Briar's Travel Beat

Learn healthy cooking at Sprout

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Briar's Travel Beat

Welcome cheese platter at Sprout Cooking

It starts with a cheese so blooming beautiful it’s almost too good to eat. Encrusted in finely chopped herbs and adorned with delicate pastel petals it awaits on a platter at Sprout Cooking, Adelaide Central Market, in South Australia.

Sprout is the ‘baby’ of a partnership between two personable young lads; MasterChef’s Callum Hann and dietitian Themis Chryssidis.

The pair met three years ago when Callum was teaching university students how to cook. The business evolved out of their different, but similar passions.

“We came at the business from different angles,” explains Callum.

Themis Chryssidis and Callum Hann

Themis, a practising dietitian and personal trainer, wished he could show clients how easy it can be to prepare the healthy meals he advocated. Callum loved to cook, and eat, simple-to-prepare dishes that just happened to be healthy.

So Sprout Cooking was born, with the aim of teaching people how easy it is to prepare delicious, healthy meals at home while motivating them to take control of their health. As well as the signature ‘quick, easy and healthy’ class, there are sessions on vegetarian cooking, cooking on a budget, gluten free and calorie-friendly classes.

I’m lucky enough to visit the school as part of an AAT Kings short break, called South Australian Harvest. (See more below.)

Sprout Cooking Kitchen

We meet the boys in their light and airy training kitchen above the market, where brightly coloured aprons and utensils beckon from benches along with tantalising fresh ingredients.

“Cheese is high on my priorities,” says Callum as we tuck into the pretty Woodside Monet goat’s cheese around the communal table before we head down to the market to meet some of the suppliers.

There’re more delicious cheeses to sample at the Smelly Cheese Shop, artisan breads at Wild Loaf, Kangaroo Island honey at the House of Health and aromatic cured meats at Lucia’s Charcuterie, not to mention chocolate from the fountain at Providore.

Callum offers cooking tips

Back in the kitchen we watch as Themis and Callum show us how to prepare the first of three courses, before we divide into small groups to reproduce it ourselves. As we finely slice red chillies and grate carrot for a pork and green apple salad the boys wander around dispensing amiable advice on chopping techniques and cooking methods.

As we sit down to eat each course with matching O’Leary Walker wines, the boys rush around doing our dishes and preparing the next round of ingredients.

We conjure up Cajun salmon with dill yoghurt and a peach salad without any trouble, but crumble when it comes to plating up the deconstructed cheese cake, resulting in some unappealing artistic creations. But it’s hilarious fun and tastes good all the same.

The nutritional meals are easy to recreate at home, as Cullum suggests alternative ingredients if there’s something you don’t have in the pantry (eg lime juice instead of rice wine vinegar).

Pork and apple salad

Enthused, I whipped up both mains at home with ease (well, after I buy myself a julienne grater) and introduced the family to fried shallots and smoked almonds, two ingredients I haven’t used before.

And that says a lot, as although I’ve been privileged to attend several cooking classes around the world, this is the first time I’ve reproduced the dishes so quickly and easily at home.

Well done lads!

More: Callum was runner up in the 2010 series of MasterChef and winner of the 2012 MasterChef All Stars, securing $20,000 for the Cancer Council. He has since published two cook books. Themis is an accredited dietitian and personal trainer working in private practice, corporate health and sports nutrition. www.sproutcooking.com.au

Adelaide Central Market www.adelaidecentralmarket.com.au

I travelled to South Australia as a guest of AAT Kings on their South Australian Harvest Short Break coach tour, which focuses on regional produce, interesting characters, and gorgeous landscapes. You can read more about the trip in this article in Escape.

Posted in Cooking School, Food & Wine, South Australia, Travel | Tagged Adelaide Central Market, cooking school, food, healthy cooking | Leave a comment

Pelican capers on Kangaroo Island

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Briar's Travel Beat

John Ayliffe prepares to feed the pelicans.

“I feel like a first-rate idiot with a seagull on my head,” says John Ayliffe as he stands on the waterfront at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island surrounded by a shivering squadron of pelicans. Dressed in khaki waders, industrial rubber gloves, a well-worn hat, and yes, a live seagull atop his hat like a wind-vane ornament, he looks every bit the character he is. Every day at 5pm he feeds the Australian pelicans for the benefit of tourists who come to Kangaroo Island, off the South Australian coast. Some visitors have come to see fairy penguins, or little penguins to use their proper name. But despite the sign on a nearby building declaring it the Penguin Centre, there are no more penguins here, says John, “The fur seals have eaten them all.” But more on that later.

Despite the lack of penguins, most visitors stay to watch the pelican feeding, which turns out to be a show in its own right. John, who has been feeding the pelicans for 20 years, is a bit of a comedian, and his droll humour has us in stitches. He’d be right at home on the TV series Grumpy Old Men.

Feeding the gulls.

We learn that pelicans don’t mate for life, in fact, the females are “fairly sporting”, and the shivering wings are not because they are “pleased to see you”, but to keep themselves warm as they have very little oil on their feathers. John feeds the seagulls first, by throwing fish into the air so we can watch their precision flying – and so they don’t get swallowed by a pelican, which has been known to happen. While a pelican’s pouch is extremely sensitive, their beaks are very strong, hence the waders and gloves. “Only an idiot would wear a kilt,” quips John.

Impatient pelicans.

A pelican pouch can hold a considerable amount and other pelicans will rob their mates if they think they have more than their fair share. They can’t dive to catch food, so when John throws the last of his fish in the water there’s lots of frantic bum-in-the-air bobbing and scooping.

Apparently, feeding pelicans is illegal and John tells me after the show he has been arrested twice. But he’s determined to keep feeding them to keep the tourists coming to Kangaroo Island. As pelicans hang-glide on the thermals above us John explains he was a “peasant farmer” running 9500 head of sheep, until he had to shoot 2500 during the drought.

Sea lions on Kangaroo Island.

Now he is concerned about the fishing industry, as he claims the local population of New Zealand fur seals, which is growing about 10% a year, has not only decimated the island’s little penguin population, but is now depleting the squid and cuttlefish (and they’ve been known to eat the odd pelican). He also believes they are displacing the sea lions, which he thinks authorities should drench for rampant hook worms. (Yes, John has strong opinions on a number of issues, but is a passionate advocate of Kangaroo Island.)

John's dog Roy waits patiently for a pat.

John’s dog Roy enjoys a pat from visitors.

Details: Pelican feeding takes place every day at 5pm on the northern side of Kingscote wharf. A donation is requested to cover the cost of fish: $5 for adults and $3 for kids. John lets you know during the show if you don’t make a donation he thinks you are “mean, miserable and shabby” and you make him irritable. Now I wouldn’t like to see that! But seriously, $5 is a bargain for this hilariously entertaining show.

I travelled to Kangaroo Island thanks to AAT Kings, on their South Australian Harvest Short Break, which focuses on regional produce, local characters and stunning landscapes. You can read more about the trip in this article in Escape.

Posted in Animals, Australia, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, Travel | Tagged family fun, Kangaroo Island, Kingscote, local characters, Local events, pelican feeding, pelicans, South Australia | 6 Comments

Bangkok back in business

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Briar's Travel Beat

Patriotic T-shirts

According to this report from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, as of the 3^rd March the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) has scaled back their protests in Bangkok, dismantling the temporary rally camps at major intersections in the city.

This is good news for Thai businesses and tourism in particular.

I passed through Bangkok in early February en route to Koh Yao Yai Village and Elephant Hills Truck Safari (you can ready my upcoming travel stories in Escape soon).

Protesters camping out in Pathumwan

At the time the PDRC, who are protesting about what they claim is a corrupt government led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, had set up protest camps at four major intersections in Bangkok – Ratchaprasong, Pathumwan, Silom and Asoke. While the protesters were peaceful and did not block access to the surrounding shops or hotels, traffic was adversely affected.

Hotels in particular were suffering from a lack of tourists. I stayed at the VIE Hotel in Ratchathewi and the Siam Kempinski Hotel in Pathumwan and both said occupancy rates were significantly lower than usual.

Patriotic merchandise for sale

I visited (cautiously) the Pathumwan protest site, well known for the MBK shopping mall. While it was a bit awkward to get into the mall at street level, I certainly didn’t feel threatened by the protesters in any way. In fact, quite the opposite. As an obvious visitor, they ensured I had easy access through the area, which looked very much like a street market, except for the tents and media presence.

Thousands of protesters from outside the central city had set up small dome tents down the middle of the road and on the traffic islands. Ablutions trucks parked nearby provided toilets and showers and a first aid tent was stocked with wheelchairs and triage beds.

Protesters sweeping the street

A large stage and video screen was set up under the Skytrain overpass and when they weren’t hosting rally speakers, they showcased rock bands, giving the place a party-like atmosphere.

In the early morning women crouched outside their tents applying their makeup. Everyone helped sweep the streets of rubbish from the night before. Stalls were laid out on the pavement selling food and protest merchandise.

Protesters make merchandise to sell

I was amazed at how much merchandise was available, all sporting the colours of the Thai flag, red while and blue. There were whistles, headbands, phone covers and T-shirts. Enterprising families sat on the street weaving bracelets and baskets.

The protests were predominantly confined to Bangkok and I certainly didn’t see any evidence of them on my travels elsewhere in Thailand.

However, things changed significantly in Bangkok after I left, with violence breaking out in some areas, inflicting a number of casualties. Fellow travel writer Christine Retschlag (aka The Global Goddess) was there at the time and you can read her blog here.

As she quotes from one ex-pat, the protests have had a significant effect on the livelihoods of locals, many of whom rely on the income from tourists, either directly or indirectly.

School girls in Koh Yao Yai

So it is great news for locals and tourists alike that the protests have been scaled back in Bangkok.

As Mr Thawatchai Arunyik, the governor of TAT said, “At last, the heart of Bangkok can get back to normal. This scaling down of the protests means that international visitors as well as local residents can quickly and conveniently get around the city’s key shopping, business and entertainment districts as usual.”

Thailand needs our support, so if you’re thinking of a holiday in the ‘land of smiles’, consider doing it sooner rather than later. I know the Thai people will be grateful. And there are bargains to be found, with many hotels and resorts currently offering specials to entice visitors back.

For more information please go to www.tourismthailand.org

I travelled to Thailand as a guest of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Posted in Thailand, Travel, Travel News & Events | Tagged Bangkok, land of smiles, travel, unrest | 2 Comments

Cruise packing tips – five items that make life on-board more comfortable

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Briar's Travel Beat

I recently travelled aboard Princess Cruises’ Sea Princess on a six-night round-trip from Sydney to Tasmania. (You can read my story on the cruise at Escape.) This was my first ‘big ship’ cruise, though at 2000 passengers, it’s smallish, as far as big ships go.

When it came to packing, I wondered if there were any special cruise-specific items I should take, apart from the usual travel clothes, accessories, toiletries and medications. Turns out there are a few things that make life on-board a little easier or more comfortable. I’ve combined these with some clothing items you might not think to pack, but are a godsend in certain conditions.

1. A slim-line card holder – if you don’t fancy wearing your cruise card on a lanyard around your neck (like you are part of a tour group or a conference attendee). A small card holder that slips into your pocket is an ideal way of securing your cruise card (used instead of cash to charge all expenses to your account) and the mini map you’ll need to find your way around for the first couple of days.

Alternatively, a small clutch or shoulder bag, if you want to carry your phone, lip gloss and glasses along with your cruise card. A tiny slimline shoulder bag with a strap long enough to be worn across the body leaves your hands free and a small clutch works well with evening attire.

2. A power board – as there are a limited number of power points per cabin it’s a good idea to take a power board, especially if you have multiple cameras, phones, tablets or laptops to charge. Check out my previous blog post for my favourite little travelling power board from Jackson, which includes two sockets and two USB outlets and comes in its own pouch.

3. A light-weight cardigan or pashmina – although the on-board temperature is regulated, it can get a little cool in the restaurants, especially if you are seated directly under an air conditioning vent. So take a shawl, wrap or lightweight cardigan to go over your evening clothes, especially if you are bearing your shoulders. A wrap or pashmina can also double as a lightweight blanket on deck if necessary. (Thanks to my friend and cruising guru Louise Goldsbury for this tip. Check out her riveting ‘behind the scenes’ blog The Cruisey Life: Uncensored.)

I’m currently loving my Threadz Handbag Cardigan, which is feather-light and scrunches into a tiny ball. Twist it around itself and use it as a neck scarf or tie to your handbag. Currently available online from Australian retailer Sorbet. Available in black, white and a variety of citrus brights.

4. A warm jacket – regardless of the weather or time of year. Even in summer a warm jacket or windbreaker is essential for those times you want to be on deck in the early morning or late evening, such as arriving or departing from ports – or just sitting and watching the majesty of the sea in wild weather.

5. A lightweight raincoat – for those unexpected showers on shore excursions. Find one that fits easily into your handbag or day pack and always carry it with you. You’ll be the envy of fellow travellers as they queue to buy neon plastic ponchos while you are enjoying the scenery.

Do you have any favourite items you pack for a cruise?

Happy Sailing.

Posted in Australia, Cruising, Packing Tips, Travel | Tagged clothing, cruising, fashion, packing, packing tips, travel accessories, Travel gadgets | 8 Comments

Gift an experience: 10 Sydney experiences to inspire, excite and thrill

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Briar's Travel Beat

Can’t think of a gift for that special someone? Then give them an experience they will remember long after the Christmas tree has dropped its needles.

Here are ten Sydney experiences for the grandkids to the grandparents, the adventure-lovers to the romantics.

Sydney Harbour is the sparkling heart of the city and there are many ways to explore it.

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

Nothing beats a view of the city from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, except the feeling of elation at having climbed to the top. Learn the history of the meccano-like maze that is the structure itself, as you climb. For ages 10 to 100. We loved our Bridge Climb a few years ago. Just wait until after the festive hangover, as climbers are breath-tested. www.bridgeclimb.com

Romantic sailing getaway

Give the gift of romance – or at least a night without the kids – with this luxe overnight sailing experience. Enjoy a two hour sail before the skipper anchors the yacht in a secluded bay, leaving guests to enjoy a delicious gourmet meal as the sun sets. Go to sleep (or perhaps not) to the sound of water lapping against the hull. Just make sure you are up and dressed before the skipper arrives next morning. My tip – upgrade so you get a longer sleep-in. www.sydneybysail.com.au

Sail into history

Know a nautical nut or history enthusiast? Give them a day aboard one of the ships in the Sydney Heritage Fleet, like the historic 19^th-century barque James Craig, rescued from rusting ruin with a loving 30-year restoration. Hoist the sails with the volunteer crew or just sit back and relax, like I did. www.shf.org.au

Alternatively, the Southern Swan, a barquentine built in 1922, and Sydney’s only authentic timber tall ship, offers the chance to climb the ratlines to the futtock on the mizzen – how’s that for nautical terminology? Read my post Buttocks on the futtocks to learn more. www.sydneytallships.com.au

Jet-boating jaunt

Here’s one for adrenalin lovers – or payback for boisterous teenagers. A jet boat ride on the harbour. Bounce over wakes, flick fishtails, spin wildly and screech to a halt, all while getting drenched. What’s not to love? And there is some sightseeing thrown in too. www.ozjetboating.com, www.harbourjet.com, www.sydneyjet.com.

Spice up the life of weary commuters with these fun rides.

Segway sashay

It’s not quite the Jetson’s jet pack I’d dreamed of as a kid, but a Segway feels a bit other-worldly to ride. It only takes minutes to learn, and is thrilling and addictive. We did our first family ride years ago and eagerly returned for the cross-country adventure around Newington Armory at Sydney Olympic Park. www.segwaytours.com.au.

Ballooning in the mist

Gift this to sleepyheads and watch them crawl out of bed before dawn. Rise up through the mist as the sun peeks over the horizon, while below the Hawkesbury River carves a snaking path through patchworked farmland. Post flight champagne and breakfast at Sebel Resort and Spa tops off a great morning. Check out the post on my flight. www.cloud9balloons.com.au.

Architectural amble

Lovers of architecture will enjoy an amble with Sydney Architectural Walks. Engaging commentary form the savvy guides, architects themselves, reveals a rarely-heard urban narrative about Sydney’s development. Choose from two-hour walks to a five-hour cycle. www.sydneyarchitecture.org

Here are three more ideas that suit the whole family.

Wet n Wild

Douse loved ones with copious amounts of water on a stifling Sydney summer’s day. Throw in some hair-raising, scream-inducing slides and a water wonderland for toddlers and you’ve got hours of fun for the whole family. Opening December 12. Better throw in a bottle of sunscreen too. www.wetnwildsydney.com.au

Talk to the animals

Animals are a perennial favourite and Sydney is blessed with a variety of parks, from the Koala Park in West Pennant Hills to the award-winning Featherdale Wildlife Park at Doonside. And at Taronga Zoo you can even sleepover with the animals on their Roar & Snore adventure . www.featherdale.com.au, www.taronga.org.au, www.koalapark.com.au,

Cultural enlightenment

Give the gift of culture with theatre tickets. There are so many shows in Sydney it’s hard to choose, but Disney’s musical The Lion King will suit the whole family. We saw when the kids were little, but my now teenage son has asked to go again. So guess what’s going in his stocking – but please don’t tell him. At the Capitol Theatre. www.disney.com.au

Happy gift-giving!

Posted in Adventure, Animals, Australia, Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Segway, Sydney, Travel, Travel Accessories & Gadgets | Tagged animal parks, family fun, Hawkesbury, jet boating, sailing, Segway, sydney, travel | Leave a comment

Five (more) inexpensive travel gifts

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Briar's Travel Beat

Sometimes it’s the little things that can make our lives easier, especially when on the road travelling, so here are a few more ideas for inexpensive travel items that make great gifts. (You can see my first five ideas here Five travel gifts for under A$40.)

Running low on battery power seems to be an ongoing problem, especially with mobile phones. My phone doesn’t seem to last a day in the city. And when I’m travelling I quickly run out of power if I’m shooting lots of photos and videos. So the first two items on this list are portable power packs.

Slim Case Battery Charger

While increasing the size of your phone a little, this protective case with built-in battery is the lightest and least bulky way to charge you phone on the go. It’s easy to clip on and off, so I slip my phone into it when I know I’m going to be out and about. When my phone battery starts to get low, I switch on the case, which effectively doubles my battery power. I bought my iPhone case in a specialty phone shop, but you can buy online at Mobile-Mate here in Australia. Their’s is even better as it has a built-in stand.

Portable USB Charger

Sometimes you need to charge other USB devices on the go, such as a tablet, portable keyboard or Kindle, so I also carry a Sony stick charger. Specifications say it provides about 6 hours of charge.

Charging Cables

Forgotten cables, lost cables and tangled cords? – Here are three solutions.

Coloured charging cables

With a household full of devices charged by white USB cables, we’ve had some ‘issues’ about whose cable is whose, as happened after a recent family holiday when I ended up without any. Prevent these ugly scenes by buying each member of the family their own coloured cables. I bought my bright pink one overseas, but Sockitz has eight colours to choose from.

Retractable charging cables

Sick of getting all the different charging cords tangled when travelling? Then you need some retractable cords. They are so compact and you’ll never have tangled cords again. You can even get retractable headphone cords too. I bought most of mine in Japan in a 1000 yen shop (one dollar shop,) but I’ve seen them in pop-up stalls in shopping centres and you can buy them online from about $1.60 upwards. Search for ‘retractable charging cables’.

3-in-1 Retractable charging cable

Going one step further you can get one cable with three different connections – a 30-pin, a mini USB and micro USB. Very handy if you are out for the day and want to charge different devices, though I’ve yet to find one with a lightening connection.

Micro Stand for smartphones

This lightweight little gadget from Joby is perfect as a reading stand for your phone when you want your hands free, such as when you’re eating lunch (assuming your phone will go into landscape mode, which mine is currently being temperamental about). Then use it as a tripod for taking photos, especially time-lapse images or videos you want to be in yourself. It’s quick and easy to use and folds down neatly to fit in your pocket or purse. Joby Grip Tight Micro Stand.

Zip pouch

Keep your portable charger, retractable cords and micro stand in a small pouch and they won’t get lost in your handbag or backpack. I bought the neoprene zippered pouch in Japan too, but I found the Trash Talk one in Officeworks – they have a great selection of pencil cases or pouches to choose from.

Have you got any great travel gadgets you’d like to share?

Posted in Travel, Travel Accessories & Gadgets | Tagged Phone accessories, travel, Travel gadgets | Leave a comment

Five travel gifts for under A$40

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Briar's Travel Beat

Here are five gifts for the travellers in your life – from the corporate traveller to the happy camper. Or indulge yourself and make your travelling life a little easier!

Portable power board (power strip)

Laptops, mobile phones, tablets, Kindles and cameras – whether travelling for business or pleasure, we all seem to travel with multiple power-hungry devices. Yet often there is only one power point in our accommodation – and sometimes that’s only after unplugging the bedside lamp or bar fridge.

Jackson portable powerboard

That’s why this portable power board from Jackson has become a permanent part of my travel kit. Designed with travel in mind, the 90cm cord wraps neatly around the board and is secured with a toggle, while the plug fits into one of the sockets. With two sockets and two USB outlets it multiples your charging ability by four (or more if you combine it with the plug mentioned below).

Best of all, it fits neatly into its own travel pouch (with room for the below-mentioned multiple USB hub, universal travel adapter and sundry USB cords).

I bought mine from tech2go, a great little shop at Gold Coast airport (connected to the Smiggle store). Jackson doesn’t sell directly online, but they link to retail and online outlets like Global Travel Products. Just look for the pack with the bonus travel pouch.

Multible USB power plug

4 x USB plug

With multiple devices charged by USB (I currently travel with five) even the Jackson portable power board isn’t enough. That’s why I’m also in love with my 4 x USB plug.

I bought mine at a popup outlet with the Australian/New Zealand plug attached, but you can buy one from KORJO with interchangeable worldwide fittings.

Good Night sleep mask

Good Night Sleep Mask

I hardly ever sleep soundly on flights (unless I’ve scored and upgrade to a business class flatbed or win the economy lottery of no adjacent passengers and can stretch out across several seats). I’ve tried using eye masks before, but have always found them too uncomfortable.

That was until a friend gave me the Good Night Sleep Mask, by Magellan’s. The contoured shape is designed to block out even the slightest hint of light and, most importantly, allow Rapid Eye Movement (REM), the most crucial part of the sleep cycle.

The elastic strap adjusts easily with Velcro for a comfortable fit and the padded fabric is so soft on the skin you hardly know you’re wearing it – and you don’t wake up with ‘mask face’. The first time I used this mask I had the longest sleep I’ve ever had while sitting upright. I even slept through the meal service! Buy online at Magellan’s.

Water bottle holder

Hipsta

Sick of my water bottle falling out of the net pockets on the outside of my backpack, I’m enamoured by this little Australian designed gadget. Called the Hipsta, it slips easily onto your waistband, handbag, backpack or airline seat pocket and firmly grips your water bottle around the neck. Just squeeze the silicon-coated thumb ends to quickly release or insert the bottle.

The Hipsta comes in a variety of fun colours

It comes in a range of cool colours and is extremely lightweight, which is a bonus when travelling. But you can use anywhere – slipped over seat pockets in the car, over lifelines on a yacht or attached to a pushchair. Look out for the funky hipsta stands at an event near you or buy online.

Touch lamps

Alfresco Touch Lamps

These battery-operated lamps add stylish sophistication to any campsite, caravan or boat (or even the backyard). Their curvaceous outline and durable silver-satin finish will be the envy of your travelling companions. Their wide base means they are very stable and the mushroom design directs the light downwards rather than into your eyes – perfect for lighting canapés on the beach, dinner on the folding table or as a nightlight in the tent. They have three light settings, which are cycled through by touching the top of the lamp. Powered by three AA batteries, which are included, they come in a twin pack from Bunnings.

Twin pack alfresco touch lamps

I can’t find these lamps online, so here is a picture of what to look for in the lighting section of your local Bunnings.

For more gift ideas for boaties, see the December issue of Cruising Helmsman magazine.

I’d love to hear what your favourite travelling accessories are. Just let me know via the comments below.

Posted in Travel, Travel Accessories & Gadgets | Tagged boating, camping, caravans, travel accessories, Travel gadgets | 6 Comments

Sydney’s top pub grub

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Briar's Travel Beat

Good Food Pub Guide 2014

More than 100 reviewers ‘risked life and limb’ to visit over 500 pubs in New South Wales, says Keith Austin, editor of The Sydney Morning Herald Good Pub Food Guide, which was launched in Sydney last night. But only about 400 reviews made it into the 2014 edition.

So why don’t all the pubs make the guide? Well, the standards are high, and food poisoning isn’t one of them (yes, a couple of years ago a reviewer fell ill on assignment).

Pubs are assessed and scored out of 20 for food, service, ambience, and the magic ‘feel good’ factor. So if they make it into the guide they’re definitely a winner. Unfortunately, some pubs just miss out by a whisker (or should that be ‘serviette’), but others don’t deserve to be there, like the one that dished up this special.

“Burns victims’ carrots teamed with a salad left dressed in the bowl so long the cherry toms had emulated ebola victims does indeed make for a special, but not in a good way.”

Another problem faced by contributors is the 100-word review limit. As Keith says, “Once you’ve covered the food, the service and the ambience, there’s not much room left to describe that stuffed moose head or the amazing loos…”

But décor can play an important role in the pub experience, as this reviewer found.

“Facing off with a zebra, oryx, kudu or deer? Either you’ve had too many beers at the zoo, or you’re at the Bella Vista Hotel, where majestic animal heads, mounted between curtain-draped booths, lord over this swanky new hotel. The mixologist (aka stylist) has taken a nip of Out of Africa, a dash of Arabian Nights and a slug of Christian Lacroix for a décor cocktail that combines exotic animal skins, Gothic chandeliers, wing-backed chairs, dripping candles, tree-trunk tabletops, smoochy banquettes and funky under-bar lighting. Pretty damn cool for what was once a tile showroom.”

Good Food Pub Guide editor Keith Austin

It is the Good Pub Food Guide, not the ‘Good Pub Décor Guide‘, but even so, there’s very little room for reviewers to indulge in evocative food imagery, which is a pity, because I like the sound of the charcoal-scorched focaccia at The London Hotel in Balmain, which the reviewer described as, “So delicious you just want to smear yourself with fantastic smoky baba ghanoush and hand a wand of fluffy bread to your partner and have a great romp.”

You can read more tantalising tidbits in Keith’s article in The Sydney Morning Herald and find out the winners of the Pub Food Guide 2014 Awards here.

But most importantly, grab yourself a copy of the Good Pub Food Guide and get down to your local for some top nosh.

The Good Pub Food Guide will be available for $5 with The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday, November 23 (from participating newsagents). It will also be available in bookshops and online at smhshop.com.au for $9.99 from today.

Disclaimer: The writer may or may not be an occasional contributor to the Good Pub Food Guide.

Posted in Australia, Food & Wine, New South Wales, Travel | Tagged Dining, Food and Wine, Hotel food, Pub food, Pubs, sydney | Leave a comment

Enhance your travels with a good book

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Briar's Travel Beat

A good book, or books, can really enhance your travels. I’m not talking guide books, but any book with a strong sense of place; fiction, non-fiction, historical fiction.

On my last trip to Germany I was on the trail of the Brothers Grimm for a story on the 200th anniversary of the publication of their Children’s and Household Tales.

The Wild girl

When I mentioned to a friend I was heading on the Fairy Tale Route, she recommended a recently published book by Australian author Kate Forsyth. The Wild Girl is an historical novel about the heart-wrenching love story between Wilhelm Grimm and his later wife Dorchen Wild, who contributed many stories included in Grimm’s anthology.

I watched some online interviews with Forsyth talking about her painstaking research and was immediately hooked. I bought the eBook before I left for Germany.

Set during the Napoleonic wars the intriguing story draws much form its locale in Hesse-Cassel, where life was tough for both the Grimm and Wild families.

While the story may be fictional, the characters are real, and the locations, timelines, cultural and social attitudes are historically accurate.

Suddenly I couldn’t wait to see the street corners, half-timbered houses and elegant palaces Forsyth describes in the novel, many of which have survived the ravages of time and war.

While in Germany visiting the towns where the Grimms lived and worked, I was able to imagine them in the social context of the Grimm’s time, thanks to the vivid imagery in the book. It gave my trip so much more depth and enjoyment (as well as being a great read!).

What books have you read that have enhanced the enjoyment of your travels?

Visit Kate Forsyth’s website

The Wild Girl, by Kate Forsyth is available from Random House

Read my post about Grymm, a modern day fairy tale inspired by the Brothers Grimm.

For the German Fairy Tale Route visit www.deutsche-maerchenstrasse.de and for the Grimm’s Anniversary visit www.grimm2013.nordhessen.de/en/index

Posted in Books, Germany, Travel | Tagged Fairy tale route, Grimm Brothers, travel | 2 Comments

Grimm, Grim or Grymm? A modern day fairy tale

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Briar's Travel Beat

Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm

Did you know when the first English translation of Grimm’s fairy tales appeared in 1823 many people thought they were ‘grim’ fairy tales? Which is not too far from the truth, as many of the stories in the first edition of Children’s and Household Tales, published by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm in Germany in 1812, were quite gruesome.

In the early tales it was evil, jealous mothers that wanted their daughters dead (think Snow White and Hansel and Gretel). It was only in later editions these women morphed into wicked step-mothers, presumably so children weren’t scared to death of their own mothers.

In The Frog Prince, the ungrateful young princess hurled the frog against a wall (not kissed him) and in Cinderella, the wicked step-sisters chopped off bits of their own feet so as to fit the slipper.

GRYMM where your worst nightmares come true

It was these gruesome overtones that appealed to Australian author Keith Austin and inspired his young adult novel Grymm – where your worst nightmares come true…

But it wasn’t Austin’s childhood memories of Grimm’s tales that inspired him.

“I don’t remember reading them, to be honest, at least not the originals,” he says. “But I think they have an influence on everyone, whether we know it or not – certainly the Disney-fied versions anyway.”

It was buying an original version of Grimm’s tales that ignited Austin’s passion for the grotesque.

“I had taken 3 months leave without pay to write a book, wrote 20,000 words in the first month and realised it was rubbish. I threw them away, got drunk, bought the Grimm collection and, bang, Grymm popped in to my head.”

Keith Austin

“It was the first time I had read the originals, and I was blown away – and mightily impressed – by the viciousness in them. I thought, wow, these are NASTY!”

“I was a little dispirited by the insipid nature of much of the Young Adult literature around at the time, so decided to try to write a modern fairytale that was just as bizarre, twisted and venomous.”

“My son was 13 at the time so I started writing it for him. He’s 23 now so you can see how long this journey’s been!”

Having recently re-read many of Grimm’s tales for a trip to Germany following in the Grimm Brothers’ footsteps, I decided to read Austin’s novel. And it was a page-turner, albeit a gruesome one.

Admittedly, I nearly put it down when one of the young heroes finds maggots in his milkshake (well, I’m not the target market by a long shot), but I was intrigued to know how the story would pan out… and wasn’t disappointed.

(Though I did have a bizarre dream afterwards involving human flesh.)

Buy Grymm, published by Random House here.

Read the Grymm blog here and watch out for Austin’s next YA novel Snow, White, due out in 2014.