- Jill Dyson,
- Southern Highlands, NSW, Australia
- Click on the link to read Jill's latest blog post. Jill has been running FoodPath in the Southern Highlands of NSW with her partner Nick since April 2010. They have grown the business to a level where they now include a range of activities including tours, workshops and collaboration with others (cooking schools, wineries, etc). During the past 10 years Jill and Nick have got to know the local producers and continue to promote and support these local small businesses. They have organised and run many food related activities including taste education workshops and producer visits. It was after they organised a successful tour for a group of chefs from some of the best restaurants in Sydney that they realised they could turn their interest into a business - and this led to the setting up of FoodPath - Culinary Tours with a Difference. Now Jill and Nick are working closely with Southern Highlands Tourism and Wingecarribee Council to help raise the profile of their area as a food destination where everyone will benefit - tourists, local consumers and the producers themselves.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Have you ever stopped at Marulan to visit the Meridian Cafe? If not, you should!
I love it when these small country towns have a great cafe that acts as a meeting place for locals and attracts visitors too.
Robert and Alison have been in the area for the past 14 years and started the cafe about 8 years ago. They have tried different opening hours to find the best configuration for them and their customers - and think they have cracked it now. They don't open for dinner but are open 6 days a week for lunch. Simple menu, everything freshly made on site and very reasonable prices.
Their customers mainly come from surrounding properties or people meeting halfway between Canberra and Sydney to catch up over lunch. And what a great idea! Yesterday when we were there one couple we know from Berrima were lunching with friends from Sydney who have a property at Marulan - a good example.
The food is all made in house by Alison who has a close relationship with a permaculture farm just out of town. Her salads are from there and included rose petals and the freshest greens.
We are interested in seeking out farms to visit in the Marulan area hence our "market research" and looks like there could be Boer goats, olive oil and maybe some historic houses. Wouldn't that be fun!
Anyway we will keep you posted.
In the meantime if you are passing Marulan, turn off the Hume Highway and find the Meridian Cafe in the main street - you can't get lost :) Tell them we sent you!
I love it when these small country towns have a great cafe that acts as a meeting place for locals and attracts visitors too.
Robert and Alison have been in the area for the past 14 years and started the cafe about 8 years ago. They have tried different opening hours to find the best configuration for them and their customers - and think they have cracked it now. They don't open for dinner but are open 6 days a week for lunch. Simple menu, everything freshly made on site and very reasonable prices.
Their customers mainly come from surrounding properties or people meeting halfway between Canberra and Sydney to catch up over lunch. And what a great idea! Yesterday when we were there one couple we know from Berrima were lunching with friends from Sydney who have a property at Marulan - a good example.
The food is all made in house by Alison who has a close relationship with a permaculture farm just out of town. Her salads are from there and included rose petals and the freshest greens.
We are interested in seeking out farms to visit in the Marulan area hence our "market research" and looks like there could be Boer goats, olive oil and maybe some historic houses. Wouldn't that be fun!
Anyway we will keep you posted.
In the meantime if you are passing Marulan, turn off the Hume Highway and find the Meridian Cafe in the main street - you can't get lost :) Tell them we sent you!
