You know, being in the travel market in any type of shape or type truly isn’t a great deal of fun at the moment.
Of course, being in Sydney is a much better location to be (for now) than lots of other locations in the world with regards to Covid outbreaks, closed borders, travel bans as well as outright lockdown, however it still sucks.
But this is all evident stuff, isn’t it?
Stuff we’ve all been going with for months now. What has made things much easier is the riches of business that have taken the experiential side of their service as well as put it online.
Apart from being able to travel back to Port Stephens – our house from house – this past week, we’ve been enjoying some on the internet masterclasses… as well as even running a few of our own.
We hope you take pleasure in this most current edition as well as that you’re staying risk-free as well as well.
Cheers – Jim & Christina xx
Because you comply with us on Instagram (you do, right?), you’ll have seen our unboxing of a new masterclass by the fantastic Nip of guts team, who are champions of all things distilled in Australia.
If you missed it, you can still enjoy our IGTV vid here.
The masterclass – celebrating Rye July – featured four of Belgrave Distillery’s rye whiskies crafted by distiller, farmer as well as recycling oddball brilliant Peter Bignell.
Keep an eye open for a lot more interesting on the internet masterclasses from Nip of guts over the next few months. They’re exceptionally well put together, entertaining as well as informative, as well as the spirits they showcase are genuinely superb.
Tonight, I’ve ventured out into the large world for a few beers as well as dinner with a couple of mates. Socially distancing of course!
Our very first stop is to an old much-loved – young Henrys Brewery in Newtown. Their beer is famous as well as their ‘cellar door’ is a great deal of fun, as well as the very best part about the Covid-safe policies (if there is a finest part) is the hand sanitiser right here is made with the botanicals young Henrys utilize in their Noble cut gin!
After a couple of brews, we head to dinner up the road – a Turkish location called Stanbuli. The food right here is great, with tasty dips, flatbreads as well as kebab chicken, gozleme, as well as even a Turkish handle a cheese burger, which isn’t half bad.
We likewise provide the Turkish beer a go here, however it’s not excellent unfortunately. despite a great label as well as charming colour, the Eikkimm IPA doesn’t win me over.
Otherwise, I extremely suggest Stanbuli. excellent service as well as interesting, tasty food.
Today, we’re making the most of still being enabled to travel a bit, Christina as well as I are heading north back to Port Stephens. Christina’s sibling has a bit holiday home there that we’re putting to great use.
We were only there last month, however it’s so quite on the coastline we can’t get enough!
As is tradition, as soon as we arrive, we head to the beach. This is Bagnalls beach in Corlette not far from Nelson Bay. It’s seldom congested – even in the summer. as well as during winter, it’s mainly dog-walkers we see here.
The only ones to keep us business this evening though are a couple of pelicans as well as a bit pod of dolphins. It’s fantastic that somewhere such as this is only two hours from Sydney.
It’s chilly out though, so when we take in the scenery for a while, we hurry back inside as well as get the terminate started.
For a lot more stories on Port Stephens, inspect out our library on this lovely part of new South Wales here.
We’ve likewise written an necessary guide to Port Stephens to show you a few of the very best bits.
Our bit home in Port Stephens is the best area to cosy-up as well as take pleasure in a glass or two of great red wine. as well as while we’re here, we’ve made a decision to do a quick on the internet white wine tasting.
You can checked out the full notes as well as story on these three Aussie beauties here, or inspect out our IGTV video of the tasting here.
It would be disrespectful not to put these exceptional wines to great utilize after our tasting, so Christina has put together one of her legendary platters.
I don’t understand exactly how she makes things that are already tasty sufficient on their own look as well as taste even much better on a flat board!
Check out Christina’s ideas for the best platter here.
This afternoon, we’ve driven out to Newcastle, the nearest huge town/city to Port Stephens. Newcastle is underrated as a destination, a lot more understood for its port as well as coal refining plants.
But there are sensational coastal walks around right here (the excellent North walk really starts (or ends) here) as well as the Mereweather ocean pool is an fascinating historic part of this striking scenery.
The tides are riding high today, as well as after some stressful weather, the pool – in agiddy irony – is somehow as well full of water.
Not that it matters much to us. If you believe I’m even putting a toe in that freezing water, you’ve got some disappointments ahead of you. There are some still ‘enjoying’ a dip today. as well as they’re doing it on purpose, which confounds me.
Instead, we select a warmer, indoor option.
FogHorn Brewhouse on King street was the very first craft brewery for Newcastle. Their beers go directly from the tanks to the taps, as well as their west coastline IPA is a new much-loved of mine.
As for their food, FogHorn’s burgers are ideal up there with the very best of them. Christina’s cheeseburger is tender, juicy as well as packed with flavour.
My Nashville poultry burger – cleaned with butter – is exceptional too, though the pledge of flavor never truly eventuates.
Either way, we waddle out of the FogHorn feeling extremely satisfied.
Today, we’re checking out a part of Port Stephens we’ve never been to before, which is surprising. Christina as well as I have been coming right here considering that about 2005 – even longer for her family.
But the Tilligerry habitat at Lemon Tree passage is wholly new to us.
This beautifully decked pathway leads you with some excellent landscapes, as well as despite its size (it’s only about 22 acres) Tilligerry has whatever from gum forests as well as heath to beaches, mangroves as well as wetlands.
Birdlife right here is the primary focus, with an fantastic variety of types to spot, however there are likewise koalas in the area. Not that we see any!
The boardwalk is beautifully maintained as well as best for less able-bodied people or wheelchair users. We’re still astonished that we haven’t been right here before.
We make our method to the water’s edge as well as when once again marvel at the clearness of the sea here. This is Billys beach (I think) or perhaps trick Beach, however either method it’s beautiful.
After our stroll, we feel the requirement for food, as well as make our method to the Lemon Tree cafe in Lemon Tree passage proper. We were expecting a sandwich or something like that, however instead it seems savoury crepes are the go here.
Christina’s chicken, mushroom as well as cheese crepe is excellent, as is my cheese, poultry as well as avocado one. Delicious!
The owners at the Lemon Tree cafe are clearly animal enthusiasts (check out the pet dog gallery on their Facebook page) as well as make sure there’s plenty to eat for the regional bird population too.
This adorable bit Willie Wagtail is having a sphere in the pot of mealworms that’s right here for him.
From the cafe, there’s a bit walk you can take along the beachside too, that’s well worth it. views out across the water at Bulls Island as well as the rest of the peninsula are stunning.
But unfortunately as well as all as well soon, our time in Port Stephens is pertaining to an end.
Before we head back to the city, we have one a lot more stop to make in the hunter Valley.
You may keep in mind we just recently checked out the Sydney Brewery in Surry Hills – a interesting story of a brewery that truly epitomises the brewing market in the city.
While we were in Surry Hills, we satisfied the head cidermaster of the brewery – Nathan Hervey, who has invited us as well inspect out Sydney Brewery’s ‘HQ’ in Lovedale.
Our very first stop is at the distillery. That’s right, Sydney Brewery is likewise making whisky. It’s not offered yet, however it’s not far off.
Head distiller Aaron is great sufficient to let us try a bit from Barrel 50 as well as I tell you what, if the rest is as great as this cask stamina (around 65%), the world is in for a treat!
As you can see, Sydney Brewery – or must I state Spirit of Sydney – has been making spirits considering that 2013, however they’re still perfecting as well as ageing their whisky.
I’m truly looking ahead to seeing the final product.
From the distillery, which you can really see from the restaurant right here at Lovedale, we head to the brewery, where Nathan shows us where as well as exactly how they make all the beer.
It’s an excellent configuration – maybe the most excellent craft brewery I’ve seen.
And finally, Nathan takes us to his corner of the world, his nirvana, his home.
This cluster of five steel tanks is where Sydney Brewery’s cider gets going.
Nathan taps a bit of the fresh apple juice for us to taste as well as it describes a great deal of why his ciders are so good.
But Nathan is genuinely a master of his trade as well as shows it with the exceptional flavours as well as blends he has created. even if you’re not much of a cider drinker, you’ll like what he’s making.
From the standard cider – aka Sydney Cider – that’s clean, dry as well as balanced to the Oaked organic Cider that’s complex, floral as well as moreish, as well as the intelligent, dry as well as well-balanced Manly Perry, which is made of 100% pear juice, there’s a drink right here for you.
Alternatively, Nathanhas likewise produced a set of other flavours that compliment as well as trip the apple as well as pear bases he makes. The Agave Ginger Cider is a unusual concoction indeed, however not as wonderful as it sounds. It’s subtle, refreshing as well as beautifully balanced.
Nathan’s mango as well as pineapple ciders are likewise ones to look out for, as well as the limited-edition partnership with Oscar.697 bianco vermouth creates a cider that’s rather exceptional.
Gone are the days of sneaky underage ciders in the park that leave you feeling sugared out as well as rotten. These are true craft entities to be savoured, treasured as well as enjoyed.
We leave you this week with a photo that brings me excellent joy. I hope you’ll indulge me for a moment.
I’ve just recently stocked up my stock – with Christina’s blessing – with some exceptional cigars.
The new additions are some Partagas D4s (top right), Partagas Mille Fleurs (bottom right), Montecristo Edmundo Minis (bottom left) as well as Vagueros Mañanitas, which I’ve never had before however am extremely pleased with.
You can likewise see the remnants of the old guard in the centre – two Montecristo No4s as well as a Tubos, which featured in my recent story about cigar labels as well as their history, as well as under them is a Montecristo double Edmundo.
The two monsters on the ideal are Partagas Lusitanias – one of the longest vitolas at over 19cm as well as genuinely exceptional cigars…
To paraphrase the immortal words of Roy Schneider – we’re gonna requirement a bigger box.