Bangalay Dining, Shoalhaven HeadsCredit: Bangalay Luxury Villas
Bangalay Dining chef Simon Evans.
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Simon Evans is the executive chef at Bangalay Dining, the fine-dining restaurant at Bangalay Luxury Villas. This Shoalhaven Heads coastal retreat is around a two-hour drive south of Sydney on the New South Wales South Coast. Simon also co-owns the Night Parrot Bar & Kitchen in Wollongong, an hour’s drive south from Sydney, and co-hosts The Food Fight podcast, in which he discusses food culture with cookbook publisher Stef Posthuma. Here Simon shares his tips on where to indulge in fabulous food on the South Coast.
After running an award-winning restaurant, Caveau in Wollongong, and now with your role at Bangalay Dining, you must know every food producer on the South Coast. Who impresses you with their commitment to quality? And where can we go to sample great fresh produce and artisanal treats at the source?
“We definitely had a focus on using local producers where possible at Caveau, with a lot of them being on the South Coast, so being at Bangalay now we’re even closer to them and I hope to create even closer working relationships with them.
“There’s a great array of producers down here: cheese and yoghurt from The Pines in Kiama [find them at Kiama Farmers’ Market in Kiama every Wednesday afternoon]; Buena Vista Farm in Gerringong [a working farm offering tours and cooking and gardening classes]; Strong Organics in Nowra [find them at Berry Farmers’ Market in Berry every Thursday afternoon]; and Terrewah Farm [which offers luxury farm stays] in Kangaroo Valley.
“I’m working with Vincentia Butchery, in Vincentia, who I think are awesome: they stock only local and sustainable products, and are really on the ball with who and where they source their products from. Then we have some of the best wagyu beef in the country from Schottlander [which also hosts farm stays] in Gerringong. Not to mention a whole coast of sensational oyster farms in Wapengo, Tathra, Pambula and Merimbula.”
Where would you take visiting friends or family to show them what food and wine experiences the region offers?
“The farmer’s markets here are amazing, and unlike a lot of other markets, everyone selling produce is from the local area, so you will find an absolute bounty of fresh ingredients.
“The Kiama and Berry markets are a great start to get a snapshot of what’s being produced down here, as well as the oyster farms — there really is no better or fresher way to taste an oyster that going direct to the source.
“Obviously I’d have to take them to Bangalay Dining for dinner, but I also love South on Albany in Berry. John Evans and Sonia Greig do an amazing job championing the local area with simple yet precise dishes. Further south, I love Cupitt’s Estate in Ulladulla: they’re a restaurant, winery, brewery and fromagerie, and they grow a lot of their own produce. I honestly don’t know how they find the time! It’s all excellent quality.”
Besides creating amazing food at Bangalay Dining, you also run Night Parrot Bar & Kitchen in Wollongong, as well as co-host a podcast. You must be busy! Do you have any favourite places to stop for a coffee or a bite to eat on the drive between Wollongong and Shoalhaven Heads?
“There are some great spots to stop at in Kiama, Gerringong and Gerroa or, with a little detour, the beautiful town of Berry, where you have Il Locale Gelato, as well as Milkwood Bakery and the Hungry Monkey for awesome burgers.
In Kiama, I like Flour Water Salt Bakery, Wild Patch Cafe and Diggies by the blowhole, and in Gerroa, The Blue Swimmer restaurant. There really is so much choice and it’s near impossible to get a bad coffee down here!”
Kiama Farmer's Markets, Kiama Credit: Destination NSW
The Kiama Farmer's
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Kiama Farmer's Markets, Kiama Credit: Destination NSW
The Kiama Farmer's
Bangalay Dining, Shoalhaven Heads Credit: Anna Wiewiora
The breezy Bangalay Dining restaurant at Bangalay Luxury Villas in Shoalhaven Heads.
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Bangalay Dining, Shoalhaven Heads Credit: Anna Wiewiora
The breezy Bangalay Dining restaurant at Bangalay Luxury Villas in Shoalhaven Heads.
You’re a sommelier as well as a chef. Which local wineries really stand out for you? And which wines in particular should we look for?
“Semillon! I can’t bang on enough about how much I love this grape, and we have some world-class wines made from this grape right here at Coolangatta Estate [a five-minute drive from Bangalay Luxury Villas in Coolangatta]. As a young wine the Coolangatta Estate Semillon resembles a riesling; with a few more years it starts to show chardonnay/chablis vibes with some oak characteristics (even though it is fermented solely in a steel tank) and with 20-plus years can build sweet raisin flavours. It’s a fascinating wine. Coolangatta also produces an excellent tannat, a high-tannin Hungarian variety.
“My other favourite producer is Cupitt’s. They produce an estate sauvignon blanc that’s fermented in barrel, so it’s a more serious-tasting sauvignon. They also bring in grapes from the NSW Hilltops and Canberra District regions. Hilltops is an area that excels in producing Italian varietals such as nebbiolo.”
If a Bangalay guest asks you to recommend a great place to eat further along the South Coast, where would you send them?
“There are some really special spots further down the coast. In Bermagui there’s Honorbread sourdough bakery and Boneless Vegetarian Cafe. The Tathra Hotel in Tathra is home to Humpback Brewery, a microbrewery operating inside the pub! And in Merimbula, there’s former regional bar of the year Dulcie’s Cottage and its sister restaurant Valentina. Then there’s the fine-dining Banksia Restaurant in Pambula.”
You make use of foraged plants at Bangalay Dining as part of a strong focus on Australian native ingredients on the menu. Where do you go in the local area to find these wild ingredients? “We’ve been utilising a lot of things right on our doorstep at Bangalay, like warrigal greens, beach mustard, saltbush, turkey rhubarb, oxalis, seablite and samphire, all found within a kilometre of the restaurant. One of my favourite wild ingredients, rock samphire, I have yet to find here, so I make sure to forage some on my way down from Wollongong.”
Cupitt's Winery, Ulladulla Credit: Destination NSW
Women enjoying food and drink with scenic views across Cupitt's Winery in Ulladulla.
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Cupitt's Winery, Ulladulla Credit: Destination NSW
Women enjoying food and drink with scenic views across Cupitt's Winery in Ulladulla.
Tathra Hotel, Tathra Credit: Destination NSW
Diners enjoying food and drink at Tathra Hotel, Tathra.
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Tathra Hotel, Tathra Credit: Destination NSW
Diners enjoying food and drink at Tathra Hotel, Tathra.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, CorowaCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa.
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Feast on the riches of one of Australia’s most important food bowls on a road trip through the Murray, named after the mighty river that flows through this southwest area of New South Wales. Float down the river on a historic paddlesteamer wine cruise, stop by farm gates to sample incredible fresh produce, and dine at chic restaurants and bars in this unique culinary playground.
Take the back roads for gourmet treats
Head off the beaten path along The Backroads Trail, a 250km driving route that passes through the small pastoral towns of Barham, Moama, Mathoura and Deniliquin on the upper reaches of the Murray River. Sink your teeth into fresh olives, avocados, free-range pork, honey and citrus fruit from farm gates along its loops and trails, and taste the region’s wines at vineyards such as Restdown Wines. While you’re at this winery, venture out along the Restdown Wetland Walk to encounter Aboriginal cooking hearths and an old sheep camp.
Cruise along to The Old School Winery & Meadery in Womboota to pick up wine, pottery and honey mead. Or seek out Ivy Joyce in Barham to indulge in a warm space, offering local produce from farms for a truly paddock to plate experience in the heart of Murray River country. For more snacks and meaty fare such as British-style pork pies and sausages, head to Pacdon Park’s factory shop in Moama.
You can work up an appetite as you build your own itinerary on the theme of food, paddocks and produce, and find suggested routes and maps to Murray River farm gates, at the Echuca Moama Visitor Centre.
Wine and dine along the river
Embark on a wine tour by water in Moama, where the first steamboats made their way up the Murray in 1853. Take a Murray River Paddlesteamers Wharf to Winery Cruise from the town to Morrisons Riverview Winery for a leisurely lunch. Or drive along the river, stopping in at Three Black Sheep for risotto and woodfired pizzas, and tasting crisp dry whites and full-flavoured reds at St Anne’s Vineyards, where you can nibble on a cheese platter overlooking a scenic lake.
Head east along the riverside roads to rest and recharge in the town of Tocumwal, known for its riverside beaches, golf courses, glider flying and iconic Big Murray Cod statue. Start the following day with a solid foundation of breakfast pizza (topped with bacon, eggs and a hash brown) at The Old Bank and indulge in a scoop of ice-cream or sorbet from Tocumwal Ice Creamery – flavours include rocky road, green apple or macadamia. If you’re in town on a Saturday, pick up honey, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, dressings and other condiments made by local producers at the Tocumwal Foreshore Markets.
Continue your odyssey along the river to Corowa, the birthplace of Australian Federation. Immerse in the town’s rich turn-of-the-20th-century colonial heritage as you make your way to the former 1920s flour mill housing Corowa Distilling Co. Here you can book a whisky tasting and behind-the-scenes tour and buy locally made chocolates and sweets from sister shop Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory. Work off an indulgent afternoon with a walk along the river before settling into the stylish Circa 1936 hotel, which is housed in an Art Deco former bank on the main street of Corowa.
Celebrate regional ingredients in Albury
From Corowa, follow the Riverina Highway eastward to the city of Albury, a food, wine and culture hub. Taste how seasonality and locality are expressed at The Proprietor, a former butcher shop turned cafe offering brunch treats such as fruit toast with Beechworth honey and whipped ricotta, and banana waffles with Gundowring vanilla ice-cream. Or try the all-day breakfast offering at Mr Benedict, from cheesy bacon waffle with popcorn chicken to one of its signature eggs benedicts, including one with cider-braised ham hock.
At The River Deck restaurant, local ingredients are celebrated alongside stunning river views, and dishes may include chicken Caesar salad with Milawa eggs or beef brisket braised in coffee by Albury roaster The Brothers Cup. At tiny and elegant Bistro Selle, complement warm Gooramadda olives with a buttery Australian chardonnay and fresh market fish. Yardbird offers a bold-flavoured menu featuring dishes like scorched Albacore tuna, along with meats grilled in a Spanish woodfired oven.
In between meals, stroll along the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk and take in the contemporary artworks by Aboriginal artists that line the Wagirra Trail. Meander through the Murray Art Museum Albury’s contemporary photographic collection, Aboriginal art and works by renowned Australian artist Sir Russell Drysdale. Afterwards, order lunch or dinner at the museum’s excellent Canvas Eatery – try the saltbush lamb rump or one of their Neapolitan-style pizzas.
The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
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The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
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Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.
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Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.