Insider’s Guide
Get the inside scoop on the Riverina
Spring 2013
The Riverina produces 90% of NSW’s citrus products.
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About 80% of NSW’s grape & wine production happens in the Riverina.
The Season’s Stories Spring 2013
Breakfast 5 Lunch 8 Dinner 12
Beer & Wine 15 Sweet Treats 19 Meet the Makers 24
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Discover the Riverina’s food & the people who make it You may already know about the Riverina as the food bowl of Australia. Which is true – 90% of all NSW citrus products alone are grown on our fertile lands. And, if you enjoy a glass of fine Australian wine, chances are you’ve sampled one of the Riverina’s famous brands, like De Bortoli or Westend Estate that are shipped around the world. What you may not know is that there is an upand-coming host of local restaurateurs, chefs, café owners, brewers, wine makers and growers who have been steadily “raising the bar” on the food experience on offer to visitors. In the Riverina today you’ll find a roster of firstrate restaurants featuring innovative menus, cafés with trained baristas in virtually every town and dozens of passionate, skilled producers who are creating some of the best products you’ll find anywhere in Australia. And, of course, much of what you’ll see, taste and smell is made with the Riverina’s gorgeous fresh produce. Discover some of these local gems here, in the latest edition of the Insider’s Guide. There are many more great experiences to be found right across the region – to explore more visit www.insidetheriverina.com.au.
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Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The Riverina is known for its unmatched diversity of products – including pistachios, rice, citrus, lamb, goat, wheat, dairy, olive oil and grapes.
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The Ganmain Providore
breakfast
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a peaceful country oasis
Drive through many small towns in Australia and you’ll pass the local Country Women’s Association. But when you see the Ganmain CWA, make sure you stop at what is now The Ganmain Providore and experience the fresh, delightful coffee shop that graces its premises. Run by a capable and modern country woman, Amanda Symons has created a peaceful and sophisticated oasis in this unique, sun-filled space. Peruse the selection of scented candles, teas, handmade jewelery and fashion accessories then sink into a comfy sofa with something refreshing or a nibble. Open Thursdays and Sundays, The Ganmain Providore serves coffee, tea, milkshakes and a range of delicious baked good snacks. They also do a fabulous Sunday Brunch and soon-to-be famous Provi Breaky Board that would not look out of place in Bronte or St. Kilda.
55 Lake St. Ganmain Phone 0488 508 922 Thursdays & Sundays: 9:30am-4:30pm
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breakfast
The Coffee Tree
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Leeton’s local hangout
The Coffee Tree does a bustling trade with loyal regulars they know by heart. Some stop in for coffee and a quiet read of the news while tradies grab take-away out the back door. Either way, chances are owners Jenny and Nathalie have seen you coming and already started your order. The simple but lively décor is punctuated with brightly coloured chairs, a few pieces of modern art on the walls and a trail of interesting tree-themed designs leading outside to a large, tranquil courtyard. A place you can easily relax with a coffee or two. Each day starts early with the sure-handed clatter of The Coffee Tree’s kitchen preparing their home made menu and blackboard specials. Begin yours with a mouth-watering stack of pancakes, berries and maple syrup. Or, if it’s closer to lunchtime and savoury’s your thing, tuck into a tasty sandwich, wrap, focaccia or one of their gourmet salads.
101 Pine Ave. Leeton Phone 02 6953 3433 Monday-Friday: 8am-5pm Saturday-Sunday: from 9am www.insidetheriverina.com.au SPRING 2013 | 7
The Crossing Café
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relaxed & surprisingly sophisticated
You’ll be rewarded for a trip south to Deniliquin with a visit to The Crossing Café. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner or coffee anytime, this local gem features some of the best food anywhere in the Riverina. After you’ve been you may find yourself staying a few days longer.
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A former TAFE instructor, owner and chef Karen Benbow has set the bar high indeed with well-trained kitchen staff and skilled baristas. While you’re there she can also point you towards other great experiences in the area as she was the Deniliquin tourism manager for several years. The Crossing Café’s atmosphere is relaxed but the menu surprisingly sophisticated. Karen’s food is thoughtfully created, deliciously presented and features many local producers. If you’re there for breakfast, try the to-die-for platter combo of home made toasted muesli, yoghurt and fruit compote with a slice of her own fruit bread.
295 George St. Deniliquin Phone 03 5881 7827 Tuesday-Thursday: 8am-4:30pm Friday-Saturday: 8am-late Sunday: 8am-4pm
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lunch
Graze @ the factory
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the perfect pastoral setting
Graze @ the factory is a slice of Provence tucked into the heart of the old Junee Flour Mill. Its simple, rustic interior has a welcoming ‘farmhouse’ feel and, if the weather’s feeling Mediterranean, head outside to enjoy your meal on their peaceful courtyard – complete with olive trees and singing birds. Set within the historic Junee Flour Mill, Graze is surrounded by the architectural cues and textures of old industry. Brick, stone, exposed timber framing and disused freight train tracks will take you back in time as will the pleasant hum from today’s industry emanating from the Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory next door. The perfect pastoral setting, it’s easy to see why Graze is a popular choice for weddings and functions. Stop in for tea and scones, a proper lunch, or if you’re visiting on the weekend, a full breakfast spread. And just like its partners at the factory, Graze is family-friendly offering a tasty Little Grazers menu.
45-61 Lord St. Junee Phone 02 6924 1527 Open daily: 10am-4pm Lunch served: Monday-Friday 11am3pm, Saturday-Sunday 12pm-3pm www.insidetheriverina.com.au SPRING 2013 | 9
The Niagara Café
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authentic diner experience
The Niagara is an undisputed Gundagai institution and, according to the volume of local patronage, perhaps the most important building in town. Opened in 1902 by Greek immigrants, it’s been run by the Loukassis family for the past thirty years and is now a well-worn and well-loved establishment.
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Among its out of town guests The Niagara boasts one John Curtain, Australia’s Prime Minister during the Second World War. The story goes he was in the region on a wartime fundraising mission and popped in late one evening for some steak and eggs. This story and other nostalgia from throughout the years are told on the walls in a collage of historical nuggets. If you’re looking for classic diner food served in an authentic diner environment, this is the place. Burgers with the lot, steak sandwiches, milkshakes in their retro stainless steel cups, chips and gravy – all served hot in snug booths with laminated green tabletops under the glow of The Niagara’s neon sign.
142 Sheridan St. Gundagai Phone 02 6944 1109 Daily: 8am-8pm
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lunch
Stir Espresso
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the chic, urban coffee house
Stir Espresso, Leeton’s newest coffee and food purveyor, is every bit the chic, urban coffee house that big cities do so well – but conveniently located on Leeton’s main thoroughfare. Perch on a stool, grab a table for bigger conversations or plunk yourself into a plush tub chair and tap into their free WiFi. Although Stir’s ambiance has a distinctly cosmopolitan feel it is a 100% local creation. The vision was owners Ross and Gai Gladman’s who did everything from choosing its bold colour scheme to picking out the medusa-like chandeliers to actually building many of the cool furnishings themselves. Now that certainly doesn’t happen in the city. Choose from a variety of café style snacks to go with your coffee or specialty tea, served by one of Gai’s pleasant and efficient staff donned in smart black aprons. For hungrier travellers, there’s a full breakfast and lunch menu available that includes a host of fresh salads made to order at the bar in front of you.
121 Pine Ave. Leeton Phone 02 6953 4528 Monday-Friday: 7:30am-4:00pm Saturday: 9:00am-2:00pm www.insidetheriverina.com.au SPRING 2013 | 11
Oakroom Kitchen & Bar
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reservations a must
Reservations are a must if you plan on visiting the Oakroom Kitchen & Bar. And, my goodness, you don’t want to miss out. Totally reinvented just a year ago, the Oakroom is in high demand and it’s easy to see why. With a cosmopolitan atmosphere built around a world-class menu, it will delight all five senses. Watch head chef Jamie Shepley weave his magic from behind the open pass of his seven-chef kitchen. When you get to know the restaurant you get to know Jamie himself – unpretentious, welcoming and relaxed but with depth, quiet confidence and a distinctive creative flair.
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Officially, Jamie describes his food as traditional French cuisine. But most people just call it fantastic. A menu that changes with the seasons, he serves up remarkable creations such as a mushroom, chestnut and ricotta rotolo, a sticky, rich beef shank that falls off the bone and potted plant dessert filled with crumbly raspberry ‘soil’.
70 Morgan St. Wagga Wagga Phone 02 6921 4337 Daily: 5:30pm-10:00pm
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dinner
Thyme Out at the Manor
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modern French and Asian-inspired fare
A complete fine dining experience in Wagga must include Thyme Out at the Manor. Stepping into the restaurant, a turn of the century Victorian showpiece, will instantly transport you back to that time. The contemporary French and Asian-inspired fare will bring you right back with the best modern Australian cuisine has to offer. Start your evening with a drink in the graceful parlour room, served in dramatic fashion by Russell, the multi-talented chef and cocktail man. Not sure what to have? Ask Russell to surprise you and watch him whip up something decadent, creative and tasty. Young, talented and highly accomplished head chef and owner Ryan Dedini exudes energy and imagination. Look out for his upcoming ‘degustation cabaret’ featuring seven courses of Thyme Out’s best food, matching wines and live entertainment by some of the region’s top performers. Sophisticated yet fun, a tale of two cities indeed.
38 Morrow St. Wagga Wagga Phone 02 6921 5962 Tuesday-Saturday: 11am-2:30pm Thursday-Saturday: 6pm-12am www.insidetheriverina.com.au SPRING 2013 | 13
dinner
Vita’s Italian Restaurant
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hearty Italian food & welcome
You’ll find in Vita’s all the things you love about Italian restaurants. Priceless recipes perfected over the years in the family’s kitchen, shared with guests steaming hot and in generous portions. A simple, but comfortable and unpretentious environment with gracious and friendly staff. Welcome to Vita’s. The menu will please any diner with a craving for hearty Italian food. Pick from a good range of staples including a silkysmooth gnocchi – made from one of those magical authentic family recipes – or sweet chili prawn pizza served on a killer thin crust. For something a bit different, try the slow-cooked goat, a local favourite. In many ways Vita’s reflects the history of Griffith and its everchanging demographic. Married in to an Italian family, owner Martin Bailey can easily relate to the over 60% of Griffith who claim Italian background.
252 Banna Ave. Griffith Phone 02 6962 7999 Monday-Saturday: Dinner, 6pm-10pm Thursday-Saturday: Lunch, 11am-2pm 14 | SPRING 2013 www.insidetheriverina.com.au
Sweet Treats
Over a quarter of NSW fruit and vegetable production occurs in the Riverina.
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Ajanta
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taste, texture, colour and history
Step into Ajanta and you’ll be greeted with a beautiful sense of history and culture – a journey of the senses that takes you by the hand down a meandering path of colour, texture and taste. Occupying the space that was once a general store over a hundred years ago, Ajanta embodies the antique feel of the original building, mixed with an eclectic collection of gifts and home wares from around the world. The heart and soul of Ajanta is Lee Inch who pours passion and attention into everything you see, touch and taste. She has created a unique space that respects its surrounds and draws inspiration from yester-year. Everything about Ajanta gives a sense of days gone by such as the old-fashioned recipes, that take advantage of seasonal and local produce, served on fine china with linen napkins. Today, Ajanta is a popular congregation spot to enjoy every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
157 Cowabbie St. Coolamon Phone 0428 273 450 Friday-Sunday: 9:30am-5:30pm
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Bertoldo’s Bakery
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an enduring family tradition
Nothing personifies Griffith’s Italian heritage quite like Bertoldo’s. They offer a stunning array of bread, biscotti, cannoli, gelato and nougat with virtually everything you see made by their own hands. Amazingly, most of the bounty for sale at any given moment was also made fresh that same day – starting at 5am, sharp. You’ll smell Bertoldo’s half a block before you actually see Bertoldo’s. So it’s no surprise that from the moment they open their doors, there is a steady stream of staunchly loyal patrons who, knowing the baking schedule, arrive a few minutes early to eagerly await their favourite, hot and fresh from the oven. Started in 1952, Bertoldo’s is now in the hands of the family’s fourth generation with passionate Bertoldos involved at every turn. Running the bakery, the beating heart of the Bertoldo legend, are brothers John and Peter who you’ll find working the ovens every baking day, just as their father did for so many years.
324 Banna Ave. Griffith Phone 02 6964 4700 Monday-Friday: 8am-5:30pm Saturday: 8am-12pm Sunday: 8am-1-30pm
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Red Door Café
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an unexpected coffee shop
Step in to Narrandera’s Red Door Café and you’ll immediately notice this is not your average coffee stop. First of all, to get to the café at the back, you’ll have the pleasure of making your way through two rooms filled with lovely, beautifully presented homewares. This wonderful introduction is Juadine Interiors, one of owner Juzzie Nielsen’s other passions and, clearly, talents. Packed with new and antique furniture, soft furnishings, jewelery and small home décor accessories, you’ll be happy to lose yourself in this attractive space surrounded by interesting and thoughtfully selected things. When you do make it all the way back to the Red Door Café, you’ll emerge into a spacious, hall-like room that surely played an important social role in old-time Narrandera – tastefully decorated by Juzzie, of course. Settle down with a refreshing beverage, slice of homemade cake or light lunch and think about what you just must buy on your way out.
88 East St. Narrandera Phone 02 6959 4020 Monday-Friday: 8am-5:30pm, Saturday: 8am-2:30pm
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Meet the Makers
Agricultural and horticultural production in the Riverina is worth more than $1 billion in an average year.
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Catania Fruit Salad Farm
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the amazing Murrumbidgee
meet the makers
The quaintly named Catania Fruit Salad Farm is an informative and tasty way to spend an afternoon. Armed with 100 years of history, Joe and Sharon Maugeri will share the story of Percy Cox’s original ‘Farm #43’ and how, thanks to the ingenious Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, it has managed to thrive in a region that averages only 16 inches of rain each year. The tour starts at the old farmhouse and shed that look frozen back in 1925, and then moves through the groves of blood oranges, prunes, and grapes. Packed with interesting tidbits, Sharon’s had lots of practice honing her pitch since she first began showing curious visitors around while pushing her newborn’s pram. End your visit with a wonderful sampling of fruits, preserves, wines and nuts, all featuring produce grown at the farm – including their specialty, sugarplums. Also know as prunes, by the time you leave Catania you’ll have a much better appreciation for the delicate taste and astounding health benefits of this unfairly maligned and ancient fruit.
Farm 43 Cox Rd. Hanwood Phone 0427 630 219 Tours Daily: 1:30pm 20 | SPRING 2013 www.insidetheriverina.com.au
Wagga Farmers’ Market
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where locals go to stock the pantry
The best way to shop for food is to start with something for yourself. And there’s lots to choose from at the Wagga Farmers’ Market – pancakes, fresh baked goods, fruit, or of course, the mandatory bacon-and-egger. Compliment it with a hot, frothy latte or glass of ice-cold orange juice squeezed from locally grown Navel and Valencia oranges and you’re ready to go. The market is very much a local affair. It’s where Wagga residents go to stock the pantry each week and where many restaurateurs go for their fruit and veg run. It’s also a family affair with plenty of family-run stalls, Saturday morning footballers roaming about and the welcoming sounds of the local high school music program drifting by. Browse the collection of products and produce from around the Riverina and have a chat with the colourful and talented people who make them. You’ll find the direct-from-the-farm quality fruit and vegetables you’d expect but also some unique local offerings like organic rice, fiery hot sauces and a line of preserves that will melt your taste buds.
Civic Centre Gardens Tarcutta St. and Morrow St. Wagga Wagga First Saturday of the month: 8am-1pm
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Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory
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explore a magical world of sweets
A short drive from Wagga is the Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory, an old converted flour mill that now produces 150 tons of organic licorice every year. For those in the know, like founder and owner Neil Druce, making licorice was a logical move as the Druce family had been in the organic wheat farming business since 1962 – and, the chewy, fragrant confectionery is made from one-third flour. Unlike most shops, at this one you can go behind the curtain and see the inner-workings of how your favourite sweets are made. Start with an entertaining and interactive tour (including a few frames of Vertical Licorice Bowling) and then follow the licorice production line from cooking to the chomp of the guillotine as it’s finished into bite-sized treats. You absolutely will feel like a kid again when you stand in the Mill Shop surrounded by nostalgic, multi-coloured candy packs and with the thick, rich smell of licorice and Belgianstyle chocolate wafting over you. This is the place to take home some of the magic in chocolate-covered nut, berry or licorice form.
45-61 Lord St. Junee Phone 02 6924 3574 Daily: 10am-4pm
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Wollundry Grove Olives
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mastering the art of olives
Joo-Yee and her husband Bruce have mastered the art of olives, producing the finest oils and table olives with their own hands and lots of love. Stroll through the 2,000 tree strong grove, roll the olives between your fingers, knowing they’ll be crafted into high-quality finished products on the premise when the next harvest comes. Ginger, chili or mandarin-marinated table olives are a few of the unexpected varieties produced on-site at Wollundry. Hand picked and aged between eight and 15 months, the black Manzanillo is a superb eating olive known for its fresh flavour and generous pulp. Discover a complexity and nuance of flavours you only thought possible in wine with an extra virgin olive oil tasting. The knowledgeable and approachable Joo-Yee will take you through the subtleties of different blends, processes and flavours with surprising results on the palate – everything from bananas, to apples, cut grass and green tomatoes.
15 Mary Gilmore Rd. Brucedale Phone 02 6924 6494 Daily: 11am-4pm (preferably by appointment)
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Beer & Wine
The Riverina is home to one of Australia’s most celebrated dessert wines – De Bortoli’s Noble One.
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Lillypilly Estate Wines
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part of the Riverina’s very fabric
Lillypilly Estate Wines, like the colourful tree it’s named after, is part of the Riverina’s very fabric. A craft winery producing 15,000 cases each year, Lillipilly grows, harvests, ferments and bottles every drop within its Leeton property boundaries. But you’ll find their wine all over the world, including anywhere you may be heading on Qantas First Class. Run by the ever-hospitable Robert Fiumara, Lillypilly is and has always been a family production involving all seven brothers over the years – a feat they’ve commemorated with their award-winning fortified wine, Fiumara 7. The medium bodied Cabernet Sauvignon they produce is also a nod to their heritage, made from the same vines planted by Fiumara patriarch, Pasquale, over forty years ago. Cool nights and the fog and dew that accompany a late harvest are ideal conditions for growing botrytis fungus, the key ingredient in Lillypilly’s highly acclaimed Noble Blend. But controlling the weather is not an exact science and the onset of botrytis can’t be guaranteed every year which makes each bottle that much more special.
47 Lillypilly Rd. Leeton Phone 02 6953 4069 Monday-Saturday: 10am-5pm
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Thirsty Crow Brewery
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a brewhouse, not a pub!
Wagga’s hottest new watering hole, Thirsty Crow Brewery, is as irreverent as its owner and head brewer, Craig Wealands. You’ll see this in his unconventional beer names and label designs that come with equally intriguing back-stories. Make sure you ask about them but take note, it’s just Thirsty Crow, not the Thirsty Crow, and it’s a brew house, not a pub! Close your eyes and take-in the sounds and smells as you sit in the dining area that is also the on-site microbrewery – the hum and hiss from 12 stainless steel brewing vats and the malty, earthy fragrance of fermentation. Be sure to sample some of the many craft brews they have on tap at any given time including the popular Sporting Ale or the sweet and decadent Vanilla Milk Stout.
beer & wine
At first glance you’ll see some typical items on the menu – pizza, pasta, burgers, the usual suspects right? Don’t be fooled. Rocky Road Calzone sweet pizza, Brewers Burger with a beef, jalapeño and bacon patty and one of their best sellers, Sunday Roast pizza featuring…well, everything you’d expect including the mint sauce.
31 Kincaid St. Wagga Wagga Phone 02 6921 7470 Sunday: 11am-9:30pm Monday-Tuesday: 4pm-10pm Wednesday-Saturday: 11am-11:30pm 26 | SPRING 2013 www.insidetheriverina.com.au
Westend Estate Wines
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passion and hard work come to life
The story of Westend Estate Wines is every bit as epic as a Hollywood movie. Begun by Italian immigrants in 1945, Francesco and Elisabetta Calabria carved out a modest wine making venture through passion, ingenuity and back breaking hard work. Now, 65 years on, their small venture produces 6,000 cases of fine wine, every day. Buzzing with 40 employees there is one figure who will undoubtedly catch your eye. Bill Calabria is the heart and soul of the business today and, like his parents, knows success is about hard work and people. So, don’t be surprised to find him hosting a Westend Estate black-tie fundraiser one evening and then jackhammering out an old concrete slab the next. The highlight of any visit is, of course, the wine. In the bright and beautiful tasting room (yes, designed by Bill), sample a selection of wines from one of their renowned ranges: 3 Bridges, Richland, Poker Face and Calabria Brothers. Named one of Australia’s Best Cellar Doors by Gourmet Traveller magazine, no doubt Francesco and Elisabetta would be proud.
1283 Brayne St. Griffith Phone 02 6969 0800 Monday-Friday: 8:30am-5pm Saturday-Sunday: 10am-4pm
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