Hunter Baker Rises Above Rest

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday November 14, 2007

JENNY TARRAN

IT'S official, Thompson & Son's Bakery is the best in the state after theirs was named the most successful bread exhibition at the Sydney Baking Show.

The Sydney Baking Show was contested by 110 bakeries, including large franchise bakeries, who entered 420 different products, and entries came from interstate as well.

Along with the overall most successful bread exhibition award, Thompson & Son's also had its white loaf named champion at the show. In all Thompson & Son's picked up seven firsts, five seconds and two third places to take the coveted most successful bread exhibitor crown.

Bakery manager Steven Harvie said that this was the first year that the bakery had entered a huge range of shows, including the Orange and Port Macquarie shows, after having a "dabble" at competitions last year.

"Last year we had a dabble at two or three shows and we won something each

time so we decided that we would enter Sydney this year. We decided to get serious," Mr Harvie said.

With a sizeable staff and seven outlets, the range of products that Thompson & Son's included in the Sydney competition was huge, from its white loaf through to plain scones, cup cakes, decorated mud cakes, dampers, pasties and jam swiss rolls to name a few.

"We were also close to being named most successful cake and pastry exhibitor at Sydney as well, which is unique as there is usually a bias to bread or a bias for cakes and at Orange and Port Macquarie this year we won both sections," he said.

Thompson & Son's award winning products are available at the Newcastle Mall, Wallsend Plaza, Raymond Terrace, Warabrook, at two outlets in Cessnock and one at Singleton, with another opening soon at Rutherford.

Calm Christmas

IF you want a completely decadent Christmas, then it is time to book at the Old George and Dragon at East Maitland.

The Morphys have been putting on special Christmas Day lunches for the past 20-odd years and this year's will be no exception, with chef Ian Morphy putting together a seven-course festive feast along with coffee and petit fours.

The cost is $165 for adults and $75 for the special children's menu.

As the Christmas decorations are about to be put up at the George and Dragon, now is the time to book for that special Christmas Day feast. Bookings can be made on 4933 7272.

Taylor + TAFE = terrific

A SPECIAL degustation will be held on Thursday night at Maitland TAFE with chef Lesley Taylor in the kitchen supported by Certificate 4 Students.

Chef Taylor has prepared a degustation menu with all the courses matched to Margan wines and there are a few seats left for this special dinner.

Tickets are $65 a person and bookings can be made on 4930 2874.

Lakehouse lures

WHILE there are hardly any houses in the new Murrays Beach development south of Swansea, there is a great barbecue and play area and the Lakehouse Cafe.

The Lakehouse Cafe is a small cafe to the side of the development's information centre and it serves up some great Schibello coffee along with soft drinks, ice-creams for the kids and Whisk and Pin cookies, including gluten-free varieties; and then there is a range of a fresh gourmet sandwiches, salads and Patchett's Pies.

The salads include satay chicken with Asian noodles, which are served in Asian takeaway boxes complete with chopsticks, and all the food is prepared by Deeanne Fonti, chef and co-owner with her husband Robert.

The Fontis are well known in the region as they have the hugely successful modern Italian restaurant Salina at Belmont South.

The Lakehouse Cafe overlooks the village green section of the Murrays Beach development where developers Stockland have been running a series of open-air cinemas.

The cafe is also close to the children's play area, which has been extensively tested by the Fontis' own two children, and there is also a huge barbecue and lakeside picnic area.

The Lakehouse Cafe is open seven days from 11am to 3pm as well as when special open-air cinema nights are held. Murrays Beach is south of the Swansea roundabout on the way to Sydney.

Elsewhere, all's well

THE Fontis' other place, Salina, is still going strong and is open from Tuesday to Sunday, with dinner available each night from 5pm.

The menu features duck rillettes with pear and walnut salad, $18.50, available as an entree, while whitebait fritters with smoked salmon, avocado salsa and salmon pearls are available as an entree and a main, $18.50 to $28.50.

Other double servings include barbecue prawns and parmesan crumbed soft shell crab.

Along with the a la carte section of the menu there is a huge range of pizzas, from $19.90 to $21.90, and a range of pastas from $14.40.

The restaurant still has that great children's dining area in the enclosed courtyard but there has been one big change: Salina is now licensed, with a good range of wines available. Bringing along your own bottle of wine is still fine and there is a $2.20 corkage fee for each drinker.

Salina is at 787 Pacific Highway, Belmont South. Bookings can be made on 4945 3005.

jtarran@theherald.com.au

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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