Kettle and Seed/Snowy Mountains Coffee, Cooma

Banana bread fresh-baked at Kettle and Seed, Cooma

The Style:Kettle and Seed manages a unique combination of edgy and quaint. There are really cool touches like a string of coffee cups hovering gamely above the front window as well as some great art on the walls and charts explaining different coffee flavours. The sweetness of the place comes from touches like the type of coffee ordered being handwritten in flowing script on your saucer and sugar bowls and spoons just like something straight from nanna's kitchen replacing the less appealing glass stuffed with sugar sachets. There is a real focus on eco-friendliness refelcted not only in the sugar bowl idea but also the re-usable cups on sale and the 'green' takeaway cups. The back of the cafe is dominated by a huge roaster which serves as a reminder that the coffee at Kettle and Seed is brewed and roasted on-site. It is sold as SNowy Mountains Coffee so if you love it (which you most certainly will!) you can take a bag home with you.

The Taste:The local flavour continues not only with the coffee roasted on-site but also the muffins cakes and other sweet treats baked in the kitchen daily, the bread brought in from the nearby Berridale Bakery and the house-made lemonade and iced tea. Nothing here is short on freshness or flavour.

Oh-so-chocolatey muffin baked on-site, Kettle and Seed, Cooma

Snowy Mountains Coffee roasted right here, Kettle and Seed, Cooma

Sugar bowl and coffee beans, Kettle and Seed, Cooma

The Service: The staff here know and love their products and they take the time to chat without being overbearing and pushy. The service is slick and comes with a smile.

The Price: Considering the quality and care that goes into what you get at Kettle and Seed, the prices are great. It is right on par with other cafes in the area for pricing.

The Location: Kettle and Seed and Snowy Mountains Coffee is located on Vale Street in Cooma (just off the Highway).

Home made lemonade, Kettle and Seed, Cooma

To see more reviews of Kettle and Seed and other restaurants in the area, use the urbanspoon spoonback link.

Seasons in the NSW Snowy Mountains

Snowgum blanketed in snow, Charlotte Pass, Kosciuszko National Park

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be strolling through the mountains as a huge storm slowly crowded out the bright blue summer sky. There was the smell of electricity in the air and the sound of thunder rattling through the peaks rustling up the thick blanket of grass which carpeted the hills.

What a difference a few weeks in the mountains makes! Autumn has arrived with a shiver and as the leaves are blazing red, orange and yellow in town, the fashionable colour in higher altitudes this week is definitely white. 

I had a facial that money can't buy courtesy of the mountain winds blowing sleet into my face (strangely invigorating!) and haven't felt so alive in a long time. The snow gums were doing their best to brighten the view and certainly didn't disappoint in their fluffy blankets of fresh snow. 

What an amazing reminder of how beautiful this little corner of the world I call home is! 

Snowy outlook from Charlotte Pass toward the Snowy River

              

Snow clinging to boulder, Kosciuszko National Park

Sydney Writers' Centre Best Australian Blogs 2012 Nominee!!

Just a little note to let you know One Hungry Hen is a nominee in the Sydney Writers' Centre Best Australian Blogs 2012 competition.


As an absolute beginner in the blogosphere, I see this is a great chance to look at what all of the other clever Aussie bloggers are up to and get some ideas on how to refine what I am up to. I am hoping to re-focus and rejuvenate my little project to keep it interesting and relevant.


If you want to vote for One Hungry Hen (PLEASE!), I have attached the link here.


Once you get there, hit next. There is an alphabetical list of blogs so to find me, you will have to skip through to the O page. Once done, keep hitting next until you get to the end where you need to verify that you are actually you, not just me voting for myself over and over. Don't forget to hit 'done' at the end so your vote counts! The whole thing takes about a minute so a pretty painless way to stay on my Christmas card list.


While you are there, there are another 1023 blogs listed so if any jump out, why not pay them a visit and if you like them, send a vote their way too! 

Your votes make me this happy!

Cooma Show

Cooma Show champion ribbon

I'm a real sucker for shows. I think it stems back to my childhood when my mum and my aunty took me to the Sydney Royal Easter Show every year. I can remember spending hours trawling my way through mountains of sugary, fatty once a year treats (I still think deep fried cheese on a stick has to be one of the all time best bad foods!), looking at the animals all sleek, shiny and ready to be judged then, right at the end of the day, wandering around the gargantuan show bag hall. Through the eyes of a child, the bright plastic trinkets and lollies pinned to the display boards became immediate must-have items and luckily, mum usually gave in and obliged.

While the country shows I have stumbled across since moving west are on a much smaller scale, they still offer the chance to be a kid again even if it is just for a few hours.

Each country shows also offer a little window into the community which is hosting  it - you get to see the beady eyed stalwarts guarding the exhibitions and casting a critical eye over the entries as well as some of the talented and creative local people proudly hovering around their animals, crafts or cakes in the hope that they might get a ribbon or two.

So in the spirit of the shows, here are a few pictures from the recent Cooma Show - it fell right in the middle of some absolutely terrible weather so a lot of the exhibits were cancelled but there was still plenty to see and do. Enjoy.

Prize winning ram, Cooma Show

Floral display, Cooma Show

Champion eggs, Cooma Show

Australian Federation Guard, Cooma Show

Her Excellency, Governor General Quentin Bryce, Cooma Show

Fruit and vegetable display, Cooma Show

Champion Fleece, Cooma Show

Showbags galore! Cooma Show

Sideshow alley, Cooma Show

Tasty treats?? Cooma Show

Cooma Show

Best seat in the house, chicken snuggling on a sheep, Cooma Show

Ram, Cooma Show

Bacco Italian Restaurant and Bacco Pizzeria, Jindabyne, NSW

Rocket and prosciutto pizza, Bacco, Jindabyne

The Style: Bacco Italian Restaurant in Jindabyne is a cosy, simply furnished restaurant although it does have a pretty eye-catching replica of Michelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam' which dominates the area above the bar. There is warm wood panelling and some coloured glass in the rear windows but other than that, the food does the talking rather than the interior.

Tacky or terrific? Artwork at Bacco Italian Restaurant, Jindabyne

Bacco Italian Restaurant, Jindabyne

The Taste: There are two Baccos - one is a more casual pizza restaurant, the other has a fuller menu. The food comes in portions which are huge - my salad entree could have easily held its own as a main. The food here is laced with lashings of dressing, garlic, salt and other yummy things but in a couple of the dishes it bordered on being a bit too much.


The food is not served in delicate, fussy portions. It is more homely and hearty which bodes well on a cold winter day. Come to Bacco if you are after generous, no fuss food, probably steer clear if you are expecting a flashy meal.

Seafood chowder, Bacco Italian Restaurant, Jindabyne 

Pear and prosciutto salad, Bacco Italian Restaurant, Jindabyne

Marinara Pizza, Bacco Italian Restaurant, Jindabyne.

The Service: The service at Bacco in Jindabyne can be SLOW. On my most recent visit, there were only three occupied tables but we waited almost an hour between courses. The plus was that the waitress came and explained the reason for the delay and offered a complimentary drink while we waited.


The price: Meals at Bacco are priced around $15-$20 for a main course, slightly less for entrees and desserts.

Passionfruit pannacotta, Bacco Italian Restaurant, Jindabyne

Brandy snap basket, Bacco Italian Restaurant, Jindabyne

The Location: Bacco Italian Restaurant and Bacco Pizzeria are located in the Nuggets Crossing complex in Jindabyne. Nuggets Crossing is off Kosciuszko Road, Jindabyne.

Charlotte Pass to Blue Lake walk, Koscisuszko National Park

Blue Lake, Kosciuszko National Park

Before doing this walk, I had read a few people's thoughts on it and the consensus seemed to be that it is prettier and less crowded that the Thredbo to Mt Kosciuszko walk.


On the second count, I have to agree - during the few hours walking, we only passed about six other people compared with the Kosciuszko walk where at times it felt like jostling for position on Pitt Street at peak hour. In terms of which walk is prettier, I think that is like comparing apples with oranges - both have some absolutely spectacular scenery, the kind of awe inspiring panoramas that make you feel like a tiny speck in an amazing world!

Storm brewing between Charlotte Pass and Blue Lake, Kosciuszko National Park

Charlotte Pass is now the end of the road beyond Perisher. In times past, you could keep driving but these days you will hit a cul-de-sac come parking lot and this is where your trip begins. A few different walks start from here and there is a public toilet. There is apparently also food available at the nearby resort but I packed a picnic. The start of the Blue Lake walk is STEEP - keep in mind this is also the path out at the end and it is a killer! The start/finish also involves some hop-skip and jumping across the Snowy River on stepping stones which looked more like pebbles to my unconfident eyes. That said, I did make it although a few of them might give a little wobble just to keep you on your toes...


The walk undulates through the hills so it seems like just as your legs are really about to give up, there is a nice downhill run to pep you back up. The criticism I have of this walk is that (unlike the Thredbo to Kosciuszko walk) there is no real information about how far there is to go - there are some boards with information on the area but nothing to let you know where you are in relation to Blue Lake. It took about an hour and 45 minutes to reach the lake and maybe an hour and ten minutes back (more downhill). 

Gnarly snow gum, Kosciuszko National Park

The storm which gradually brewed overhead on the way to Blue Lake meant I only saw a fleeting glimpse of it with the sun making the water glow an amazing aqua colour but that little glimpse has made me want to go back on a clearer day because it was amazing. There is a lookout which lets you see Blue Lake at its best and catch your breath before making the homeward journey.


Important things to remember if hiking from Charlotte Pass to Blue Lake:
 - The road to Charlotte Pass closes in the winter
 - Some parts of the walk including the very end are extremely steep
 - The weather in the mountains can change very quickly so be prepared
 - You will need to buy a National Parks Pass for the drive - there is a booth on the way where you can get one of these and a map

Snowy River, Charlotte Pass

Mossy granite, Kosciuszko National Park

The Lott, Cooma

The Lott, Cooma

The Style: The Lott in Cooma has that clever knack of being both trendy and rustic, cutting edge and cosy. It is a mish-mash of rough, warm wood and wicker baskets full of fruit clashing with bright,garish splashes of colour and the most amazing light fixture made of collanders and bare bulbs. The Lott has a wine barrel topped with free tasters of the gourmet oils, sauces and breads which are sold there as well as cupboards and shelves heaving with fresh fruit and veges, homewares, gardening gear, plants and of course, plenty to fill your tummy with over a Snowy Mountains Coffee.

Warm interiors and open kitchen, The Lott, Cooma

The rustic touch, The Lott, Cooma

The Taste: The Lott serves up a pretty high class menu - lots of nice ingredients teamed up in simple but delicious combinations. On a good day, the food at the Lott is faultless - just the other day I had some of THE best pancakes I have ever tasted. Unfortunately, it isn't always this way - I have also been dished up a pile of dry crumbs posing as a muffin (although I suspect this was the fault of the disinterested teenage waiter who microwaved it for way too long, forgot to bring it out and then, after a gentle prompt served it cold.) I do think that you are more likely than not to get good food here but I wish it hit the mark every time because then it would be a seriously great place to eat rather than a good one which has the occasional slip into mediocrity. And one last thing, the mushrooms at The Lott are cooked in olive oil - not a scrap of butter to be seen. Biting into a mushroom to have a big squirt of oil coat your mouth is not too pleasant and so hopefully they might switch to butter soon!

'Breakfast with the Lott', The Lott, Cooma

Scrambled eggs and mushrooms, The Lott, Cooma

Smoked trout eggs, The Lott, Cooma

Strawberry and ricotta pancakes, The Lott, Cooma

The Service: Like the food, the service at The Lott can be amazing one day and horrendous the next. The more experienced staff do a great job and really keep the place ticking over. The problem is, there are a lot of bored, disinterested looking kids floating around the floor some days which makes you feel like the service at McDonalds is something to cheer about. The Lott expanded a while back and it is great that such a place exists but beware for the service to see-saw depending on who comes to your table.

Free tasting - The Lott, Cooma

The Price: The food at the Lott is a little more expensive than an average Cooma cafe and on a good day when a perfect combination of really good ingredients comes your way, it is worth every cent. There have been a couple of times where I have thought that the pricing hasn't matched the service or the food but the good meals and experiences are starting to outweigh the bad so hopefully this is a sign that the management are ironing out some of the teething problems which the expansion may have created. Lets just hope The Lott didn't get too big for its super-trendy boots!


The Location: The Lott is located at 178 Sharp Street (Snowy Mountains Highway), Cooma.

Homewares for sale, the Lott, Cooma