Cronulla plugs into the Sounds of the Suburbs

Sounds of the Suburbs returns to Cronulla for the third year in a row.                    Image: Jack Bennett Photography.

With the third annual Sounds of the Suburbs slated for September, Cronulla is well and truly plugged into the Gen Z zeitgeist for the jam-packed festival with the "warm and scuzzy vibes". 

Forget, for a moment, any visual clichés you have in mind about Cronulla.  Next, turn your back to the beach, don a colourful wristband and floppy hat and join the invading hordes at Sounds of the Suburbs, where it will be wiggle-room only in Wilbar Lane on September 27.

Sound of the Suburbs is the little laneway festival that dared to dream big.          Image: Jack Bennett Photography.

Everyone is welcome at the little laneway festival says Aaron Girgis, one of the co-founders of the music festival that showcases a growing alternative scene that has been bubbling up in Cronulla over the past decade or so.

Sounds of the Suburbs keeps the warm and scuzzy vibes alive.              Image: Jack Bennett Photography

"It's everyone's dream to start a big laneway festival isn't it? Three years ago, we were like, 'Let's do this' and we're so lucky that Sutherland Shire Council have been so super supportive and been behind the festival from day one. The community has also embraced us from the start," says Girgis.

'This is our opportunity to show the people of Sydney that there is another scene and another world that exists out here in the Sutherland Shire," he says.

Sounds of the Suburbs is one of the more intimate events on the festival circuit.                 Image: Jack Bennett Photography

Girgis and local street artist Jack Irvine are also behind Space 44, an independent gallery and creative hub that is now regarded as the community's space as much as it is their own. The pair have also teamed up with Geoff Trio and Jad Nahkle, co-owners of The Brass Monkey Cronulla and El Sol Mexican Cantina, who have been involved in the evolution of the local music scene for a decade.

A snapshot of Sounds of the Suburbs 2015.                                                   Image: Jack Bennett Photography 

It was after fielding feedback from the locals who attend their monthly exhibitions that the duo decided to stage an event that celebrates local musicians as well as international acts that will perform exclusively at the music festival.

Space 44 is on song with Cronulla's Sounds of the Suburbs festival in September.  Image: Jack Bennett Photography.

"People are starting to sit up and take notice of Cronulla. We knew after starting Space 44 that there were hundreds of people into art and boutique music and an alternative scene and we're so proud to bring some of these bands here for a big celebration," he says.

Sounds of the Suburbs is where art, music and fashion collide.                Image: Jack Bennett Photography.

At larger music festivals, 800 people might be queued to use the Portaloos. By comparison, with its at-capacity crowd of 800, Sound of the Suburbs feels more like a wild house party.

Sounds of the Suburbs is attracting party heads from all around the country.                       Photo: Jack Bennett Photography.

It's a formula the tightknit coterie of artists seem to appreciate with acts such as Brisbane indie duo Holy Holy sharing the stage with international acts such as The Garden, White Fang and The Memories presented by cult record label Burger Records and travelling all the way from Orange County in LA.

Celebrate the sunshine at Cronulla's Sounds of the Suburbs 2015.          Image: Jack Bennett Photography

With just three stages and 21 bands, the fact that the intimate festival is a nod to the Sound of the Suburbs song released by The Members in 1979 is reason enough to support Sounds of the Suburbs. "Sounds of the Suburbs has all the warm and scuzzy vibes to mark the perfect start to Australia's festival season," says Girgis.

Locals love the laidback beach vibe at Sounds of the Suburbs.               Image: Jack Bennett Photography

WHEN: September 27, 2015
WHERE: Wilbar Lane, Cronulla
DON'T MISS: The three international acts The Garden, White Fang and The Memories as well as Brisbane indie folk band, Holy Holy. I Am Apollo and hip-hop act Citizen Kay are a few of the stellar local acts on the lineup.
WHAT IT WILL COST: $65.30
PRO TIP: Catch a train to Cronulla and save your cash for beer and Mexican food from El Sol.
BUY TICKETS: www.soundsofthesuburbs.com.au
NEXT MONTH: Another sneak peek of Australian Music Week.
 
To read more of my articles visit www.carlagrossetti.com or subscribe to the Visit the Shire blog.

Sounds of the Suburbs is so intimate it has the feel of an off-the-chain house party. Image: Jack Bennett Photography.

Cronulla joins the music festival circuit

The Brass Monkey will be in the spotlight during the inaugural Australian Music Week in Cronulla.

Cronulla will crank up the volume this summer when it presents the inaugural Australian Music Week and HiFi Days Festival from November 18-22. One of the organisers of the event, Geoff Trio, says the five-day festival will culminate in HiFi Days, which includes internationally renowned act UB40, as well as Australian acts The Bamboos (with Tim Rogers), Phil Jamieson (Grinspoon), The Snowdroppers, Caravana Sun and indie four-piece Fripps & Fripps.

UB40 headlines the bill at HiFi Festival, presented by the inaugural Australian Music Week in Cronulla. Image: Supplied

As the co-owner of two of the best live venues in the Shire - the Brass Monkey and El Sol - Trio has been instrumental in the growth of the Shire's live music scene. But despite his industry knowledge and connections through his role running a music label and touring company for local and international artists, Trio says the response he has received has still come as somewhat of a surprise.

"The response and support we have received has been overwhelming. We want this to be an annual event and the plans are to grow it every year and to eventually take it to the world stage and the feedback we have had has been so incredibly positive that we are confident we can achieve that," he says.

Trio believes Cronulla's chilled-out picturesque vibe of beach and bay will provide the perfect backdrop for a week of grooving in the sunshine, with up to 150 local and international artists appearing everywhere from the Brass Monkey, to the Sting Bar, JDs and El Sol as well as the centre mall stage and several cafes.
 

The stage will be set at El Sol to host a diverse range of acts during Australian Music Week. Photo: Carla Grossetti

Trio says the celebration of live music also doubles as a mega music industry conference designed to spark conversation and connections between everyone from industry executives and recording professionals to up-and-coming artists and music lovers.  

Do The Stomp with the Snowdroppers during Australian Music Week's presentation of HiFi Days.  Image: Supplied

As well as bringing together musos from a multitude of genres such as contemporary soul, rock, blues, indie, country and folk, there will be a series of interactive Q&As and workshops featuring speakers such as Andy Cassell, co-owner and founder of Winterman & Goldstein (Jett, Empire of the Sun, Something for Kate, The Preatures) and Chloe Goodyear, head of programming at the Woodford Folk Festival.

Sutherland Shire band Fripps & Fripps has been invited to perform during HiFi Days. Image: Supplied

Trio says artists are invited to showcase at Australian Music Week in front of some of Australia's most influential and successful agents, venue bookers, managers, labels. Applications close on August 14, 2015. All bands that apply to AMW will be able to opt in for automatic consideration for Captured: Australia, a short film festival pairing up eight emerging filmmakers with eight emerging artists. 

The event will also feature food stalls that have sprouted in the Shire with pop-up coffee bar from Grind Espresso, Arabian-inspired cuisine from Yalla Sawa and pizza from AVPN-accredited Queen Margherita of Savoy.

Phil Jamieson, who is a founding member of Grinspoon, and is now flying solo.

AUSTRALIAN MUSIC WEEK - November 18-22
Conference passes: 2 DAY Conference & 3 NIGHTS Showcases - $93.50 + booking fee
November 21 Saturday Youth Conference only - $34.50 + booking fee

GIG TICKETS
3 NIGHTS GIG TICKETS - $45 + BOOKING FEE
November 19-21

2 NIGHTS GIG TICKETS - $35 + BOOKING FEE
November 19-20, 20-21 or November 19 and November 21

1 NIGHT GIG TICKET - $20 + BOOKING FEE
Thursday, November 19
Friday November 20
Saturday November 21

GOLD PASS TICKET - costs $175 and includes full access to conferences on November 19 & 20, showcases November 19-21and general admission to HiFi Days November 22. Tickets on sale now from www.australianmusicweek.com For more information on Australia Music Week visit www.australianmusicweek.com
www.facebook.com/AustMusicWeek

HiFi DAYS
WHEN: Sunday November 22 from noon-8pm.
GETTING THERE: Gunnamatta Park is located 50m from Cronulla Train Station.
TICKETS: Adults: $89 plus booking fee; kids aged 3-13 $45; on sale through www.oztix.com.au
WEBSITE: www.hifidays.com and http://australianmusicweek.com

HAM it up in Cronulla

You have to give brothers Harry and Mario Kapoulas of HAM in Cronulla credit for doing the unthinkable. When asked what their brief to Amber Road Designs was when they engaged the designer to reconfigure their space, they said: "We don't want it to look rustic."

From left: Mario, Kitty and Harry Kapoulas are key to the success of HAM, which is somewhat of an institution in Cronulla.

Admittedly, this writer is a fan of those scuffed-up spaces that reveal stories through each peeled-back layer of paint. But the brothers (Harry and Mario = HAM) are right. There is a look that has reached saturation point and there is a tendency for some spaces to appear too contrived. If the building is more than 100 years old, then clearly there's a case for staying fairly true to those old bones. The building housing HAM was built circa the 1950s and while the exterior still nods to its Art Deco past, the contemporary interior also catapults it into the future.

HAM it up: specially commissioned pieces and installations add interest to the contemporary interior.

The corner cafe celebrated its ninth year in Cronulla in 2015 by swallowing an empty store next door. Harry Kapoulas says expanding the cafe gave the family the impetus to get Amber Road Designs on board to rework the space and freshen it up.

Amber Road Designs definitely adhered to the brothers' strong vision when the design duo rejuvenated HAM. That vision allowed for an understated simplicity and natural flow around accessible custom-made furniture and a space that says: 'Come in. Make Yourself Comfortable'.

HAM cafe has been given a lot of love during its renovation and locals are loving the lighty, whitey and brighy vibet.

While the cafe with the cult following still evokes the building's red-brick past, the clean, light and bright interior is now even more conducive to conversation, shoring up HAM's position in the hearts and minds of locals who colonise the space for as long as they can for any number of good reasons.

Custom-made steel shelving lets the light flood into the grown-up version of HAM, which has form and function.

Backspace to that brief: "The whole cafe scene seems to be overrun by these rustic, overworked spaces and we wanted to do something different. We wanted it to be fresh and new so that it reflects us and our style while also helping us to maximise the small kitchen space and become more efficient," says Kapoulas.

Amber Road Designs nods to the old bones of the building, which are everywhere, without being too overwrought.

Little square windows of red brick are direct references to the building's history and an integral part of the space, offering further conversation about its former incarnations. While the colour scheme is light and white, it pops thanks to splashes of colour from potted plants and the fractured textures of the polished concrete floors, and geometric composition of furniture.

HAM cafe shelved any notion to read rustic and went for an altogether fresh and inviting vibe.

"We love what Amber Road Designs has done. The space is more functional, and more durable and we can cater to more people and that has all made it easier for us to please our customers, " he says.

From little things, big things grow: HAM helps Cronulla locals find their happy place.

While some argue there are too many cafes for Cronulla's population, this local institution is glued like a barnacle to the beachside suburb. And in a good way. The genius of the design lies in flourishes that include flurries of flowerpots filled with fresh herbs and a functional open-faced kitchen run by the boys' mum Kitty who is so warm and welcoming that she may very well reward you with a treat for finishing your veggies.

Breadheads will know that HAM deserves even more culinary cred by using ThoroughBread.

Kapoulas says the space softened by the plants displayed on a steel mesh shelving system has become a more desirable haven thanks largely to that potted blanket of greenery. The extra space - which also features custom-made furniture designed by Catapult and Nomi and comfortable padded banquette seating - means the cafe meets the street with an even friendlier facade.

Did someone say panini? 

As for the menu, a quick skim through the blackboards special indicates it sticks steadfastly to its homespun Greek deli vibe with absurdly good options such as Greek salads, spanakopita, paninis and pasta a proven winning formula.  Note: there are also newcomers, which read like welcome gatecrashers at a Big Fat Greek Marriage between a veggie-centric hipster and paleo-preaching surfer.

3/17 Gerrale St, Cronulla. 02 8521 7219, hamharryandmario.com.au

5 Healthy Hot Spots in Cronulla

Cronulla now has more healthy eating outlets that you can poke a posy of kale at. The public's passion for paleo, raw, vegan, vego, gluten-free has resulted in a plethora of cafes where the shrubbery on your plate is not a garnish or afterthought: it's the main event. Here are a few of the best nutritional kids on the block.

Join the hordes at Pilgrim's for a healthy start to the day.

Pilgrim's Vegetarian Cafe
Detox pilgrims will find a lot of foods containing antioxidants on the menu at Pilgrim's Vegetarian Cafe. If you've joined the queues of dreadlocked hippies and beanie-clad hipsters at the Huskisson or Milton caffs you will know why this earthy eatery has a cult following. This is not the place to grab and go. Instead, sit and chill.

Pendant lights, polished floors, potted plants pretty up this original Art Deco space.

Take a seat beside one of the sash windows in the lovingly restored Art Deco space and flick through a few alt mags while waiting for a Bliss Burger or, my personal fave, the Millenium, which is made with all manner of immune-boosting ingredients such as beetroot, fried onions, avocado, sprouts pepped up with tahini sauce and sweet chilli dressing (#Ididntquitsugar) spooned over a curry lentil patty.  It's a wholesome albeit carb-heavy package ... but it's also the size of one's head so go slow. Note: Pilgrim's is now open Friday and Saturday nights for vego feasts with a Mexican flavour.
Pilgrim's Vegetarian Cafe, 97 Gerrale St, Cronulla. 02 9523 7580.

The Bliss Burger will pull you into a state of perfect happiness at Pilgrim's.

Nutrition Station
P is for Paleo. It's also for protein smoothies and protein balls. Join the queue of devotees of the paleolithic diet dragging their knuckles straight from the gym to the Nutrition Station, which you will find clinging to the 'skirts of Cronulla Plaza.

These sweet potato fries provide a guilt-free snack post-surf.

Jokes about emulating our heavy-browed ancestors aside, there's no monkeying about with the menu: here you can get sweet potato fries, juices, fibre-heavy snacks and a bracing cup of organic java.

Nutrition Station is all about lean and clean guilt-free food that is low on calories.  

If you're not into consuming your calories through a straw in the form of processed protein shakes, opt for zucchini linguine in basil pesto or the Atlantic salmon on sweet potato mash with green beans. If you're going to order the quinoa salad with grilled haloumi puhlease ask an unsuspecting hipster how to pronounce it first: 'It's kin-wa."
Nutrition Station, Unit 4/30 Kingsway, Cronulla. 02 8544 3036.

Mint Organics is the sort of cafe that makes you feel good about yourself.

Mint Organics
Mint Organics is a pretty little cafe that sustains many locals who live on the west side of the South Cronulla peninsular. The cafe took over the space that was home to a convenience store and restocked its shelves with all things organic. After filling your basket with packaged healthy foodstuffs, sit and snack on food that looks, feels and tastes restorative.

Motivational quotes are a bonus at Mint Organics.

Try one of the freshly squeezed juices, an immune-boosting shot of turmeric, lime and ginger, coffee with nut milk or healthy(ish) appetisers such a green power ball or coconut rough. Of the substantial paleo-inspired mains, lamb salad mounts a convincing argument for a life lived organically with the freshness of the ingredients bolstered by texture and taste. If you want to ramp up those feelings of righteousness arrive at the restaurant wearing a sweat band after your morning run.
Mint Organics Cafe, 24 Nicholson Parade, 9523 0499. www.mintorganics.com.au

Take a shot at eating lean, clean and green at the Heart & Soul cafe in Cronulla.

Heart & Soul
Cronulla is not exactly a hippie heartland. But even the fake tan brigade has embraced this cafe serving wholefood breakfast, lunch and early dinner options. It's Harmony Day every day at Heart and Soul Organic Chai Cafe, where orange is the new black. The ayurvedically minded menu is all about eating well and feeling good. Run by the Hari Krishnas of Govinda Valley Retreat, there are haute healthy options such as black rice and chia seed pudding served with berries and coconut cream, vegan choc caramel slice, berry smoothies and pumpkin soups.

Heart & soul likes nothing better than to nourish its customers with hearty, healthy wholesome food.

Popular are the mix of curries - cashew curry, green curry and chickpea curry - which are served in silken sauces and flecked with fresh herbs. Sit crosslegged while you finish with a mellow cup of house-crafted chai and contemplate signing up for that yoga retreat.
6/17 Gerrale Sts, Cronulla. 02 9523 6146. www.heartandsoulcafe.com.au

And that's a wrap: workout your jaw muscles chatting to your trainer about your new shredding regime at So Fresh.

So Fresh
Gym junkies on the go converge at So Fresh for a fresh juice and chicken pesto wrap when they are in recovery mode post-workout. The garden shed-sized space is smack-bang in the centre of the pedestrianised part of Cronulla Plaza.

Vegetable and fresh fruit juices are the order of the day at So Fresh in Cronulla Plaza.

Most recently, the independent juice bar has started collaborating with Taylor Made personal training by offering a plethora of lean, green juices for its 42-day clean and lean challenge.

Shiny happy staff at So Fresh are a walking advertisement for the product.

The tiny juice bar is big on brain food, aiming to optimise your noggin's ability to function at its best, with food and drink offerings containing dark chocolate, bananas, red cabbage, berries, seeds, wild salmon. The roasted beetroot and lentil salad is also an energising option.
So Fresh Cronulla Beach, Kiosk 2, Cronulla Beach. 

To read more of my articles, subscribe to my website: www.carlagrossetti.com

Flavours of Urban Sydney

Slow-roasted pork belly, carrot + green apple puree, 
pickled radish + celery, P.X reduction

Serves 4

1kg of boneless pork belly
300g rock salt
2 sprigs of thyme
zest of one lemon
500g of carrots, thinly sliced
3 granny smith apples peeled, cored, thinly sliced
1 tsp fennel seeds
100g of unsalted butter
50ml of honey
2 red radishes, cut into matchsticks
1 stick of celery, thinly sliced
1 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
100g caster sugar
100ml water
50ml mirin
20ml white wine vinegar
200ml Pedro Ximenes
50ml extra virgin olive oil

METHOD


1. Place the rock salt, thyme and lemon zest in the bowl of a food processor and mix until combined. Cover the pork belly with the rock salt mixture on a tray and allow to cure for 3 hours, wash off and pat dry, then place on a roasting tray with a rack to allow the fat to drip down. Roast for 90 minutes at 180C until the pork skin is golden and crackly.

2. Meanwhile, while the pork is in the oven in a medium-sized pot with a lid on it, add the olive oil, butter and fennel seeds and slightly toast them for about 1 minute on a medium heat. Next, add the carrots and cover with the lid, stir every 10 minutes or so until the carrots start to soften, then add the apples and cook for a further 10 minutes until soft. Add the honey and blend until smooth.

3. To make the pickled celery, place the sugar, mirin, white wine vinegar, water, star anise and cinnamon into a small pot over a medium-high heat and bring to the boil. Allow to cool and add the celery and radish and rest for an hour before serving.

4. To make the Pedro Ximenes reduction, place the PX in a small pot over a medium heat. Bring to the boil and then set aside and allow to cool.

5. To serve, cut the pork belly into 1cm slices using a serrated knife to keep the crackle intact. Next, spread the puree onto the plate with a spoon and garnish with the pickled radish and celeryDrizzle with the PX reduction to finish.

This recipe was provided courtesy of Croydon Lane Wine and Tapas Bar in Cronulla. The recipe is also featured in the recently released book for cooks, Flavours of Urban Sydney, available for sale at the eatery. If you'd like to receive more posts and links to my latest articles, enter your email address on my website: www.carlagrossetti.com

Down the lane

Croydon Lane Wine & Tapas Bar is warm and moody and a convivial place to hang.

Croydon Lane Wine and Tapas Bar turned two today.  I've been a massive fan of this place since I first stumbled across it after hearing whispers a new wine bar had opened up down in the pedestrian part of the mall. The fact the dinky little bar is hard to find - it's tucked away behind the Women's Rest Centre in Cronulla Plaza - only adds to its appeal. It's lovely and low-key and it still makes The Husband and I feel like we've discovered a secret place each and every time we visit.

Croydon Lane Wine & Tapas Bar is full (wine) flight mode.

Owned by Johnny and Cindy Rechichi, it's the little bar that could. It's where the lights are low and the vibe is discreet, the staff remember your name and are bright and chirpy to boot.  Sounds like a flashback to an episode of Cheers, right? Erase Ted Danson and enter Johnny Rechichi, who works the floor with confidence and charm and that signature grin. He really is the consummate professional and the staff follow his lead.

The wine list at Croydon Lane Wine & Tapas Bar is extensive and full of top global drops.

When I first reviewed Croydon Lane for Good Food, in The Sydney Morning Herald, I wrote that it had a "Snoop Dogg-meets-Martha Stewart" vibe. The place has continued to be pimped and prettied up in equal measure with its oversized red velvet chairs, vertical hanging garden of herbs and Cindy's hand-sewn cushions bigging up that boho-meets-brothel feel. It's the sort of tapas bar that, if it had its own soundtrack, it would be A Little Bit More, as belted out by Tex Perkins and His Ladyboyz.

Croydon Lane Wine & Tapas Bar co-owner Johnny Rechichi (second from left) and team.

Croydon Lane is full of the right kind of noise. It's a proper grown-up place, conducive to conversation, sharing plates of terrific tapas and tasting great wines. Perch at the bar in front of that wall of impressive bottles and watch the rockstar bartenders roll like whirling dervishes - mixing, polishing glasses, stirring and pouring and shaking it all about.

Seared scallop, potato confit and morcilla? Don't mind if I do.

Croydon Lane has the boisterous spirit of a tapas bar that you might stumble across in the back streets of Barcelona and is filled to bursting with patrons crowding around wooden tables all in the mood to socialise. It also ably demonstrates how chef George Sideris has well and truly earned his chef's whites. Yes, he has manned the pans alongside Luke Mangan at Glass, at Sydney's Hilton and at Azafran Tapas in Surry Hill. But it's at Croydon Lane where the chef's Greek heritage is written all over the menu, which emphasises uncomplicated food with bold flavours.

It's a laneway festival... Croydon Lane Wine and Tapas Bar a bonafide neighbourhood gem.

Arrive hungry to savour the slow-roasted pork belly, carrot and green apple puree, salad of pickled radish and celery and a Pedro Ximenez reduction. If it's light and summery you're after, cue the kingfish ceviche, sweet potato, pink grapefruit and spanner crab or salad of haloumi, olive cheeks and heirloom tomato salsa.

Salt and pepper quail breast, salad of pickled cucumber, crispy shallots and herbs.

The degustation is also worth doing, as are the regular wine flights, paella Sunday lunches, gig nights and informative evenings custom-built for lovers of good food and wine. To celebrate Croydon Lane's second anniversary, chef George Sideris has provided his recipe for slow-roasted pork belly, carrot and green apple puree, which is featured in the recently released book for cooks, Flavours of Urban Sydney, now available for sale in the eatery. The recipe will be featured on my site tomorrow.

Confit ocean trout, Persian feta, salad of pickled cucumber, crispy shallots and herbs.

Croydon Lane Wine & Tapas Bar, Shop 8/30 Kingsway, Cronulla. For bookings, phone 0434 742 265.

 

The food scene in the Shire

                                 

As a fairly recent resident of the Sutherland Shire - 10 years is not long enough to claim local status - I have watched the food scene here evolve with a keen if not obsessive interest. As a food and travel writer, it's all in the line of duty for me to keep up with what's hot, what's not, what's on-trend, represents good value, is great for a first date, fancy nosh-up or family dinner. Having Italian heritage also makes me a bonafide food snob; I would prefer to cook at home rather than fork out for something under par. 

Since moving here a decade ago, I'm now more than happy to say I've been made to eat my words about my initial assessment of the area's food scene. While there will always be eateries that are not up to scratch and, sadly, are bowled down like skittles, there is now a plethora of places that have raised the bar, shaken and stirred things up for the better.

It's my local knowledge coupled with my experience as a writer that led the Sutherland Shire Council to invite me to present a talk to local gastronauts at Cronulla Library about the ever-evolving food scene in Sydney’s south.

Grind Espresso turns out consistently great coffee.

It was with great pleasure that I spent an hour waxing enthusiastic about the excellent places and spaces that have sprouted like alfalfa around Sydney's south for the past decade.  I've recently decided to do as so many of you have requested and share my insider knowledge and local secrets on my blog and website, where you will also find links to food and travel stories published in national and international publications.

As well as being constantly quizzed on where to go for a drink, cup of coffee, slice of pizza, Indian or Italian feed, both friends and strangers are also keen to share their secrets and inform me of their favourite cafe, butcher, baker or suburban gem.

I'm also intent on casting a wider net beyond postcode 2230 to celebrate those hidden hot spots in the city and surrounding suburbs, and welcome your ideas. Please sign up if you'd like to receive new posts and links to the latest articles on my website or like my Facebook page to receive regular updates about food events and hot spots.

To whet the appetite, I've included a link to a story I wrote for Good Food that was published in February 2014. Since that time, there has been an implosion of new and exciting places to eat and drink and I look forward to sharing them with you.

In this first post, I'd like to just make mention of The Good Cafe Guide's 2014 Local Hero, Richard Calabro, of Grind Espresso. Clearly, this cult cafe is not a local secret. In fact, it's known all over Sydney. But no guide to Cronulla or Sydney's south would be complete without mentioning Rich, who really was one of the region's original game-changers. 

What began as a hole-in-the-wall on the Kingsway has morphed into an institution and I have enjoyed watching Grind evolve from a cupboard-sized space into the warm, convivial laneway cafe it is today. Richard is in the process of curating tours to Costa Rica for coffee geeks to learn about sourcing the prized bean in situ. 

Coming soon: a feature on another oldie but goldie, HAM cafe, where I have been invited by Harry and Mario to have a sneak peek inside the pimped-up new premises over the next few weeks. 

Richard Calabro sourcing the prized beans for your daily Grind in Costa Rica.