Australian Gourmet Traveller - (01)January 2020 (1)

BESTGELATO

MrGoatyGelatoatBarBotanica

Whatstartedasa gelatariabasedoutofa

caravanis nowa permanentfixtureinthegarden

ofErina’sDistilleryBotanica.BarBotanicaserves

scoopsofMrGoatyGelato,whichusesboth

goat’sandcow’smilkwithingredientsplucked

straightfromthegarden.Thinkmacadamia

andlemonmyrtleorblueberryandlavender,

alongsideinventivescoopssuchassourdough

toastwithhoney,cold-brewedcoffeeorburnt

pineappleMargarita. 25 Portsmouth Rd, Erina,

NSW, barbotanica.com.au

BESTWEEKENDESCAPE

Shoalhavenandsurrounds

ThedrivesouthofSydney,windingthroughWollongongandpastthestunningvistas

ofGerroa,is oneofthemostscenicstripsontheNSWcoastline.Adventure-seekerscan

campatTermeilPointin MerooNationalParktowitnessamazingsunsets,whilethose

lookingfora littleluxurycanbooka stayatBannister’sin Mollymook.Bothoptionswill

serveasa greatbasetogoondaytripsduringyourweekendescape.HeadtoMilton

andstopoffatMilkHaus,whichoffersa seasonalmenu,withdishessuchasa “dry

stew”ofcrustybread,poachedeggs,chickpeasandwiltedsilverbeet,sourcedstraight

fromthecafé’sgarden.Spenda half-dayexploringBateman’sBaynearby,andenjoy

BYOwineandjust-shuckedoysterswithhotsauceattheOysterShedonWrayStreet.

OrcheckoutManyana,a sleepysurfingtown,withitssecludedwhite-sandbeach,

bush trails to explore and plenty of native birds in the trees.shoalhaven.com➤

BESTBEACH

ThePass,ByronBay

Whetheryou’relookingatthissliceofparadisefromthetoweringrockylookoutorfromthepalm-lined

fringes,it’seasytoseewhypeopleadorethisbeautifulsandytractlocatedjustdownfromByron’s

mainbeach.You’lloftenspotdolphinsfrolickingoffshore(if you’rekeentogetcloser,plentyofkayak

andboattourstakeyououttosea),andcloserintoshore,waveswelcomeeveryonefromgrommets

onfoamiestosurfersonlongboards.PopintoThePassCafefora smoothieonthepatio,ordressup

todineatBeachByronBay,wherethemenuhighlightslocal,seasonalproduce.OnthefirstSunday

ofthemonth,you’llfindtheByronCommunityMarket– trythetempuramushroomsfrom the FunGuys

and Koobideh’s Persian potato cakes and charcoal-grilled lamb wrapped in flatbread.

BESTFISHANDCHIPS

CookwithCosti

WhenSydneychefs

buyseafoodfromCosta

Nemitsastheyknow

it’llbegood,suchis his

incredibleknowledgeofthe

ocean.Now,hehasopened

CookwithCosti,alongwith

industryveteranSteveCosti,

atBroadwaySydney.Itscity

locationmayseema bitodd,

butthisis theplacetoget

seafoodthat’sasfreshas

Sydney’sownfamedfish

markets,withouthavingto

battlehordesoftourists.

Diveintoa meanfishand

chips,withcrispwhitehake

andskin-onchipsdusted

withchickensalt.In the

fridges,you’llalsofind

MoretonBaybugs,blue

swimmercrabsand

swordfishsteaks,allmarked

withwheretheycame

from.BroadwaySydney,

1 Bay St, Ultimo, NSW.

NEW SOUTH WALES

GOURMET TRAVELLER 67

PHOTOGRAPHY RACHELLE BLAKE (MR GOATY GELATO), KARA ROSENLUND (THE PASS) & GETTY IMAGES (GERROA).