11
FIELDS OFIELDS OF GLOF GLORY RY
A warning – all other strawberries will A warning – all other strawberries will
taste pretty ordinary after a visit to Tina and taste pretty ordinary after a visit to Tina and taste pretty ordinary after a visit to Tina and
Bruce McPherson’s Bruce McPherson’s Tinaberries Tinaberries (15 Zinks (15 Zinks
Rd, Bundaberg; tinaberries.com.au). Rd, Bundaberg; tinaberries.com.au).
Glossy, highly perfumed Camarosa and Glossy, highly perfumed Camarosa and
deep-red Festival varieties are picked at deep-red Festival varieties are picked at
the perfect moment of ripeness (no green the perfect moment of ripeness (no green
bits here!) and hand-packed on site. Most bits here!) and hand-packed on site. Most
then go straight off to premium markets in then go straight off to premium markets in then go straight off to premium markets in
Sydney and Melbourne, but you can buy Sydney and Melbourne, but you can buy
at the farm during the June to October at the farm during the June to October
growing season or, in September, get into growing season or, in September, get into
the fields and pick them yourself. the fields and pick them yourself.22
WHAT’S IN A NAME?WHAT’S IN A NAME?
A former Salvation Army warehouse A former Salvation Army warehouse
is now the craft brewery home of the is now the craft brewery home of the
Bargara Brewing Company. And Bargara Brewing Company. And The The
BrewhouseBrewhouse (10 Tantitha St, Bundaberg; (10 Tantitha St, Bundaberg;
bargarabrewingco.com.au) is the perfect bargarabrewingco.com.au) is the perfect
spot to while away a few hours sampling spot to while away a few hours sampling
Bargara’s 100%-rainwater-brewed beers. Bargara’s 100%-rainwater-brewed beers.
There are about a dozen on tap at any There are about a dozen on tap at any
one time, with quirky names like ‘Rusty one time, with quirky names like ‘Rusty
Roo’, ‘Thirsty Turtle’ and ‘Drunk Fish’. Roo’, ‘Thirsty Turtle’ and ‘Drunk Fish’.
Make sure to try the ‘Ginja Ninja’, Make sure to try the ‘Ginja Ninja’,
a warming real ginger beer made from a warming real ginger beer made from
local spice that, as the name suggests, local spice that, as the name suggests,
delivers a kick. Soak up the amber nectar delivers a kick. Soak up the amber nectar
with bar snacks like crack-your-own with bar snacks like crack-your-own
macadamias, salume plates and pizza. macadamias, salume plates and pizza.33
GOGO O ONN, INDULGE, INDULGE
Amanda and Larry Hines, revered Amanda and Larry Hines, revered
former owners of the award-winning former owners of the award-winning
Indulge CafeIndulge Cafe (80 Bourbong St, Bundaberg; (80 Bourbong St, Bundaberg;
indulgecafe.com.au), may have moved indulgecafe.com.au), may have moved
on after 13 years, but it’s business as on after 13 years, but it’s business as
usual under new owner Mitchell White, usual under new owner Mitchell White,
Amanda’s former sous chef. White, who’s Amanda’s former sous chef. White, who’sbeen at Indulge for eight years, continues been at Indulge for eight years, continues
the Hinds’ legacy of championing Bundy the Hinds’ legacy of championing Bundy
farmers, with much of the cafe’s produce farmers, with much of the cafe’s produce
coming from within a few kilometres. That’s coming from within a few kilometres. That’s
when it’s not being delivered straight to when it’s not being delivered straight to
the kitchen door by the farmers themselves. the kitchen door by the farmers themselves.
Most items on the highly seasonal menu Most items on the highly seasonal menu
are made in-house, including bread and are made in-house, including bread and
brioche, pastries, granola, fruit curd, brioche, pastries, granola, fruit curd,
ragu, relishes and preserves. The coffee ragu, relishes and preserves. The coffee
is brewed from single-origin Jasper beans. is brewed from single-origin Jasper beans.44
MARKET NIGHTSMARKET NIGHTS
On Friday nights and every On Friday nights and every
third Sunday afternoon of the month, third Sunday afternoon of the month,
Bundaberg’s old marine college Bundaberg’s old marine college
transforms into the transforms into the RiverfeastRiverfeast food food
market (1a Scotland St; riverfeast.com.au). market (1a Scotland St; riverfeast.com.au).
Locals and visitors alike gather to kick off Locals and visitors alike gather to kick off
the weekend as the sun sets over the the weekend as the sun sets over the
Burnett River, eating, drinking and stocking Burnett River, eating, drinking and stocking
the pantry from stalls selling everything the pantry from stalls selling everything
from dips and dukkha to crisp pork belly, from dips and dukkha to crisp pork belly,
paella and pulled pork tacos. Two on-site paella and pulled pork tacos. Two on-site
bars pour local craft brews, while live music bars pour local craft brews, while live music
keeps everyone entertained.keeps everyone entertained.5
HOT TICKET
Even though it’s only two years Even though it’s only two years
old, Bundaberg’s old, Bundaberg’s WinterfeastWinterfeast (July 7-16; (July 7-16;
winterfeast.com.au) has already become winterfeast.com.au) has already become
an essential diary date for locals and an essential diary date for locals and
just as many out-of-towners. Created by just as many out-of-towners. Created by
Amanda and Larry Hines (ex Indulge Cafe), Amanda and Larry Hines (ex Indulge Cafe),
there are more than two dozen events to there are more than two dozen events to
choose from during the 10-day celebration choose from during the 10-day celebration
of the region’s produce – from long-table of the region’s produce – from long-table
lunches and elegant Champagne soirees lunches and elegant Champagne soirees
to food tours, public picnics, markets and to food tours, public picnics, markets and
more. Tickets sell out quickly, so sign up to more. Tickets sell out quickly, so sign up to
delicious.com.au/recipesdelicious.com.au/recipesFor more Locavore features For more Locavore features the newsletter for info on dates and events.the newsletter for info on dates and events.from around Australia.from around Australia.S
ugar, and its happy
by-product, rum, may be by-product, rum, may be
Bundaberg’s most famous Bundaberg’s most famous
exports, but the rich, red earth of the exports, but the rich, red earth of the
North Burnett region supports an North Burnett region supports an
impressively large horticulture industry.impressively large horticulture industry.
From The Hummock, the highest From The Hummock, the highest
point in these parts, you can look out point in these parts, you can look out
over patchwork fields that stretch to the over patchwork fields that stretch to the
horizon. Not only sugar cane, but farms horizon. Not only sugar cane, but farms
producing sweet potatoes, tomatoes, producing sweet potatoes, tomatoes,
blueberries, beans, brassicas, ginger, blueberries, beans, brassicas, ginger,
melons and strawberries, as well as melons and strawberries, as well as
orchards of lychees, macadamias, pecans orchards of lychees, macadamias, pecans
and citrus. To the east is the Coral Sea, and citrus. To the east is the Coral Sea,
where the local fishing fleet trawls for where the local fishing fleet trawls for
reef fish and prawns, while further north reef fish and prawns, while further north
is cattle and dairy country.is cattle and dairy country.
Bundaberg sits serenely in the midst Bundaberg sits serenely in the midst
of this abundance; a gracious city with a of this abundance; a gracious city with a
surprisingly cosmopolitan air, thanks to the surprisingly cosmopolitan air, thanks to the
united nations of backpackers who come to united nations of backpackers who come to
work the farms and the many out-of-staters work the farms and the many out-of-staters
who’ve moved here for Australia’s most who’ve moved here for Australia’s most
equitable climate and the relaxed lifestyle. equitable climate and the relaxed lifestyle.
With a genuine commitment by locals With a genuine commitment by locals
to supporting their own, there’s an to supporting their own, there’s an
enormous range of artisan products enormous range of artisan products
on restaurant menus, in local shops and on restaurant menus, in local shops and
at farm-gate stalls, from smoked bottarga at farm-gate stalls, from smoked bottarga
and XO sauce to pickled local ginger and and XO sauce to pickled local ginger and
beef fed on barley sprout. Your best beef fed on barley sprout. Your best
option is to think like a local and explore.option is to think like a local and explore.