Broome is a costal town in Australia that not many people visit.
It’s a total shame as there is stacks to see and do.
The flavour is very Australia, very “outback” and very different.
There are some things you do need to pay attention to and “not being informed” is a poor excuse for being bitten by a box fish jelly fish or being marrooned in the desert. This is hte outback and you do need to know a few things.
This blog isn’t about that though, it’s about WHAT you can DO if you have 24 hours in Broome.
There is a gentle waking in Broome, no traffic and no rush. They call it Broome time.
You can do a few activites in the morning, I chose to do a snubtip dolphin trip. It starts at 830 and you are back by 1230… The cruise is amazing and it is a wonderful opportunity to be out on the water, seeing Broome from a different angle. Learn about hte marine life in the area and what makes Roebuck Bay so special, including being listed as a World Heritage site and Ramsa.
After your dolphin experience stop at Wharf Restaurant for a delicious seafood lunch. We have scallops, oysters, fish and chilli mussels. Always a favorite of mine!
With out sounding like a pub crawl you need to visit Matso’s in town for a sample of the beer sampler, the Custard Cider is also delicious. Cross over the road and have a relaxing drink at Mangroves.
If you would prefer an after noon tour as well, you can take a hover craft to visit the dinosaur foot prints on the other side of Roebuck Bay. I didn’t get to do that this trip but will be returning to do it for sure.
Late afternoon is hte time to explore the beautiful red clifts of gunthean point. Wander around at your own leisure and marvel at the incredible rock formations and water colour. You can swim int eh water at certain times of the year but do realise there are sharks, crocodiles and deadly stingers in the water.
For sunset, I recommend the camel ride along cable beach. It is a 45 minute saunter along the stunning beach and is a great way to feel part of the land.
AFter the camel ride, slide into Zanders, or the Sunset bar at Cable beach for another refreshing drink and to watch the sunset.
Dinner in these places is good if you are hungry.
once the sun goes down, I recommend going to the out door picture theatre in down town Broome. It is called the Sun Light Pictures and has nightly movies. Take a pillow and cushion and enjoy the openess of the theatre and random plane flying over board.
There are a few places to go to after this but I suspect you will be shattered.
The shop frontage under-represents what’s behind it’s front doors.
Once in side (make sure you wait to be seated) the atmosphere is great.
It’s hot and open aired but very relaxed and friendly. Oh there’s a really tropical breeze that goes through it making it which helps with any menopause flushes!
Scotty and Rani, the owners, have been dedicated to the restaurant for over 10 years.
It is popular in town and is the go to reliable place for food.
I must say, after my experience last night, I am relieved to find somewhere I can always go to in Broome that will serve incredible food… Healthy food!
The food awesome.
We have the following Japanese delights:
Gyoza – pan fried dumplings filled with Kimberley Banana prawn, edamame peas and shitake mushrooms, topped with sesame ponzu.
Tasmanian Salmon aburi – Raw scorched salmon on sushi rice, with mayo, traditional BBQ sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi and crispy onion.
And a side of seaweed salad.
The Gyoza are delicate, tasty and great food. I wanted to order the Age Dashi Tofu (deep dried tofu in broth topped with tempura sweet potato but will leave that dish for another day).
The salmon is fantastic.
Scotty enhances the natural flavours and textures of salmon by lightly grilling it (scorching). It is such a delicate, delicious fish when cooked right.
All in all, a very relaxed, delicious, healthy meal.
The Flour less Chocolate Cake
Dessert is a flour free chocolate cake… decadent and devine.
Go there if you are in town. They are only Monday – Friday….
Serve gluten and dairy free.
And if you are looking for a side business or bringing your own creative flare to an established restaurant, these guys are selling! Contact them here: azukicatering@bigpond.com.
I was expecting some indigenous food fan fare when I landed in Broome and was tipped that 18 Degrees was the place.
It was one of those days when it got hotter as the day went on.
You know hot during the day (but a slight breeze) to sweltering at night, no breeze and suffocating heat.
That was this night….
Probably coupled with the fact we had been floundering in the pool (which temperatures alone) would have topped any UK summer’s day. We headed off to 18 Degrees.
Seated at our table (simple decor) by a beautifully friendly girl on the deck and off we go.
Apparently their cocktail has won an award… it is a fusion of mango nectar, chilli, soda and gin. Their cocktails turn out to be the highlight….
It was sublime hot yet cold. Nearly as good as my chilli margaritas from La Calitas in Canguu.
This is what we ordered:
Scallops and Octopus
Calamari and octopus tenticls and kale… sounds great but was over cooked and salty. Which sucks because I love all of those ingredients.
Shrimp Cakes
It sounded fantastic on the plate but they were missing all the subtle flavours one would expect in a delicate dish….
Wild Caught barramundi
This dish should have been succulent, melt in mouth and subtle flavours. Instead it was dry, and flavourless. What a waste of a wild, beautiful fish!
All in all, a little disappointing.
If I was asked to rate them, I would give them, based on last night’s meal:
Service:7.6/10
Cocktails: 9/10
Food: 2/10
So my lesson is… regardless of how exotic, how magic and seductive the herbs and spices and unusual the ingredients, it comes down to the artisian flare … the chefs intent… and commitment to use the food to enhance and bring to life a food experience.
Unfortunately on this night these guys failed to deliver.
