Jennifer is the appetite behind one of Australia’s longest running food & travel blogs, I Ate My Way Through. Together with a team of contributors and tour guides, they use food as a common ground to connect and inspire readers, both online and offline, about different cultures, cuisines, social habits and eating traditions. So there’s no one more perfect than her to help VisionDirect give you the lowdown on where to eat this summer.
Hiking at Berowra Valley National Park and lunch at A Chefs Secret (Berowra, Sydney, NSW)
Australia’s great outdoors provides an awe-inspiring landscape for avid hikers. The Berowra to Cowan hike (part of the Great North Walk) offers many stunning creek vantage points along the way, including the Naa Badu Lookout (pictured below). The hike is 12.9km from Berowra train station to Cowan train station, and will take approximately 6 hours so pack plenty of water!
Aside from the view and the great workout you’ll get with all the steep climbs, a highlight you’ll enjoy is lunching at the mid-way mark at Berowra Waters.
With a focus on fresh seasonal produce, we rejuvenate with some housemade juice concoctions and indulge in linguine alla pescatora (linguine marinara with green prawns, calamari, blue swimmer crab, $24.90) and mussels with garlic & white wine, from the specials board.
The Great North Walk
Berowra Valley National Park
Web: nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/Walking-tracks/Great-North-walk-Berowra-Valley-National-Park
A Chef’s Secret
Berowra Waters Boat Shed, Lot 466 Berowra Waters Rd, Berowra Waters NSW
Phone: (02) 9456 6614
Web: achefsecrets.com
Banh Xeo (Vietnamese pancake) at Thy Vietnamese Eatery (Cabramatta, Sydney, NSW)
When I think of Summer, I inadvertently crave the fresh flavours of South East Asia, in particular, dishes such as Banh Xeo ($11 – 15 depending on filling), a crispy savoury Vietnamese pancake. Made of turmeric, coconut milk and rice flour, the outer shell is crunchy and fragrant; the filling commonly consists of mung bean, bean sprouts, pork belly and shrimp and there are 6 variations on the menu here! The best way to eat this is of course with your hands, forming DIY lettuce cups with the plethora of mints and herbs, then dipping each parcel into a salty, sour and sweet nuoc cham dipping sauce.
Amy (our Cabramatta food tour guide) and I like to visit Thy Vietnamese Eatery for their ginormous version!
Thy Vietnamese Eatery
40 Park Road, Cabramatta, NSW
Phone: (02) 9723 8008
Yamba king prawns at Clarence River Fishermens Co-Op (Yamba, NSW)
Yamba prawns make a regular appearance on the menus of many prominent restaurants across Australia, so why not go straight to the source!
Fresh from the trawlers, Clarence River Fishermens Co-op offers an abundance of juicy king prawns, and plenty of other local catches.
Set up a picnic at the back for a priceless experience.
Clarence River Fishermens Co-Op
15 Yamba Road, Yamba NSW
Phone: (02) 6646 2099
Web: crfc.com.au
Mojitos at the Rum Bar / Fish D’Vine (Airlie Beach, QLD)
If you love a good mojito, you’ll love the Rum Bar. There are over 450 rums on the rum wall and their Best Mojito In The World ($9.90) made with Havana Club 3 year rum, fresh limes, mint, sugar and soda, may be a big call, but it’s pretty darn good.
Proving that there’s a rum for every occasion, the oyster shooters in rum spiked bloody mary ($4.50) will whet your appetite beckon you to sample the large seafood menu on offer.
Rum Bar / Fish D’Vine
303 Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach, QLD
Phone: (07) 4948 0088
Web:fishdvine.com.au
Mango Sorbet at The Big Mango (Bowen, QLD)
Further north in Queensland, you’ll reach Bowen, home of some of the best snorkelling spots including Horseshoe Bay, and also where you’ll find the Big Mango.
The Big Mango is located at the Bowen Visitor Information Centre and is symbolic of the area where mangoes were first cultivated in Australia back in the late 1880s.
Once you’ve had your fair share of touristy photos, head inside for cups of sumptuous Bowen mango sorbet made with 100% Kensington Pride mangoes. It’s also a one stop shop for all your mango souvenirs… Mmm… mango lip balm?
If big Australian icons are your thing, there’s also the Big Pineapple nearby. Queensland really does have all of our favourite Summer fruits covered!
Bowen Visitor Information Centre / The Big Mango
236 Bruce Highway, Bowen QLD
Phone: (07) 4786 4222
Web: tourismbowen.com.au
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