Sydney Eat Street: Get a taste of Regional NSW with great food, drinks
While regional adventures may have to wait a little while longer, you can still savour the flavours of NSW while supporting local businesses.
Eat Street
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The food and drink being produced in our regions is some of the finest in the world because it’s grown and made with love, care and passion. Sydney Eat Street takes a look at what regional NSW has to offer.
Take a tour of Sydney’s best eateries right here with The Sunday Telegraph’s Eat Street. Are you hungry for more inspiration? Follow us on Instagram or Twitter. #SydneyEatStreet
Home Ground Central Coast
The answer is yes if the question is: “Is it possible to fit everything great about the Central Coast into a single hamper?”
“Where we live, in Empire Bay, we get our coffee beans from a few suburbs over, we get our honey from the Gosford Farmer’s Market, we buy Crooked Creek biscuits from our local corner store/cafe,” Home Ground Central Coast co-owner Deiniol Berridge says.
“So, it made me wonder, ‘How many Central Coast locals aren’t aware of all the fantastic goods we have to offer?’. I realised that I had to start working towards something. I started creating our website and approaching potential suppliers in February 2021.
“When lockdown started, we were almost ready; we were putting the final touches on everything. I wasn’t allowed to work as a mobile service operator, so lockdown allowed us to launch Home Ground Central Coast and see what happened.
“The timing was right. This was the final spur I needed to sell our dog wash business and invest in Home Ground Central Coast.”
One of the first hampers that he curated was for Mother’s Day.
“I wanted to give my Mum a box of local goods that I had recently been enjoying,” Deiniol says.
“My mum is hardworking and sincerely deserves time to relax. I figured she enjoys sweet and savoury treats and a good soak in the tub. I combined our favourite biscuits – Crooked Creek’s shortbread bites, Grandma Bees’ chutney, GI Gourmet Nuts’ maple chilli pepitas, BBQ roasted kernels, and our son Hendrix’s favourite (and award-winning) Adris gingerbread cookies.
“She enjoyed it so much we decided the combination was perfect and released it as a product option. It has since become a best seller.”
Deiniol is proud of the Central Coast.
“We have so much colour, expression, passion and dedication in our region. We have beaches, bays, national parks, rainforests, acreages and hinterlands, which all provide such a diverse climate for so many different types of small businesses,” such as VIP Private Chef, who pivoted from private dining to a line of olive oils, including their top-seller, a lemon and thyme olive oil.
Renee MacLucas, who along with her husband Josh own VIP Private Chef explains: “The first pivot for VIP Private Chef was during the Covid lockdown in 2020. At the time, Josh was executive chef in the Hunter.
“His combined work and travel time was 80-90 hours per week, which left little time for much else, so when the 2020 hospitality closure came into effect, it gave us time to pause and reconnect as a family.”
When things did begin to re-open, Renee noticed her girlfriends were reluctant to eat out, so she arranged an in-home dinner party …. and VIP Private Chef was born.
“This time around, the 2021 lockdown period has allowed Josh the time to launch VIP Private Chef’s gourmet product line.”
The first product under the VIP Private Chef has been a range of herb-infused extra virgin olive oils.
“Our lemons are homegrown here at Erina. We have the equivalent of a magical lemon tree that produces incredible fruit all year round. Similarly, all our herbs are homegrown here at Erina, including the thyme.”
This is just the type of story that motivated Deiniol to launch Home Ground.
“I have a real passion for creativity, supporting local and seeing small businesses thrive. The hamper directly supports small-medium Central Coast businesses. The box itself supports nine businesses. Ten, if you include ours,” he says.
Considering the box is also made on the Central Coast, that brings it up to 11.
“It’s wonderful to see how businesses right across NSW have identified opportunities to stay connected with customers, generate revenue and bring joy to the community wherever they are based,” NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres says.
There are a variety of different gift boxes to be had, plus a number of add-ons are available, including beer from Six Strings Brewing Co and Moore’s Dry Gin.
— homegroundcentralcoast.com.au
Flavours Of Byron Bay
There’s more than just great locally produced sweet and savoury treats in a Flavours of Byron Bay hamper.
“We find one of the best parts of what we do is getting to know our producers and discovering their passion behind their craft,” co-owner Andrew Brooking says.
One such producer is roast mistress Rebecca Zentveld, co-owner of Zentveld’s Coffee, who says: “I love and live for coffee here on our family coffee farm in the hills behind Byron Bay. We grow it, process it, roast it, pack it, serve and supply to real foodies and appreciators across Australia.
“We love making new coffee friends and surprising people – they don’t know and don’t expect Australian estate coffee to be so good! I like to say Australian coffee – ‘it is as rare as it is good.”
Along with Zentveld’s Coffee, you’ll find such products as Australia’s Manuka Honey which is harvested from Byron Bay’s coastal forests; Tintenbar Distillery, located on a certified organic farm, as well as Duck Creek Macadamias who has been providing some of Australia’s best nuts for over 35 years.
In regards to the contents, Andrew says: “It’s about making sure we do their products justice by curating each hamper with the best combinations of flavours and ensuring their values sing true in our unique gift wrapping.”
The timber crate is reusable, as is the organic cotton net bag that holds the items.
“We want to move the idea of gift hampers away from plastic wrapping, ribbons & bows, but still want to create the real wow effect for every recipient,” he says.
“We love the lifestyle in regional NSW. Business relationships feel more like personal relationships.”
Andrew said there’s a “lot of interest in regional NSW these days”.
“I think it is definitely seen as a point of difference. Provenance is a winning feature. I feel that food from regional areas evokes a certain trust in the food and images of real food. Food that is farmed, harvested, and made with a passion, of knowing where the ingredients come from and how they are produced. Regional NSW has a rich history of great food, and it is great to see this continuing to grow.”
Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres says “there are few places on earth with the richness and diversity of food than NSW”.
“NSW has so many outstanding food and drink producers and purveyors who all contribute to our reputation as a premier destination for world-class eating, drinking and lifestyle experiences,” Mr Ayres says.
Although tourism has slowed in the area, Andrew admits that their online business has found success.
“One of the best things to come out of it has been the ability to provide some sort of connection to people’s loved ones when they aren’t able to visit them in person. Having this type of connection with our customers is beautiful and hearing their stories behind the gifts and how much they miss their loved ones,” Andrew says.
Eager to share the bounty of the area, Andrew feels that ‘receiving a gift from here and being able to taste some of the flavours is a way your mind back to that previous holiday”.
Flavours of Byron Bay ships Australia-wide with a delivery fee based on your recipient’s location.
Mr Ayres adds: “It’s wonderful to see how businesses right across NSW have identified opportunities to stay connected with customers, generate revenue and bring joy to the community wherever they are based.
“Everyone loves to travel via their tastebuds, and that is something we can always enjoy and appreciate no matter how near or far we can travel at any time.
“Enjoy these tastes of NSW in your home now, be inspired for your next road trip when we are able to travel again and immerse yourself in the full regional NSW experience at the source.”
Hastings Hampers
Owner Prue Bowman’s philosophy is simple: “I think all of the products in our hampers should be enjoyed together. One of the first products we came across was Black Market Bagels.
“When we called in for lunch, these guys took me straight to New York with their ‘Reuben’ bagel. They had so many bagel flavours, and it was a great starting point. After that, I began researching condiments and jams and met with The Other Chef. The creativity and passion were evident in all their products; it was very exciting to stumble upon.”
Another local favourite and an institution on the Mid-north Coast is Ricardoes. Renowned for their strawberries and tomatoes, Prue saw them as an obvious choice for jams and chutneys. But, on the sweet side, her loyalty lies with BabaLila’s handmade truffles.
“They are a huge hit. Her native-flavoured truffles (lemon myrtle, wattleseed, Davidson plum) ticked so many boxes in my business plan (and my tastebuds),” she says.
“We are really very spoilt in many ways when it comes to our supply chain and ease of working with our producers. We are all supportive of each other and always happy to work collaboratively on seasonal opportunities.
“I think the allure in purchasing regional products has stemmed from the fact that we miss our holidays. Support local is the very loud and very clear message I get from customers in their reviews.
“They know that small businesses have struggled with all the events of the last two years, and they want their purchases to be meaningful. The main feedback I get is that the recipient was so glad to receive all local products.”
Hastings Hampers ships Australia-wide with free delivery to postcode 2444.
Hunter Belle Dairy Co, Hunter Belle Cheese
It’s a big call to sell the family’s dairy farm, which had been passed down for over 100 years, but Geoff Chesworth and his wife Tania did just that, not so much to get away from producing milk but to shift more towards making cheese. And not just any cheese, rather a selection of multi-award-winning varieties.
This venture, which includes a Cheese Room and Cheese Cafe, is overseen by their son Jason and his wife Annie, who have fully embraced it, albeit with a more extroverted approach. “The business started in 2004,” Annie explains.
“We became really involved in 2014 after a stint on my Kitchen Rules. We became known as Mr & Mrs Cheese, so we now run the cheese and milk factory. People always ask us for a favourite cheese, but this is always changing.
“Soft cheese we always like, whichever is the ripest (a few weeks before best before is my favourite stage of the cheese!). Every Monday morning, we hand roll balls of Labelle (pressed yoghurt cheese) – I do love when sometimes I find the staff having a quick morning tea break just after and I catch them in the lunch room eating the scraps of Labelle with crackers (because it’s just that good).”
Annie admits Covid has been difficult for the business but that “people are trying more than ever to support local”.
“They can’t come to visit us in regional NSW at the moment, so they are helping from afar,” Annie says.
“We’re so lucky to live in the community we do. We have amazing, reliable staff and are in a very affordable town to live in. Now with Covid and more access to video chats, we are more connected to the rest of the country than ever.
“So while you can’t come in person at the moment, for now, it is cheese delivered to your door. But we are getting ready to welcome everyone back to our Cheese Room and Cafe as soon as we can.”
— Hunter Belle Cheese Room – 1616 Broke Rd, Pokolbin; Hunter Belle Cheese Cafe – 75 Aberdeen St, Muswellbrook; hunterbelledairy.com
Bespoke Country Gifts
The beauty of the Orange countryside has long been the backdrop for romantic weddings. It’s also what lured Sarah Powell to the region in 2012, where she started Bespoke Country Weddings. This business allowed her to celebrate and share Orange’s splendour.
Recognising visitors’ appreciation for local products, she then launched Bespoke Country Gifts.
“The products we include in our gift boxes are all of high quality and presentation,” Sarah says.
“We want people to be surprised and delighted by what they find on their doorstep. Plus, for the person sending the gift, to feel great pride and satisfaction in choosing to spend their gifting dollar in the regions.”
Sarah’s passion for promoting local products such as Orange-based producers Remy & Max’s Green Tea & Jasmine, Saltbirds rosemary salt, and Franklin Road Preserves’ bread & butter cucumbers is reflected in her gift boxes.
“It’s important to us that we share the best of what the country has to offer,” she says.
“When people order gift boxes from us, they are in turn supporting four or five other local makers and producers. My favourite part of Bespoke Country Gifts is working with local makers and producers. Every single producer is different, and their stories are so diverse.
“The value local producers bring to a country town is ten-fold; not only do they build and promote their own business, but the greater region as a whole.”
Bespoke Country Gifts delivers Australia-wide, with the option to add a flower arrangement for those within a 15km radius.
Whisk & Pin
Two worlds collide at the Whisk & Pin, says Graham Sandilant.
“Our Whisk & Pin products uniquely straddle two worlds: some people have our products in their pantry as everyday foods, but at the same time, they are something people love to give as a special (gorgeous) gift,” he says.
“Whisk & Pin is very unique in that way. Our spiced nuts, which are just perfect anytime, but I will confess they are particularly gorgeous with a nice glass of red at the end of the day.”
The Whisk & Pin is a gourmet food producer in the Blue Mountains.
“We are a team of foodie enthusiasts who pride ourselves on being a gorgeous (gorgeous is our favourite word) handcrafted, paddock to plate producer,” Graham says.
“Everything at Whisk & Pin is made by hand using the best ingredients we can possibly source. Every single product we make, bake and roll, is all about the texture & flavour.”
He says that when Covid first struck, he was prepared for the worst, but “really the worst never came”.
“Our online sales went off the chart. People stuck in lockdown were looking for something special to eat at home & something gorgeous to send to their loved ones as gifts. So we have grown, and we are very gratefully riding the wave.”
— 2/44 Wilson St, Katoomba; whiskandpin.com.au
Bondi to Bowral Box
Like most everyone, Covid forced us to make some adjustments in our own homes, particularly if we’re stuck indoors with a big family.
Alisa Hosking and her family went all in and made a tree change — from the eastern suburbs to the Southern Highlands.
While there, Alisa became so enamoured with all the local food and wine products such as Kangaroo Valley olives and Joadja Distillery Gin.
To better reflect her own life story, she began curating boxes with both food and lifestyle products from Bondi to the Southern Highlands – and thus, Bondi to Bowral boxes was born. Boxes ship Australia-wide with free standard delivery
The Marshmallow Co
When you get good advice, take it, which is precisely what Joel and Breah Twyman did when their friends started complimenting them on their homemade gourmet marshmallows, so much so that they began getting orders — from friends none-the-less and, at everyone’s insistence, turned it into a business.
The pair have since developed 25 different flavours. You can pick them up online or when things open up at their dessert bar in Wyong.
— 144 Pacific Highway, Wyong; themarshmallow.co
Cupitt’s Estate
Oh, to sit out on the veranda at Cupitt’s and look out towards the hills of Milton while sipping a glass of wine, or beer from the brewery, along with some specialised cheeses handmade by Rose Cupitt in her onsite fromagerie.
Maybe even dinner at their award-winning restaurant. Alas, you’ll need to wait a bit longer, but if you live around Ulladulla, you’re in luck as you can pick up the lot as they’re offering chef’s frozen meals, such as beef bourguignon, a weekend three-course banquet for two — think cured ocean trout and gnocchi with pork ragu — as well their beer, wine and custom-made cocktails.
Available for pre-order pick-up Friday-Sunday or local delivery on Friday from 3pm-5pm.
— 58 Washburton Rd, Ulladulla; cupittsestate.com.au
Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory
Built in 1935, the run-down flour mill on the Druce family’s certified organic farm Green Gove Organics seemed destined for destruction, but around 1998, with their propensity for innovation, they figured a way to convert the farm’s grain into a product that could be used in licorice which was the start of the Junee Licorice Factory.
They have since included chocolate in their production process and, more recently, organic confectionaries. While the venue is closed at the moment, you can still order their products online or wait till things open up and take a visit to their onsite cafe.
— 45-61 Lord St, Junee; juneelicoriceandchocolate.com
Winter warmers to celebrate the season
Everyone is happy to see the sun peeking through the clouds, but winter’s not all bad. Bid farewell to the colder days with one last hurrah of warming fare.
Sniffing out Sydney’s best truffle desserts
Save the best for last. As truffle season comes to a close, be sure to indulge in some sweet treats featuring the annual earthy gem.