The Pickled Pantry, Cootamundra, NSW

The Pickled Pantry, Cootamundra

The Style: The Pickled Pantry is decorated in candy stripes of bright pink and orange and the store itself, like everything inside, looks good enough to eat. The furniture inside is mixed and mismatched and there are some pieces which remind me of furniture my nanna used to have. The vintage pieces are paired with ultra-modern stainless steel shelving, wicker baskets, bright paintings and dried flower arrangements which all seem to live in harmony. 

The Pickled Pantry, Cootamundra

The Pickled Pantry, Cootamundra

The taste: The Pickled Pantry is much more than a coffee shop - it is also a deli with smallgoods, cheeses, bread, dried fruits and preserves, spices, jams, oils and many other treats. The Pickled Pantry's menu is a small but scrumptious selection utilising the deli goodies. There are some specialty teas as well as coffee on offer and my personal favourite to get through a long cold winter is the belgian hot chocolate which comes with a generous helping of chocolate shavings on top and an oozy layer of melted chocolate in the bottom of the cup. Delicious!

Belgian Hot Chocolate, The Pickled Pantry, Cootamundra

Delicious Deli - The Pickled Pantry, Cootamundra

The crowd: There is usually a bustling mix of Coota locals to be found at the Pickled Pantry - if you are visiting the town, an added incentive to pop in is the area dedicated to local produce. 


The Price: Some of the produce at the Pickled Pantry can seem a little expensive but when put into perspective, it isn't so bad - the food is all top quality and much of it is sourced locally. There are also things that a small town the size of Cootamundra just wouldn't have if it wasn't for an innovative shop like this so really, it is well worth paying a tiny bit more rather than driving a few hundred kilometres to get some of the unique things on offer.

Local produce, Pickled Pantry, Cootamundra

The Pickled Pantry, Cootamundra

The location: The Pickled Pantry is located within the Cootamundra Arts Precinct. It is located next door to the Arts Centre on the corner of Wallendoon and Sutton Streets, Cootamundra.

DESTINATION: Cootamundra (Part 2)

Cootamundra Garden Club display, Cootamundra Street Parade

Well, its not every day that a town gets to celebrate its 150th Birthday so Cootamundra decided to make the most out of its Sesquicentenary Celebrations this week. The town loves a bit of wattle and it has been everywhere brightening up the last remnants of winter grey which are still clinging on. Cootamundra's Sesquicentenary all culminated with a parade and street party which went off with a bang...or maybe that was just the balloons being run over by the ride on mowers in the parade. Nonetheless, the whole town came out dressed in their best party gear and really made the most of the occasion.

150 years of Cootamundra, NSW

Cootamundra Street Parade

The parade featured familiar local faces and it was an experience to see so many elements of country life all crammed onto one main street at the same time. There were floats from businesses, clubs and social groups from Cootamundra which really showcased the spirit of the town.

Marching Band, Cootamundra NSW

Cootamundra Fire Fighters

Cootamundra Street Parade

Cootamundra Show Society

The street party saw street stalls selling local produce and crafts, showbags, rides and entertainments. I have seriously never seen Cootamundra this busy and it was great to see so many people all having a good time.

Cootamundra Street Party, 2011

Cootamundra Street Party, 2011

Coota's 150th birthday also inspired me to put my exploring hat on and take a look at some of the town's history first hand. The architecture is where the towns age is most evident with beautiful buildings scattered throughout the area, many dating back to Cootamundra's foundation. The Cootamundra Post Office was recently given a fresh coat of paint and looks all the better for it. Other historic buildings including the Cootamundra Court House and the old Cootamundra Hospital are also worth a look if you are in town.

Cootamundra Post Office

Old Cootamundra District Hospital

Historic Cootamundra Court House

Cootamundra, NSW

Cootamundra can be found on the South West Slopes of New South Wales, a two hour drive from Canberra.

Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

The Style: Shogun Teppanyaki is decked out in all things Japanese - think of all the Japanese cliches you can, scale it back a bit and add a pinch of style - that should paint a picture in your mind of Shogun. The restaurant is actually quite a nice place to be - they seem to have pulled it off and in July while I was there, there was a great view of the outdoor ice skating rink which provided some additional entertainment (so long as you like watching people crash in a heap while you eat!).

Agedashi Tofu, Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

Pork in ginger sauce, Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

The Taste: The food at Shogun Teppanyaki is not going to win a gold medal for the best Japanese food you have ever tasted but it is also far from the worst. The menu has a decent selection of dishes with all the Japanese favourites like sushi, sashimi and teriyaki making the list. I ordered a pork dish which had a nice but mildly bland flavour. The salad was a little odd, basically just lettuce leaves in a sweetish dressing. It didn't do a lot to add a fresh element to the dish because it too was a little bland. The sushi was fresh, tasty and looked fantastic. Overall, the food certainly wouldn't blow your socks off but it was mildly pleasant and nothing to complain about.

Salad, Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

The crowd: There was a mix of couples and families at Shogun Teppanyaki - the families seemed to be enjoying the fun of catching food thrown by the teppanyaki chef - there were a few groups opting for this and all seemed to be really enjoying the show. 

The price: The meals here are reasonably priced with mains in the $15 - $25 bracket and the portions are generous. I guess Shogun Teppanyaki is a classic case of 'you get what you pay for.' If you want a pleasant but not spectacular meal that wont break the bank, this is the place. If you want a really delicate, fresh Japanese meal, try somewhere else.

The Location: Shogun Teppanyaki is located upstairs in the Garema Centre off Bunda Street (number 70), Canberra. 

Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

Lerida Estate Vineyard and Cellar Door, Lake George

Lerida Estate Vineyard, Lake George, NSW

Lerida Estate (pronounced Le-ruh-duh) is located on the banks of Lake George and the vineyard which hugs the hills looks picture perfect, even with the vines barren and bare for winter. The distinctive Glenn Marcutt designed building which houses the Lerida Estate cellar door and cafe is hard to miss and adds a touch of flair to the whole operation.

Lerida Estate Cellar Door

Wine tasting, Lerida Estate, Lake George

A crackling fire made the cellar door experience a that bit more pleasant on the cold, wintry day I visited on. Lerida Estate has a few wines which have gained attention of the good kind with many gold medals and some wines cracking the Australian top-100 wines list. Lerida Estate offers several varieties of cool-climate wine with Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Merlot and Voignier all planted and harvested on-site.

Lerida Estate, Lake George, NSW

Lerida Estate offers tours and tastings and both were conducted in a relaxed way with information being offered on a level that was useful but not so technical as to be boring. There were suggestions on which flavours and aromas each wine offered and also an sheet which outlined suggestions for food pairings which I found to be quite useful.


If you visit on the weekend, Cafe Lerida dishes up hearty food which can be paired with wines either by the glass or bottle. The cafe offers both breakfasts and lunches and the menu also has suggestions for pairing your wine to get the most out of the experience. For a full menu, click here.

Beef and red wine pie, Cafe Lerida

During the month of August, Lerida Estate is also hosting events for the Fireside Festival including truffles on the menu and wine master classes.


Lerida Estate's Cellar Door is open 10am - 5pm seven days a week with the exception of Good Friday and Christmas Day. Cafe Lerida is open Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. Lerida is an easy drive from Canberra and is located just off the Federal Highway in Lake George, New South Wales.


Useful links:


Lerida Estate


Fireside Festival


2012 Weereewa Lake George Festival 

Winter is Citrus Season!

Navel oranges

I was lucky enough to inherit two very happy citrus trees when I made the tree-change to Cootamundra. They sit happily unnoticed throughout most of the year but at the moment they are just BURSTING with fresh juicy fruit - the navel orange tree in particular is having a massive year although the lemon is taking a bit easier this time around.

I have said it before but will say it again - if you have the chance to grow some of your own fruit or vegetables, do it! The taste will truly blow you away and you can sleep easy knowing that no harmful pesticides have worked their way into your fruit.

Navel oranges

I don't cook much but my husband is a bit of a whiz in the kitchen and I have included a pic of the lemon meringue pie he made using our lemons - if you have any other good recipes using citrus, why not add a comment sharing them with me?

Lemon Meringue Pie

Harden's House of Honey, Murrumburrah, NSW

Harden's Houe of Honey

Harden's House of Honey is full of everything sweet and yellow. Honey, not surprisingly, is the star of the show. Creamed honey, macadamia honey, honey on the comb, honey comb, honey popcorn, honey lollies, honey drinks...you name it, it is here! But Harden's House of Honey doesn't stop at the stuff you can eat - there are also beeswax candles and furniture polish, honey body products, bee toys, bee books, bee costumes, bee mobiles...you get the picture.

Wild bees, Cootamundra

While some of the stuff is a little bit kitschy, it would definately appeal to the kids and there are also some really beautiful products on offer. Of course there is the honey itself which is locally produced - there are so many types and it comes in tubs, bottles and jars. Harden's House of Honey provides samples of each type so you can try before you buy to make sure you pick the honey that you love. There are also hampers containing beeswax candles, honey and other goodies which are presented really well and reasonably priced.

Harden's House of Honey

Local Harden Honey at Harden's House of Honey

Harden's House of Honey

Harden's House of Honey is located in the old Post Office building and there is some history on the building as well as some information on the life cycle of bees, honey production and the like throughout the store. There are hives, frames, extractors and the like on display which add to the experience.


As well as this, Harden's House of Honey doubles as a cafe. It serves Art of Espresso coffee which is roasted in nearby Young, NSW as well as sandwiches, biscuits and devonshire tea. The sandwiches are around the $5 mark with a devonshire tea setting you back $6.50 and $3.50 for a coffee.

Harden's Houe of Honey cafe

If you are visiting Harden-Murrumburrah, Harden's House of Honey is a great little place to stop in and pick up some delicious local produce as a memento of your stay. Harden's House of Honey is located on the Burley Griffin Way (Albury Street) in Murrumburrah, New South Wales.

A friendly welcome at Harden's House of Honey!

Destination: YOUNG, NSW

The Big Cherries, Young, NSW

Not all towns can boast that they have a set of Big Cherries. Young in New South Wales can lay this claim to fame and they are hard to miss! The Big Cherries were relocated a few years ago and now mark the spot where the Young Visitors Centre is located within the old Young Railway Station. The Big Cherries give visitors a not-so-subtle hint that Young is all about cherries – there is even an annual festival held each December celebrating the fruit. (The 2011 Cherry Festival will be held from the second to the fourth of December.)  As you head into Young, cherry orchards dot the undulating hills and there are roadside stalls where you can pick up a box of fruit at a reasonable price throughout the cherry season (starting around November each year). Young is a fairly quiet little town but the cherry season sees the population get a boost from the tenacious cherry pickers who swarm on the town and set up tent cities which swelter through the hot dry Young summers.

If you do visit Young in the summer, several orchards offer you the option to pick your own cherries – if you try this, be prepared to sweat a bit! You could take the opportunity to practice your cherry pit-spitting for the Cherry Festival competition while you pick your bounty. Other stone fruits including plums and peaches should also be ripe for the taking throughout summer and there are strawberries and apples available seasonally too.

Roadside cherry stall, Young, NSW

In addition to the cherries, Young fights out the ‘Tidy Towns’ competition with gusto each year. The town has seen some successful projects and the most obvious example is the facelift which the Young Town Hall was given. This project didn’t take out a tidy towns honour but the Town Hall which dominates the streetscape is all the better for it. For the architecture buffs, there are some beautiful buildings scattered around Young dating back to the 1800s. There are plaques outlining the history of many of these historic buildings throughout the town so put your walking shoes on and see what you can discover! There is also a museum on Campbell Street and right opposite this, you can see the place where the Riot Act was read during the gold rush.

The new-look Young Town Hall

Historic Young Court House

Site of the reading of the Riot Act, Young, NSW

Another must do if you are in the Young region is try some wine from the Hilltops region. The Hilltops region wineries produce cool-climate wines including Semillon, Chardonnay and Shiraz. The Young Visitor Centre now has a cellar door offering many of the local Hilltops wines as well as other produce from the area. In addition the Young Visitor Centre has souvenirs and also houses the Burrangong Art Gallery featuring paintings and photographs from local artists.

Young Visitor Centre

Cellar door - Young Visitor Centre 

Young is located on the south west slopes of New South Wales and has caravan parks, motels and a variety of shops and restaurants as well as some B&B and farm stay options a little further out of town. Seasonal temperatures are extreme so rug up in winter and pack light in summer.

Next time you find yourself craving cherries, cherry pie, cherry wine, cherry liquor, Big Cherries or even a spot of gold panning, why not make the trip to Young – you might be pleasantly surprised!

Young Visitor Centre

Useful Links:

National Cherry Festival

"Pick Your Own" locations

Hilltops Wine Region