Potager, Carool NSW

12/01/202113/01/2021

Potager is a delightful surprise hidden beyond the country suburb of Bilambil south of the Gold Coast.

Established in 2006 by Pete and Gareth with a grand vision to grow and source local food – served with exuberant intent. They nailed it!

Fast track to now and the vision lives on and is evident in every dish made and served. It’s a special part of the dream and the intent is certainly evident in the attention to detail, amazing menu and a relaxing venue.

Unfortunately one of the partners passed away in 2019 but everyone is happy and committed in his spirit.

On our visit we are met by a beautiful rustic home set amongst an enlivened field with a seductive edible garden.

The staff are all very competent and eager to say hello. The ethos of the restaurant/community is to support local including the staff.

The views over the valley are delightful and the wine list substantial.

We are with a few friends and cocktails are ordered.

For entree we share the fair game, wild venison carpaccio, pickled plum, mushroom, tarragon pesto, lemon myrtle cracker.

Wild venison carpaccio with pickled plum

My main course didn’t sound that much on the menu but was delicious with lots of subtle and Peruvian sudado de pescado(fish stew). Whilst the menu changes depending on what is in season and available the stew is always available. I will be going back for the fish stew for sure. Warming, nourishing and flavours full of the depth of the sea.

It is one of the dishes designed and kept as a tribute. I really rate the fish stew but would go so far as to recommend everything on the menu. My friends have the duck which melts in your mouth whilst my partner has local caught fish which was so well cooked.

What I love most about Potager is the local grown vegetables used with every dish. It is like a blessing from the planet to your plate.

Thank you so much guys, we will be back again soon,

Mt Warning Delights

14/08/201614/08/2016

Today was a magic day shared with close friends in a very spiritual part of Australia, Mt Warning.

Mount Warning — Mt Warning (Wollumbin)
in NSW

Mt Warning, also known as Mt Wollumbin is a step craggy mountain (actually the remnants of a volcano) that makes for a big day time climb.

The 4.5 km, one way walk, (9km return trip) takes on average 5 hours, giving you a 20 minute break up the top. You can of course do it quicker or longer, depending on your fitness.

I would say this walk requires moderate fitness and I don’t think it is for the feint hearted. The steep incline meanders through some lovely bush tracks, with the Tweed Valley dropping away below.

The height of the mountain in a bit over 1100 meters, and the last little bit is practically a rock climb straight up. There are chains to hang onto but it is loads of fun pulling yourself up, especially if you legs have given way!

The views from the top are spectacular, spanning from the Gold Coast hinterland to Byron Bay and Nimbin.

There is something very bonding about sharing the view with other people who have just survived the rock climb as well. Many kick back in the sun and enjoy a feed before heading back down.

For some silly reason I took a bottle of wine to be drunk at the top but there was no way known I was going to drink wine, in case I fell off the mountain, so it was carried all the way down undrunk.

At the base of Mount Warning are two options for eating, my favourite being Mavis’ s Kitchen.

Yummy beef cheeks — Beef Cheeks at Mavis’s Kitchen

It’s a well established restaurant with fantastic gardens and food. They grow a lot of their own produce in their beautiful garden. Today a couple catch a helicopter in, which adds to the surrealism and grandioseness of the place.

The sunlight in the area gives everything a luminescent glow, citrus greens and crisp blues. A perfect day with the perfect balance of options.

Oh for the record, I had the beef cheeks, on polenta and the Tyrell’s chardonnay. Devine!

The Best 24 hours visiting Fishhouse, Rainbow Bay & Kiva Spa

25/04/201625/04/2016

The last 24 hours have been superb. So relaxing, so decadent and wonderfully fun.

My friend came to stay with me last week and seeing as we have both been working a lot we decided to have a mini holiday.

We headed off for an amazing dinner at my GC fav: Fishhouse in Burleigh Heads. From the minute you enter the service and experience is everything you would hope for in a five star restaurant.

Bread made fresh, clean wines and an extensive list and the BEST seafood in town.

I settled on my favourite seafood, scallops, for entree and a fish I had never heard of for dinner. I will have to go back and write a full review as this doesn’t do it justice!

A lazy sleep in, then off to Rainbow Bay Surf Club for remarkable views and an excellent $10 lunch! I had sea trout, chips and salad and my friend has whiting, chips and salad. A great meal and worth it just for the views.

To finish off a magnificent short break, we head to the Kiva Spa in Mullumbimby.

Timid at first (neither of us had been there before) we pushed through our anxieties and were greeted by a romantic escape that felt like a week.

We both agreed our massages were the best – leaving us in a semi comatosed state, and then we drifted around the bath house, in and out of hot tubs, plunge pool, steam room and the magnificent fire sauna. I couldn’t take photos (cameras not allowed) but the memories you take from your trip are all that are needed.

We needed to “earth” ourselves before driving back to reality so headed to the Mullum pub. Or correctly the Middle Pub.

Middle Pub Mullum — Photos of early Mullumbimby

Established in 1904 the pub has a lot of character and interesting things to look at. Period photos of the last turn of the centre, beautiful stainless glass images and funky furniture. The wine went down even better.

Truly relaxing and a wonderful way to round of a min 24 hour holiday on the Gold Coast.

Elle King & The National at Byron Bay Bluesfest

26/03/201629/03/2016

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016 is a BIG WOW!

What I love about the Byron Bay Bluesfest is random meetings, the incredible acts and the good vibes….

I’ve been an annual pilgrimmer for fifteen plus years.

Yesterday was fantastic.

For the first time I decided to camp.

While I do love camping and there are some great advantages to camping beside a festival, I think the key to making it work is to turn up with a few hours to spare.

Determined not to let stress get in the way of a good time, I slumberly pitched my tent and sipped some of the wine I had smuggled in (no glass aloud in the camp city)!

Off into fun Blues town.

The conversations in the queues are different and fun… a smorgasboard of random topics, different folk and no need to impress… my favorite thing.

The conversations are mostly around music, fashion and which band you are most looking forward to seeing.

A first time for me was watching the Torres Strait Islander Dance Tropee. The women were majestic and fluid, dancing and swaying in their sea grass skirts. The beautiful hum and smiles… it felt great!

Blues fest byron bay — Torres Strait Islander Dance Group at Byron Bay Blues Fest

The men were stronger, louder and impactful.

The stomping on the ground, the masculine energy and the reverberation inside my chest was good!

A dose of dancing man.

I wish I could experience more.

Bluesfest Elle King — Elle King rocks Byron Bay Bluesfest

I was keen to see Elle King.

She was amazing. She spoke more sense than any candidate currently running for the US presidency and spoke from the heart. Unimpeded – powerful and sincere.

Her gold tracksuit was an absolute winner.

After Elle was Grace Potter – a bit of a modern day Suzi Quatro. She rocked, the boys loved it and festival fever had hit.

Byron Bay bluesfest — The National rocking at Byron Bay Bluesfest

Later in the night, the big band name, The National, took down the tent (or lifted it off).

People had come just to the festival to see The National. A first for me, even though I had started listening to them a few weeks ago. Very good, very popular and a great live act.

Back to the earthen tent to collapse and drift away to the sweet smells of the grass beneath me.

Minyon Falls, Mullum and dragon lizards

12/02/201612/02/2016

Well some days nature just calls and today was one of those days.

A few clients shuffled around their appointments this morning and (like a silent but LOUD alarm) I knew I need a dose of mother nature.

I didn’t really bargain on the BIG dose of mother nature at Poinciana Cafe – a funky outdoors healthy eats place in Mullumbimby!

David Bowie’s soft melodic tunes hum away in the back ground and the weather blows, stops, rains and shines! Very Melbourne but quite nice being rained upon and awesome listening to some random tunes!.

Yellow Sword Fish from Poinciana Cafe Mullumbimby

The Poinciana has a good vibe… and lots of lizards. I think the chardonnay helps with the phobia but seriously I need more convincing.

Today I order the Yellow Fin Sword Fish and it is delicious… and the lizards become less of an issue until one pounces on my toes (I dropped a crumb) which sends me into a tail spin and I bolt off to the bush. (I don’t “do” lizards well).

Minyon Falls is a little off the beaten track but the drive there is so sublime. Yellow-green fields, fresh country air and exitement! I love the northern rivers of NSW. It’s wholesome and complete and close to civilisation yet so far away.

Minyon falls are incredible. Some of the tallest falls I have experienced in a long time and I get a little giddy.

The lovely creek that feeds into Minyon Falls

After a few kilometres into my bush walk, I also get giddy from thinking about snakes, so this time decide to abort and come back on a cooler day! Some days snakes don’t bother me, but after my frazzled ending to Nepal and the heat of the day, I know I will encounter a snake and I doubt I will be cool-calm-and-collected, so opt to bail before greeting my demons.

A light swim at Clarkes in Byron Bay on the way home rounds the day off nicely and a stressless drive home.