork belly up with the butcher’s twine. Place in the tray, coat with a little oil and season the rind. Put in the oven for about 30 minutes then reduce to 150 degrees for 1.5 hours. Let rest for about 10 minutes and serve with whatever you like – but don’t forget the beers or bubbly.
Spiced Chocolate and Cherry Tart From Danielle and Glenn Parkes at The Cake Store (39A Kinghorne Street, Nowra)
Cherries are always delicious and in abundance at Christmas time and they go perfectly with this rich chocolate tart. “We love this recipe as it has all of the yummy flavours of Christmas but is served cold so it’s perfect for our hot summer days, or to finish off a long lunch or Chrissy dinner,” says Danielle Parkes. ”We chose this recipe as it ticks all the boxes. You can make it ahead of time, it will keep for leftovers (and who doesn’t want leftovers!) and it’s easy. “You will definitely impress all the relos with this one.”
For Glenn and Danielle’s sensational pastry recipe, please go to our website at nowracbd.com.au
Makes one large (about 22cm) or 10 individual tarts. Filling ingredients: 315g cream 2 tbsp sugar Pinch salt 2 tbsp brandy - optional 115g butter, chopped 460g good quality dark chocolate 100g milk 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground ginger pinch nutmeg fresh cherries
Method: Get all of your ingredients weighed out and ready before you start. Heat the cream, sugar, spices, salt and brandy in a saucepan. Give it a stir to dissolve the sugar. When the cream reaches the boil, turn off the heat. Now add the butter and chocolate. The heat in the cream is enough to melt these. Let it sit for a minute and then give it a stir, until all is combined and there are no lumps. Add your milk, and then stir until all is combined and your mixture is nice and glossy. Let the mix sit for about 10
minutes before pouring. Cut some cherries in half and remove the pips. Scatter the halves in the bottom of each tart shell. Pour the chocolate mix into the tart shell/s and then put into the fridge to set. They will need about two hours to set. To Serve: Bring your tarts out of the fridge and back to room temperature. Dust your remaining cherries with some icing sugar and sit on top of the tart. Some whipped cream wouldn’t go astray either. Enjoy!
Food
Marmalade Martini From Liam Butcher at Bottlerocket Bar and Café (90 Kinghorne Street, Nowra)
It’s the taste of summer in a (chilled) glass. If you are looking for something to bring a dash of colour and sophistication to your drinks table, then this martini might be it – it’s is easy to make, light and fresh enough for the warmest evening, and has a tangy aftertaste that is bursting with flavour. “This cocktail goes down easily – it’s so refreshing and zingy,” said Bottlerocket’s Liam Butcher.“It’s not too heavy or sweet – it’s just right.”
1 ½ shots gin ½ shot Cointreau 1 tsp orange marmalade ½ tsp sugar 1 shot lemon juice Liam Butcher with his fruity, festive cocktail, just the thing for a summer party.
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Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12
Shake and strain into an ice-cold martini glass.
D
eboned ducks stuffed inside turkeys (maybe with a spatchcock and chicken inside too), pork belly, pheasant or venison – Christmas dinner has never been so adventurous. Traditional types hanker for a ham or look forward to an annual taste of turkey but unusual cuts of meat are gaining ground for festive meals. Whatever your Christmas cravings, Peter Cooper from Centre Butchery (43 Kinghorne Street, Nowra) can help – even with that turkey-duck-chickenspatchcock (apparently known as a turducken). “It takes about an hour and half to prepare it, though,” laughs Peter. “So you have to order it special!” It’s a service he says sets small butcheries apart from supermarkets – customers can come in with the recipe they’ve noticed in a magazine, or their great-grandmother’s special pork stuffing, and butchers like Peter will cut, prepare or stuff the meat however they like. Peter puts the popularity of adventurous cooking down to shows such as Masterchef that have exposed a new generation of chefs to a range of ingredients and techniques unheard of in the past (at least outside of fine dining restaurants). “People like to try new things,” says Peter. “These days they are also concerned about things like slaughtering and hygiene standards, which in Australia are among the highest in the world.” Peter also recommended the use of the barbecue for special summer meals, with everything from ducks and pork to butterflied legs of lamb doing big business on the Weber. Peter’s game comes from Sydney but his pork and beef are sourced locally from Milton Meats. He has a huge range of high quality, hard-to-get products that will keep you trying recipes all summer. He’ll be open during December from 7am-6pm, Monday to Friday, and 7am-1pm on Saturdays for all your Christmas orders.
Ham it up! Ham for Christmas anyone? Or maybe you’d like something a little more adventurous… Either way, the buzz among Nowra’s foodies says that Peter Cooper is the go-to man for serios cuts.
Events
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Great gift ideas for the man in your life for Fathers Day and beyond...
Summer in the CBD
Action a plenty in the Nowra CBD these holidays.
December
1 Local produce for sale in Junction Court, Nowra, 10am-1pm. 3 Lydian Singers - A Bush Christmas - Australian music and poetry. School of Arts, Berry Street, Nowra. Phone Brian 4448 6076. until 6 The Lady and the Unicorn, A Bundanon Trust Exhibition Arthur Boyd, Shoalhaven City Arts Centre, 12 Berry Street, Nowra. 10 NowraCBD Christmas Fun Fair, Junction Court from 10am. 15 Local produce for sale in Junction Court, Nowra, 10am-1pm. 16 Camp Quality Twilight Market, front lawn of Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, 4-8pm, 44 Bridge Road, Nowra. Fresh seasonal produce and local wine. 18 Carols in the Park run by Lions Club of Bomaderry, Harry Sawkins Park in Graham Street, Nowra. Entertainment begins at 5pm, carols at 7pm, fireworks at 9pm (weather permitting). 29 Local produce for sale in Junction Court, Nowra, 10am-1pm.
January
6-8 Shoalhaven Food and Wine Show, Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre. A weekend extravaganza of the best gourmet food, regional produce, top quality local wines and beer and delicious food from Shoalhaven restaurants. Phone 4443 4198. 20 Camp Quality Twilight Market, front lawn of Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, 4-8pm, 44 Bridge Road, Nowra. Fresh seasonal produce and local wine. 26 Australia Day celebrations, Nowra Showground, Junction Street, Nowra.
February
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10-11 Nowra Show, Nowra Showground, Junction Street, Nowra. Phone Jill Turnbull 4423 1081. 17 Camp Quality Twilight Market, front lawn of Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, 4-8pm, 44 Bridge Road, Nowra. Fresh seasonal produce and local wine. Nowra CBD Magazine Summer 2011/12
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