all I want for Christmas is a… donkey??
Posted on 20 July 2010 | No responses
I recently had the opportunity to visit a number of producers while working on a project. It is always so much fun when visiting these producers. It always reminds me of my childhood growing up on the farm.
This was especially the case when I visited Obi Obi Essentials, who are based in the Obi Obi Valley at the back of Mapleton. The property is picture pretty; olive grove, green tea hedges, geese, horses, the cutest alpacas and donkeys – I have decided I want a donkey! Sooo cute.
Alexina Johnson is the wonderful lady behind Obi Obi Essentials and the producer of a sensational olive oil, green tea and some green tea, olive leaf and lemon myrtle tea blend. The farm is pretty self-sustained, with everything grown and then processed and packaged on the farm. The tea and olive leaves are dried in a solar powered drying room, while the olives are also cold pressed and bottled on site. The oil is in pretty high demand due to the small volumes produced, so if you happen to own a bottle, treat it like gold!
Alexina is passionate about her produce and is a prime example of producers on the Sunshine Coast that are quietly producing products with such integrity. Olives are crushed the same day that they are picked and only quality fruit is used. Which is no wonder the olive oil tastes so good.
I spent the morning wandering around the farm – I didn’t really want to go home, it was just so beautiful out there. There was a slight drizzle of rain, so the olive grove looked almost a bit mystical because it was slightly misted in. The alpacas were grazing throughout the grove, and talk about cute. There was a little baby alpaca (a cria I believe that they are called) that was there, that I had a hard time tearing myself away from – that was until Alexina said that she would take me up to see the horses and donkeys.
I don’t know what it is with me and donkeys, but if I could run one in my backyard, I would! I had particular affinity for the one called Angel.
I will post some pictures on my facebook profile, so you can see for yourself how cute they were and how beautiful Alexina’s property is.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=232019&id=687869877&l=06d1b673a6
In the meantime look out for Obi Obi Essentials teas and olive oils. I have seen the at husk and honey and Alexina does frequent some of the Sunshine Coast markets. Check out her website for more details:
This post was written by Petra Frieser – Local Harvest
To find out more about the Sunshine Coast’s regional growers and producers visit:
www.localharvest.com.au
Simon King Chinese Restaurant review…
Posted on 15 July 2010 | No responses
Sometimes a tasty treat is right under your nose. The presence of Simon King Chinese Restaurant came as a surprise, I must admit. I have passed that particular Pacific Paradise eatery dozens of times, but the ever-changing sequence of the adjacent traffic lights has always been my major focus. But there it is in the PJ Burns building on the corner of David Low Way and Mudjimba Beach Rd. Of course, once you discover the restaurant, it isn’t really hidden at all and judging by the number of people dining mid-week when we visited, it is hardly a secret >>> read more
www.theweekender.com.au/eatdrink_det.php?id=304
This post was written by Petra Frieser – Local Harvest
To find out more about the Sunshine Coast’s regional growers and producers visit:
www.localharvest.com.au
Fishmongers Wife review…
Posted on 14 July 2010 | No responses
There are fish and chips and then there are fish and chips. This classic Aussie meal is a bit of a tradition with a particular dining buddy of mine and it usually takes the form of way more than we can eat and a walk on the beach. I think the theory here is to walk it off, although we never actually venture very far >>> read more
www.theweekender.com.au/eatdrink_det.php?id=303
This post was written by Petra Frieser – Local Harvest
To find out more about the Sunshine Coast’s regional growers and producers visit:
www.localharvest.com.au
Mezze review…
Posted on 14 July 2010 | No responses
Dinner with Con the fooderer is as much about fun as it is about food. Sometimes you know you are going to have an enjoyable night out before it even begins. That was very much the case with the Mezze Bar. When I called to book, owner Con Constantinides spoke with such passion that I knew our visit was going to be fun. Mezze is a relatively new addition to the Town of Seaside at Marcoola. On the corner of Seaside Blvd and Merchants Pde, it is a stylishly cosy venue, perfect for socialising while you have a bite to eat and drink. And mezze, as in authentic Greek tapas, is predominantly what is served >>> read more
www.theweekender.com.au/eatdrink_det.php?id=302
This post was written by Petra Frieser – Local Harvest
To find out more about the Sunshine Coast’s regional growers and producers visit:
www.localharvest.com.au
Restaurant Aroona review…
Posted on 13 July 2010 | No responses
This new addition to the Noosa dining scene offers a fresh take on local flavours. Restaurant Aroona is the signature dining experience at the new Quay West Resort & Spa Noosa. It is an extremely stylish space where I almost wished for a warmer evening so we could take advantage of the open areas that expand outside to tasteful water features and greenery >>> read more
www.theweekender.com.au/eatdrink_det.php?id=301
This post was written by Petra Frieser – Local Harvest
To find out more about the Sunshine Coast’s regional growers and producers visit:
www.localharvest.com.au
and yet another winner…
Posted on 11 June 2010 | No responses
talent abounds…
Local Producer Amo Gelato Wins Gold at 2010 National Dairy Awards
Boyd and Stacie from Amo Gelato sent this to share with you guys:
“Gelato lovers from near and far tell us we make the best, and we now have a gold medal to prove it.
This is our first entry of any award, and while it’s a major win for us, it’s also a win for the region. Using local ingredients is important to us, and we think our Mary Valley jersey milk makes fantastic gelato, and the best judges in Australia from the DIAA agree too.
It’s great that a family business from Noosaville can stand with the best and biggest in the industry. Logistics for us is getting our little girl to school, so it helps that we produce a very local 2kms from our Gympie Terrace shop.
Our customers are helping us develop our flavours too. I’ve been making a chilli chocolate recently and I’ve come to realise that people who like the hot stuff are hard core, so we gave them more! Feedback is invaluable, the judges “tasting notes” from the awards will be put to good use too.
This is big for us. We believe in our product, our amazing regional produce, and take great joy in being part of the Noosa River experience.”
by Local owners Boyd and Stacie, and daughter Camille.
Locations are:
Noosa River Gelato Caffé
2/201 Gympie Tce (corner Thomas St on the old Davos site)
Noosaville
Ph. 5455 5088
or
Amo Gelato Production House
5/12 Project Ave
Noosaville
Ph. 0418 719 671
Dairy Industry Association of Australia Competition Results – 2010
Category: Gelati 3-6% Fat (commercial ice cream can have as much as 30% fat)
GOLD MEDAL – Gelato
Amo Gelato Belgian Chocolate
SILVER MEDAL – Gelato
Amo Gelato Fig & Mascarpone
Amo Gelato Licorice
Amo Gelato Burnt Caramel
Well done guys!!!
Posted by Petra Frieser – Local Harvest
To find out more about the Sunshine Coast’s regional growers and producers visit:
www.localharvest.com.au
Raj reigns in the cold – Raj Indian review…
Posted on 11 June 2010 | No responses
A steaming curry is the perfect antidote to a wintery Coast night. Curries and cold nights seem to complement one another. And as we sneak into winter, I think there will be one or two more warming curry nights to come. For my first such adventure of the season I visited Raj Indian restaurant on Noosaville’s popular Thomas St… >>>read more
www.theweekender.com.au/eatdrink_det.php?id=300
This post was written by Petra Frieser – Local Harvest
To find out more about the Sunshine Coast’s regional growers and producers visit:
www.localharvest.com.au
Cedar Street Cheeserie blogspot
Posted on 10 June 2010 | No responses
Trevor Hart from Cedar Street Cheeserie is making some fabulous handmade buffalo cheese. If you haven’t come across them yet, look out for them.
Trevor now has his own blog also, so keep up to date with what he is doing – yet another of our fantastic regional producers…
http://cedarstreetcheeserie.blogspot.com/
Posted by Petra Frieser – Local Harvest
To find out more about the Sunshine Coast’s regional growers and producers visit:
www.localharvest.com.au
Pit stop – Beerwah Hotel review…
Posted on 10 June 2010 | No responses
Sometimes, traditional pub fare hits just the right note. I must admit it had been a few years since my last visit to the Beerwah Hotel and I was pleasantly surprised to see it had undergone quite a transformation in the interim. Something of a hinterland icon, I had heard whispers about its karaoke and country music nights as well as its food. Our visit was for lunch on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Just a short drive, it became all the excuse we needed to venture away from our usual haunts… >>>read more
www.theweekender.com.au/eatdrink_det.php?id=299
This post was written by Petra Frieser – Local Harvest
To find out more about the Sunshine Coast’s regional growers and producers visit:
www.localharvest.com.au
Sunshine Coast producers rock!
Posted on 10 June 2010 | No responses
I have had an amazing few weeks visiting Sunshine Coast producers for a research project that I have been working on and it’s been absolutely wonderful. It made me remember why I got into this industry in the first place.
Fascinating people for one, wow – what interesting personalities and lives, all doing their bit to deliver to the Sunshine Coast fresh, quality produce with integrity.
It also made me remember the sacrifices that some of these people make to maintain the quality, some of them with almost unsurmountable obstacles in the way of rules and regulations just for their operation to exist.
Ask them why they do it and it’s the same answer every time; passion or love of good quality fresh food!
Over the next few weeks I will tell you about some of the producers that I have visited and the superb things that they are responsible for bringing to Sunshine Coast tables and I hope that you will all make that extra special effort to seek them out and support them.
This post was written by Petra Frieser – Local Harvest
To find out more about the Sunshine Coast’s regional growers and producers visit:
www.localharvest.com.au