It was with a great deal of excitement that I said "YES, please", when the folks at Shoalhaven Tourism extended an invitation to experience the Shoalhaven Foodie Trail.
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After enjoying summer months in the picturesque European countryside, I must confess that, once the jet lag passed, I felt a little jaded about coming home to the depths of winter in Canberra. "I want to play tourist again," I told Peter. "Some place not too far from home and, preferably, a destination we haven't previously explored." My wish came to fruition with the arrival of an invitation to visit the New South Wales Southern Highlands following the launch of the Fitzroy Falls food and wine cluster. Hello there dear friends. I'm conscious that it's been a while since you heard from me, hence this short dispatch from Redleaf Farm at Fitzroy Falls. One of my favourite local destinations is the New South Wales Southern Highlands, an area renowned for its lush landscapes, picturesque villages, fascinating history, and burgeoning food and wine scene. When was the last time you bathed in the forest? I'm not referring to the cooling shower you might take under a tropical waterfall, nor skinny-dipping in a billabong under the shade of a Coolabah tree. The excitement was palpable, despite the bitter cold, thick fog and mud that enveloped us when we arrived at Turalla Truffles near Bungendore one Sunday morning in July last year. Frisbee (pictured above), a key member of the team of trained truffle dogs, was there to greet us; together with property owners, Damian Robinson and his wife, Lindsay, and their daughter, Willa (pictured left, second image below). Sitting at the kitchen table, all we can hear lately on weekday mornings (and all day long) is the sound of earthmoving machinery and trucks excavating the centre of the road, making way for the light rail, which is said to be coming one day. We long for some quiet, so an invitation to enjoy a short break in the countryside is most gratefully accepted. 'Just look at the "picture-skew" view from our balcony,' Peter exclaimed, as he drew back the curtains in our room. He had been longing for us to stay at the Sebel Harbourside in Kiama - among his favourite hotels in the region and one he had frequented when travelling as a Search and Rescue Training Officer with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. 'I love this place, it's such a nice hotel' he added. 'And wait until you see the outlook from the breakfast bistro!' January, February, March, April, May, *BLINK*, December, January... |
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Cooking and writing have been a lifelong passion. Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes; postcards and morsels from my travels; conversations with cookery writers and chefs; and news on food, cookbooks and cooking. - Liz Posmyk
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NB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
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