Redfern Sydney - Eveleigh Street Markets Towards Lunch Time

Cured Salmon and Pecan Nut Apple Salad

A squeeze of orange, lemon and lime. Sprinkle a measure of granular salt.  Select carefully the portion of the salmon belly, for each niche part of the exquisite fish is delicate, unusual, different and unique in taste.  The art of curing, enhancement and delicacy is surely an art that echoes not he experience, patience and intuitiveness of the chef.

Granny Smith green apple cuts are transformed to gently accompany  the elegant seafood. Oh wait, there is magic......

the caramelised pecan nuts - from half a minute heat up on a flat pan with sugar for the pecan nuts and then cooled down on lined paper tray.  Hey, there are also Pink Lady apple cubes.  And the whole presentation is enhanced with basil leaf.

Nothing like lovingly prepared food, deft of skill and attention to details.  The cut of the salmon, from which portion of the delightful fish and how its stands after being cured, all add to the finesse.   The person fortunate enough to partake in the fruits of such a process has his or her eyes and mindset opened.  Combining the subtleties and sensations of quality ingredients with compatible and contrasting outcomes on the palate. I could allow the sourness go submerged under the savoury and the texture of flavours from the seas. I recognised the citrus undertones of produce of the Earth, a result of sunshine, good soil and lots of water during growth.  Add to this the whiff of refreshingly green herbal aromas.  There was no overall sweetness, just a satisfying gratefulness of the appetite being teased, restored and fulfilled.  What an entree, what a way to start a meal.

Wild Moose Cafe- North Wollongong NSW

My Cape Town risotto.

Please note that the Wild Moose has since September 2014 moved to 40 Princes Highway, Fairy Meadow, NSW 2519.  It has since closed in 2015.


Cosmopolitan, with hints of cross culturalism, a definite haven of rugby union gatherings and unique offerings in the regional city of Wollongong NSW.  This is the Wild Moose, with a primary heritage of South African cuisine, clever touches of Scandinavian and feeling comfy as a breakky and brunch hideaway.  I tried the Cape Town risotto and was struck positively by its inherent flavours, with chunky pieces of pumpkin, roasted pine nuts and tasty bites of chicken.  I eyed the Zanzibar chicken but saved it for next time.

There is a rather extensive menu for a place that does not open in the evenings (except for Friday evenings, when it is open till late with live music) and also does not operate from Mondays to Wednesdays.  The Boer heritage means a good drinks list (Swedish Mojito and Shaken Margarhita stand out)  with Fair trade organic coffee.   Did I get a hint of nutmeg from the brown toned culpa, or was it all in my imagination?

You have both indoor and outside seating, and the morning menu is littered with names like Karoo and African Sunrise.  There is modern Aussie fare like the prevalent Eggs Benedict and the version of Big Breakfast is christened the Jungle Brekki, with twosomes of bacon rashers, eggs and the unique Boerewors. The latter is a classic back in the home country - sausages of beef and coriander, also sold separately as take away snacks from the counter.  One of these mornings, when I next visit, I would want to try the Walnut Delight, a healthy vegetarian gathering of avocado, rocket and oven roasted Roma tomatoes , served on home baked walnut embedded bread and topped with a touch of the Mediterranean - feta and drizzled balsamic glaze.

An interesting set up from the previous site in North Wollongong.

Sited along a busy part of the Princes Highway just slightly north of Wollongong CBD, it is a good spot in the middle of increasingly bustling Fairy Meadow, with its variety of cafes, small business shops and three supermarkets - Aldi, Woolies and Coles. The couple who run this unique place, Wouther Debbes and Anki Rask, have created a uniqueness on the Wollongong cuisine scene. Anki is engaging, friendly and articulate when I met her - and so are her staff.

For a light meal at working lunch time, do go for the Jabulani Chicken burger, laden with baby spinach, chicken breast pieces, tomato cuts, pineapple, cheese and red onions with toppings of peri peri sauce.  There Chicken Marrakesh is pan fried and comes garnished with preserved lemon,fresh tomato, oven baked potato wedges and parsley mushroom - what refreshing and unusual combinations!   There is in addition the old reliable salt and pepper squid to accompany the beer.
Also available is the mango chicken salad. On Friday evenings, two dishes stand out - the marinated Mozambique tiger prawns, with a textured crispy coconut coating and peri peri sauce, and the grilled wild barramundi fillets panfried with Bourbon butter and accompanied by tiger prawn cutlets and chunky beer battered chips (more like wedges).  For takeaway, there are also muffins - I tried the strawberry version on my recent visit.

Do moose exist naturally on the African continent?  It is of Eurasian origin but a North American term.  Most moose are found in the snow laden territories of Russia, Canada, Alaska and Scandinavia.  In Europe, the animal is more referred to as the elk.  So why is this place honouring the moose? Good question, a surprise but I reckon it reflects the imagination and creativity of its owners and menu. I love it!

Redfern Sydney - Eveleigh Street Markets, Breakfast Time

Stunning, captivating and crowded.

Love grows in Redfern.

I just adore the produce from this stall - it has elegance, taste and aroma!

Blooms that delight from a walking dog's eye view.

Friends and more meet along the long alley way surrounding the markets.

What a way to start a Saturday - loaves, rolls and baked stuff

The view from Carriageworks, worth visiting in its own right.

From the Bird, Fish & Cow outlet.

Helensburgh Hindu Temple - Canteen Delights

Nestled in the bush at Helensburgh NSW, in the vicinity of the Sri Vankateswara Hindu Temple grounds sited on a hill at the northern end of the Illawarra coast, lies an unassuming canteen which offers delights in Indian vegetarian cuisine.  If driving by car, you have to turn off the ramp from the main highway south of Waterfall and not head towards Wollongong and the NSW South Coast.   City trains do have scheduled runs to Helensburgh, but it is a distance to navigate from the station to the Temple at Temple Road. The place is packed with crowds on religious festive days and Sundays, but it is always wise to plan your trip and arrive early , meaning like around 1030 am.  The canteen opens at 10am on weekends. The menu consists mainly of dosas, breads, rotis, deep fried snacks, yummy vegetarian curry and yogurt based dipping accompaniments.  Even the 'blank" dosas are delightful as they are light and easy.  An interesting combination is the dhalpuri, a version of the roti that is packed with yellow split beans, garlic, pepper and cumin. I just love the sambar offered here, with deeper intensity of taste than some commercial competitors in Australian conurbations -  and offering a kick when eaten with the fluffy warm pancakes or crepes.  Rotis are essentially made from atta  flour (stone ground wholemeal flour).  Another of my favourite choices from this canteen is the paratha.   Some of the curries - essentially light and soupy with no coconut milk - can be hot and vary in spicy intensity.  On a cold late morning, i have now learnt to not take my hot coffee too early but after my meal.

The canteen is well organised, asking for customers to line up and order/pay at a central spot.  You are then given coupons which you use to collect your food and drinks from other counters.  As in any self-respecting outlet, the food is prepared and served fresh.  Disposable utensils and plates are used - and there are sinks to wash up and neatly maintained garbage bins. You sit under cloth tent covers or in the open - I rather prefer the latter on a fine day as I did with Arun last month.  We could take in the pleasing and inspiring views of gum trees, the Aussie blue sky and feel the fresh air in our face.