6 minute read
Food + Drink News
By DANIELLE COSTLEY.
From casual drinks at the region’s newest micro-brewery, delicious unicorn ice creams and the best spots for local produce, to a secret syrup, traditional taffy, and nuts a-plenty at the local farmers markets. Here's a round-up of what's new and cool, if you're a foodie.
SWEET THINGS Balingup Fruit Winery create in-season syrups in a kaleidoscope of colours and flavours. Morris Lane Taffys has moved to impressive new premises - but the taffy remains as popular as ever. Inset, Dirty Rascals is a new must-visit ice creamery.
Morris Lane Taffys, Bunbury
Sate your sweet tooth at this iconic taffy shop, which has recently moved to larger premises in Bunbury. Watch Salt Water Taffy being made in an old-fashioned copper kettle, before being cooled and stretched in a 1920s pulling machine until it’s soft and glossy. Savour the delicious smells in this charming shop, which also produces a large range of candies, including Aunt Dorothy’s Peanut Brittle, Cashew Brittle, Chili Macadamia Brittle, Mum’s Fudge, rich caramels, honeycomb, and Butter Snap, to name a few.
Dirty Rascals Ice Cream, Bunbury
If you haven’t already heard, there’s a new ice creamery in Bunbury, offering over 40 flavours of delectable swirls of ice creams, as well as waffles, milkshakes, apple pies and puddings. Bring the kids along for a unicorn or dinosaur ice cream. Or indulge yourself with an Ocean Float. Try the choc mint, bubble gum, salted caramel, or chocolate cookie ice creams.
Balingup Fruit Winery, Balingup
This family-run winery produces ports and liqueurs made in small batches from locally sourced fruit. There’s a Mulberry Port, Sweet Strawberry Liqueur, a Nectarine fortified, Blueberry and Ginger Liqueur, and a Plum Port as part of the main range. Recently, Nashi and Rhubarb fruit fortifieds have been added to this growing portfolio of fruit wines.
Taralea Farm, Dardanup
Did you know that macadamia nuts are a superfood for the heart, containing the richest source of monounsaturated fats of any natural food that’s commercially available? All you need is six of these nutrientrich nuts daily to reduce your risk of heart disease. At Taralea Farm in Dardanup, you will find the state’s only dry sorting nut processing plant, where macadamias are dried, processed, sorted and packaged for sale. You can buy the freshly picked and cracked macadamias, macadamia oil and limes from their stall at the Boyanup Farmers Markets.
Newy’s Vegie Patch, Kirup
The reputation of this awardwinning farm shop has grown throughout the south west, with many customers making
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a fortnightly shopping expedition from Perth to stock up on its impressive range of seasonal, local produce. While it began with an honour box of tomatoes out the front of its building some 17 years ago, Newy’s has grown to stock an enviably diverse selection of locally grown fruit and vegetables that includes organic meats and cheeses. The family’s 160-acre farm provides much of the produce, but the shop also sources fresh produce from other local growers in the state.
Mumballup Pecans, Boyanup Farmers Markets
This pecan orchard in Mumballup has over 3,000 pecan trees that have now reached the ripe old age of 40. Apparently, these trees can live for over 200 years. All you need is 28 grams of these heart-healthy nuts to reach 10% of the recommended daily fibre intake. Visit the Boyanup Farmers Markets for your pecan fix, which also includes pecan chocolate and pecan brittle. There are even some homegrown walnuts to help fill your shopping basket.
Blackwood Emporium 1864, Mullalyup
Located within the heritage Stables Building in picturesque Mullalyup is Blackwood Emporium 1864. This welcome new addition to the region’s food scene is offering a substantial range of handcrafted chocolates, cakes, savoury dishes, hot chocolate, sandwiches and premium teas. But it’s not just the chocolates that will satisfy your cravings at this store. You will also find a selection of comforting soups, Ruben sandwiches, roast beef and gravy baguettes, nachos, and roasted vegetable salads. On Saturdays, you can indulge in a High Tea of savoury and sweet delights, sandwiches and teas.
Kirup Syrup, Kirup
The Kirup Tavern is an institution in this small community. Here, you will find a very special alcoholic beverage which has been one of the main drawcards for many a local or passer-by to stop in and quench their thirst over its 100-year history. The recipe for this beverage, affectionately known as Kirup Syrup, remains a closely guarded family secret. While it was originally crafted
GOOD TASTE Above, venues like Blackwood Emporium 1864 in picturesque Mullalyup offers delicious hand-made chocolates as well as other treats. Right and below, Newy’s Vege Patch, Kirup.
Above and right, the Donnybrook Hotel and The Colliefields have both been recently renovated. Below, Brugan Brewery.
from fruit and vegetables, this homemade grappa is today made from red wine grapes. It is still available for tasting and purchase at the Tavern, where the usual range of beverages is being served.
Brugan Brewery, Wokalup
The Brugan Brewery is open for business and offering a range of beers, all made onsite within the historic confines of the Wokalup Hotel. There is an IPA, Hazy IPA, Mid IPA, Vanilla Porter, Citrus sour, Draught and Kolsch, as well as wines and cocktails from local producers. With a seating capacity up to 400 people, this micro-brewery will soon be adding a sharestyle menu to its list, utilising the charcoal grill and creating a beer and food pairing menu. It’s a clever combination of Old-World styling fused with a contemporary, industrial brewery fit out. Reminisce of days gone by with the photos of the township and its connection to the old Mornington Mill.
Donnybrook Hotel, Donnybrook
Donnybrook locals are rejoicing with the reopening of the Donnybrook Hotel. This iconic hotel which was refurbished in 2020, was abruptly closed not long after, due to the Covid pandemic. Now, it is back with a vengeance, with live music, happy hours, an impressive drinks selection, and a new menu.
Donnybrook gets a facelift
The Town Centre Revitalisation Project in Donnybrook has now opened, connecting the area adjacent to the Apple Fun Park with the main strip. The refurbished Goods Shed offers food and drinks as well as an interpretive historical centre. Pedestrians crossing the newly landscaped area near the railway tracks will find access easy as well as to the upgraded Apple Fun Park (opening in September), providing a link to the main street. This connectivity project also includes new public artworks, seating, picnic tables, lighting and drink fountains.
The Colliefields, Collie
Rightly claiming to be the grandest building in town, the old lady of Collie - The Colliefields - opened in 1897 as a pretty simple weatherboard and iron building before burning down a few years later. The next incarnation saw an elegant two-storey building with wrap-around verandas spring up in its place, on the corner of Throssel and Steere Streets. Fast forward to 2021, and after a meticulous series of renovations including replacing the balconies, the new owners have reopened this beautiful landmark, complete with a liquor license.
