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Your Local Eats & Drinks
YOUR LOCAL EATS & DRINKS YOUR LOCAL Eats & Drinks
BASKING IN EUMUNDI SERENITY
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BY THE time you read this, Eumundi’s new, prestige Bask Restaurant will be full swing into its Christmas season.
The restaurant, which only started 12 weeks ago, is beautifully located in Eumundi’s ornate Old Bakery building, and run by highly experienced partners Jess Coolican and Jack Madden.
The pair have made names for themselves since they first met at Hastings Street’s Bistro C 14 years ago. They have since worked at Noosa’s Sails along with a range of Melbourne eateries and in Europe – even Edinburgh Castle, in Jack’s case.
Jack is the kitchen wonder while Jess, qualified herself in interior design with projects having featured in the likes of Vogue and Belle magazines, is your host.
Originally from the Coast, they now live in Eumundi - their two children attending local schools.
“We came across this space at the end of July and spent a couple of months working on it,” Jess said in November.
“Then we opened the doors to do long lunches – and we have been quite overwhelmed [by the positive response] really.”
It was a tentative move to gauge the market.
“It worked well, we found our routine quietly in the background, then evolved over the past few weeks.
“We actually moved into the hinterland first, drawn by the lifestyle. We were looking for a while, and just loved this town.
“It is really reminiscent of our childhoods up here, with a really beautiful community and a good vibe.”
The Saturday-only long lunches are now being supplemented by Friday wine nights and Thursday seafood menu nights.
“Jack’s seafood is his specialty,” Jess said.
“We will change the menu weekly and it will feature home-made fish and chips, seafood platters and more.”
Importantly, Jess said they wanted to get the menu balanced to appeal to a wide audience, yet bring some of the best foods found on the coastal strip to be available at the right prices in the hinterland, particularly on ‘locals-night’ - Thursday.
“One of the best items on the menu is our octopus,” Jess said.
And vegetarians will not miss out.
“We have a lot of plant-based eaters, so we have delicious options on the menu. That’s been pretty well received.
“We are designing the menu around what we really enjoy.”
That’s got to be a plus. Visit www.baskeumundi.com.au to check out
Jess Coolican and Jack Madden in Bask Eumundi’s foyer with one of their signature dishes: Chargrilled octopus, limoncello, pepper
the menus, make reservations at info@baskeumundi.com.au, or ring the restaurant on 0431 728 190. Bask Restaurant, 4/101 Memoria Drive, Eumundi.
KEEPING THE VILLAGE WELL FED
At Pomona Village Kitchen keeping the village well fed means delicious tasty meals, great coffee, and being licensed, a brew or two with session ales from Eumundi and Terella breweries.
To help parents steal a little extra time for themselves in this busy world, next year on Thursdays we will be doing a community school walk for kids at Pomona State School. For those who Alfrescopre order a home made packed sushi lunch for their kids, this will allow time for mum or dad to get a coffee for themselves before work and let the kids walk to school.
Out the back is the ‘Secret Garden Courtyard’ where you can enjoy private events for birthdays and other occasions.
Make sure you keep your eyes open for rotating menu items, exciting new cocktails and events such as, Slow Food Noosa in February, and ticketed events like South African BBQ night, (date to be set). With a positive village outlook, where all produce is sourced locally, Zenita remarks “we’ve had a really amazing year, and I would like to thank the whole community for supporting us all the way through, and say that I’m so proud of my team”. Pomona Village Kitchen, 2 Memorial Ave, Pomona. Phone 5403 8592 for takeaways and function bookings.
COOROY RSL Meal of the Month
Pop into Cooroy RSL and enjoy their Meal of the Month for December. Thai Beef Salad 200gm Rump thinly sliced, Asian style salad with fried shallots & bean sprouts Cooroy RSL, 25 Maple Street, Cooroy www.cooroyrsl.com.au
PICK YOUR OWN BLUEBERRIES & SUNFLOWERS STARTS MID DECEMBER
COOLOOLA BERRIES,
856 TAGIGAN RD, WOLVI
5486 7512
It’s ‘all aboard’ for local foods
IN THESE COVID-19 influenced times, there has been an even greater community move towards buying local product, and the fewer kilometres the product has travelled to be sold, the better.
Cooroy’s Bus Stop Espresso is taking that sentiment literally, with a range of locally made food and beverages on hand.
The café, which is located in a 1948 single-decker bus relocated from Victoria, started out just offering coffee and tea, with free range eggs and honey made on the owners’ Mary River Road premises.
“We’ve come from being a little coffee bus, to now supplying local fruit and vegetables, as well as our own honey and eggs,” co-owner Rob Noy said.
“We now also supply Ritchie’s and Pomona Bakeries’ salad rolls, Cooroy Pies which is now Noosa Pies made in Coolum, and cold drinks from Wimmers’ factory.
“We have liquid chai from a business in Cudgerie Estate.
“We also supply sourdough bread, crumpets and pizza bases, all made at Jeremiah’s Crust in Carters Ridge – and even our coffee is roasted only 300 metres away at Cooroy Coffee.
“You can’t get fresher than that.”
Rob said the café gets avocados, lemons and limes seasonally from just up the road, and mushrooms from just around the corner.
“And we use Cooloola Milk.”
The business only started last March, Rob said.
“It’s a great thing as it’s what people want. Locals come for local fresh product.
“Since Covid we’re all looking for more local produce from farms; everybody wants that.”
He said his business can’t keep growing, but similar businesses could take it up, too.
“You can only grow to a certain size so it would be nice to see more of these communitybased farming stalls around the region.”
This is something Noosa councillor Tom Wegener has been advocating for in the hinterland.
“Noosa residents seek out locally grown food, knowing it’s organic, healthy and their purchase supports the local community,” Cr Wegener said.
“As the new president of Permaculture Noosa, I hope to strengthen community ties through the growing and sharing of food.” Bus Stop Espresso 201 Mary River Rd, Cooroy.
