Vero Cafe Narellan Town Centre NSW
One of the most infurating things as a coeliac, if going out shopping, and the lack of selection for both snacks and lunch. Often your limited to sushi, chips ( and risk the oil, batter etc), salads (then numerous questions regarding the content of the dressing) and then there is the occassional cafe that sells a few gluten free cakes!
I don't live near the city, I am at what you could call the bottom of the Southern Highlands, a semi rural, small but expanding country town. Out here the blocks are significantly larger, and the house prices somewhat cheaper, the down side to this lifestyle is living 20-30 minutes from the nearest major shopping complex, movies, multiple restarants etc. Subsequently my selection of gf food is even less than it was before.
However, I am a frequent visitor of Narellan Town Centre (the closest shopping centre). I recently stumbled across a lovely cafe Vero Cafe, it has recently changed ownership, as I walked closer I saw the sign I love to see the gf symbol!
eds were met, the coffee was delicious as were all the meals.
My second visit was to sample the gf cakes and coffee. I had a delicious chocolate cheesecake, it was so cute!, in a little patty cake holder. The texture was betweem cheesecake and cake and the size was perfect! My dearest friend had the gf chocolate cake (she is not coeliac or gluten intolerant, the cake simply looked delicious!), it was simply delectable! It had a ganache type icing, and the inside was so rich and moist and yummy!! The two of us couldn't finish one piece of cake! The prices were very resonable between $4.50 and $5.50 per cake! The selection of gf cakes was also outstanding!
The first time I ate at this wonderful cafe, was for lunch with girlfriends, one of my friends mother and two prams! We carefully positioned ourself in a corner, as the cafe is on the smallish size, we didn't want to take up all the room! After we arranged our seating, I picked up the menu......
I have been back numerous times, in which I have the gf toasted sandwiches, delicious mango and pistachhio macarons! Each time I visit the cafe, which is quite frequently, there seems to be a new selection of delicious gf cakes to tantilse your taste buds! I have also tried a delicious crispy asian salad, also gf. The sizes and prizes are always perfect! The coffee is a natural rainforest belnd and is always made to perfection!
WOW!!! I was so excited, there was not only a gluten free vegetable fritta with a delicious side serving of salad, for a very reasonable price, but there was also gluten free bread available! You could choose to have the bread fresh or toasted, for only an additional $1 (considering it costs at least $5.50 for a loaf of gf bread, this is a resonable price!). I was more than happy to pay the additional dollar!
How exciting!!, I could have a toasted sandwich if I wanted! If you had asked me before I was diagnosed if I would get excited over a toasted sandwich the answer would have been NO! But gf bread is so hard to find at Cafe's, and it's so nice to feel normal, to have a simple toasted sandwich, and have the confidence that you won't get sick!
Aside from the food, the service was outstanding. I was ensured that all of the food was gf, and this was guaranteed as the owner was a coeliac and sampled the food herself! That was enough convinving for me!
The final element that makes this Cafe a step above the rest, is not just the gf options, but they also take orders. That's right you read correctly! So if you fall in love with a cake, you can simply place your order and have it on a regular basis!
If you are a local, or are travelling through the Camden, Narellan, Macarthur area, I suggest you stop in at the town centre and try this wonderful Vero Cafe! I would also suggest visiting this cafe, if you are thinking of establishing your own cafe with gluten free options and use this as a base, a guideline for how to develop your own succesful gluten friendly cafe!
You will find the cafe at the Woolworths end of the Town Centre, if you have any queries you can call ahead on 4647 6001!
Enjoy and let me know how your visit is, tell them that the gluten free blogger sent you, they will know who I am! I can't wait to hear your opinion, but they get 5 stars from me!
6 Months Picton NSW
A few Friday nights ago, I had the pleasure of going out to dinner with an old friend. We were fortunate enough to gain a reservation at '6 Months', a new restaurant in Picton (for locals its underneath the Pumphouse Gym). I've tried a few times to get a booking to this new trendy restaurant, so needless to say I was excited to finally get in!
The restaurant is only small, but that adds to the ambidence created by the overall design. The style is very minimilist, but trendy and extremley city like. Something that a small country town like Picton needs. The setting is a french style, with the decor and walls painted white, and for me the feature was an old rustic ladder, leaning tenderley against the wall. All of these things made a marvellous combination to enhancing the overall mood of the restaurant, and the evening for indivudal groups of diners.
The menu is written on a large blackboard, no individual menus that have been handled numerous times by others, but something nice and big in print, for all to read. The basis of the meals is shared plates, very similar to a Tapas style of dining. All drinks are also for you to bring (how great is that!), water however is provided, and was the drink of choice for both of us on that night.
We had a fantastic waiter, who was not only well mannered, but well versed in the content of the menu (not a trait found in all waiters!). I was in total and utter amazement when I discovered that there was only one meal that I couldn't eat! Generally it's only one meal that I can eat. The extremely talented chef cooks in gluten freee flours to ensure all patrons can experience the delight of the vast majority of the menu! Needless to say I was very excited! A definate restuarant to go to for any coeliacs or gluten intoerlant people!
When a restaurant endeavours to take on the idea of shared plates of their main method for serving food, its the pace that the meals are brought out that makes all the difference! To begin, we had the cured beef, which was cold beef (it had the taste and texture of a prostitio type meant), with sweet potato and a delicious sauce. The presentation was suberb, in theme with the rustic style of the restaurant, dishes were served in a ceramic bowl, with additional cultery for each person to put on their plate. The cured beef, left a lingering delicious flavour in your mouth, activatiting my tastebuds to a whole new level.
There was enough time to digest the first plate and indulge in some catch up converstation before the next dish was served. Our second dish was pulled pork, accompained by a white bean salsa. The pork literally melted in your mouth, with an expolision of various tastes mixed with the salsa, the pork was simply delicious and highly recommended.
The final dish was handcut chips, accompanied by a handmade garlic aioli! They were simply delightful and a fantastic final dish to a lovely meal.
I definately recommend everyone in the Macarthur area to try this hidden gem of the'Dilly'. Prices are extremley reasonable at $30 per head for a selection of 5 dishes from the menu or $45 for all 10 dishes on the menu. With BYO for all drinks, this calls for a very affordable and enjoyable evening at a remarkable restaurant. For bookings at '6 Months' call 0467 666 036.
Enjoy and let me know your thoughts on this great restaurant.
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