Galley Foods, Bobbin Head, Kuringai Chase National Park @Not Quite Nigella

Galley Foods, Bobbin Head, Kuringai Chase National Park

August 11, 2009 by Not Quite Nigella

First of all I need to start this story off with an apology to the people at Galley Foods. Mainly because up until my husband booked this last time I was sure I had been blacklisted from there. Long time readers probably know that I am on my Learner’s License. Our first attempt was aborted when my husband saw the windy, narrow road that I had to drive and said that it would scare the boots off me. He knows my driving limits and I deferred to him. The second and third times were with friends who got sick and then my husband got sick and I had to cancel each and every booking. So on my fourth attempt, I asked my husband to call them and book using his phone number. I’m sure if they heard the name “Lorraine” and my phone number they’d hang up on me after a long, derisive laugh.

So one sunny Saturday afternoon Rose, Ronald, Nr NQN and I piled into the car and took the 1.5 hour drive out to the Kuringai Chase National Park. After the Pacific Highway, the route turns into Bobbin Head Road which is a picturesque drive and we get to the National Parks entrance and pay $11 entry fee (per car). After that Mr NQN and I swapped roles and he drove the rest of the way. For normal people, the road would probably be fine but for a nervous driver like me, the narrowness of the roads and lack of lane demarcation was too much.

Once inside the Kuringai National Park, the drive is pretty with lots of trees and a small rainforest area and within a few minutes we make it to the Empire Marina. There are signs for Boat Hire and a sign that says “No Fishing” and looking down from the wharf we see lots of fish snacking on bread pieces. We take a seat and have a look at the menu which is reasonably priced and features a lot of cafe style and Modern Australian dishes. It’s a little chillier here as it’s by the water and many fellow diners take advantage of the red, blue and black blankets that they provide for warmth but when the sun is out, it’s gorgeous and hits the water just so. Service is very friendly and casual and everything conspires to make you feel like you’re on holiday.

The Menu

Cappucino $3.50

The Toby’s Estate cappucino is fantastically creamy and smooth and almost hot chocolatey. Rose and Ronald order one after tasting ours.

Salt and pepper Squid $18.50

The dish of the day is undoubtedly the salt and pepper squid. Tender as tender can be it’s perfectly seasoned and comes with a delicious spicy tartare sauce which is so good we ask for more.

Steak Sandwich $17

The flavours in the steak sandwich are delicious with the sweet caramelised onion, cucumber, rocket and chipotle sour cream. The steak itself is fairly typical of a steak sandwich steak in that it’s not the most tender cut but it’s not bad especially in combination with the other flavours.

Piri Piri Chicken Burger with fries $16

Mr NQN is sick again so he doesn’t share but I get a bite of the Piri Piri Chicken Burger with fries. The fries are a little cold but the burger is nice and fresh with a good portion of succulent marinated chicken. We see someone else’s beef burger go past us and it looks huge and requires a skewer to hold it all together.

Mezze Plate for two $18

I love mezze plates as they usually mean a whole lot of different flavours and this one has a nice selection with jamon, goat’s cheese, sun dried tomatoes (that are very sun dried), uber strong olives that remind me of red wine, rocket, chickpeas and grilled capsicum. I think a dip wouldn’t have gone astray and would have loved perhaps a hummous or similar dip instead of the chickpeas as the chickpeas just fell off the bread when I put them on top.

Apple and cinnamon crumble with ice cream $12

We can’t really fit in any more but we spy eight apple and cinnamon crumbles go past us and we can’t resist. We order one to share and wait the requisite 10-15 minutes while it is warmed. The crumble topping is made of oatmeal, butter and brown sugar and the apple and cinnamon filling underneath it is chunky and not too soft and there is a good ratio between the two. And of course it’s not complete without the vanilla ice cream.

Indigenous stone carving-can you see the fish?

Roo Poo Paper-yes paper made out of Kangaroo Poo!

After our meal we walk a bit of it off and read the signs that give us a bit of a history of the area (Bobbin is Aboriginal for “place of smoke”). We walk past the Indigenous stone carvings and visit the gift shop across the nearby bridge where we purchase some Lemon Myrtle black tea and see such curiousities as “Roo Poo paper”. Yes it’s paper made from pulp and Kangaroo poo! it’s a roughly textured paper and feels almost like Braille.

Spider Buttons perfect for Halloween!

So tell me Dear Reader, what the strangest thing you’ve ever seen in a gift shop?

Galley Foods

Shop 4, Empire Marina, Bobbin Head Road, Bobbin Head, Kuringai Chase National Park, NSW
Open 7 days
Monday to Friday 8.30am-4pm
(Take away only after 3.30pm)
Saturday and Sunday 8.00am-4pm
(Take away only after 3.30pm)
Kitchen closes 3pm

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Posted in Breakfast & Brunch, Cafe & Casual Eating, Eating, Restaurants by cuisine, Sydney - North, Sydney - West, With a View

41 Comments | Add your own

1. Su-yin | August 11, 2009 at 6:17 am | #

That salt and pepper squid looks amazing! I feel hungry now, and I just had dinner less than an hour ago!
2. Liss | August 11, 2009 at 7:10 am | #

oh! You were just down the road! Bummer about the fries, but everything else looks fabbo. We’ve had it on our list for ages, think we’ll make it sooner rather than later!

Strangest thing from a gift shop? In a Helsinki airport gift shop they had a jar of pickled herring giftpack, with chocolate. Weird combination, it’s stuck in my head ever since!
3. Trissa | August 11, 2009 at 7:22 am | #

OMG… I’m on my L plates too! I have flunked the driving test so many times that I am on a first name basis with driving testers in THREE different RTA offices. But I think you are on to something here… maybe I should start my driving practice to far off places with good food at the “end of the road” (hehe).
4. Julia @ Mélanger | August 11, 2009 at 7:48 am | #

Sounds like it was well worth the driving effort to get there! Beautiful spot.
5. Anita | August 11, 2009 at 8:07 am | #

It is a lovely spot there, isn’t it? Great review.
I haven’t seen kangaroo poo paper before… I’ve seen elephant poo paper in Thailand, although customs wouldn’t let us bring it back into Australia.
6. lisaiscooking | August 11, 2009 at 8:10 am | #

Sounds like a fun day, and the squid looks delicious! Our gift shop curiosities in Texas usually include tequila lollipops complete with a worm.
7. sandra | August 11, 2009 at 8:12 am | #

Sounds like a wondeful place to while away a few hours on a sunday. The calamari has got my mouth watering at 8 in the morning
8. Anh | August 11, 2009 at 8:16 am | #

*Secret* I am on L plate, too. I have been too lazy to get around because of that (And the fact that I am living in the CBD doesn’t help). Lovely trip! I would love to go there.
9. Tara | August 11, 2009 at 8:23 am | #

Strangest thing in a gift shop? There are lots of chocolates I have seen that are weird… Kama sutra ones… and choc covered nuts being marketed as possum, koala and kangaroo poo. Also lotsa Odd leather products, like the kangaroo scrotum coin pouches. seen them?
10. Jackie @ PhamFatale.com | August 11, 2009 at 8:26 am | #

I love seafood. I love calamari and squid. Just need to have the perfect cooking time otherwise it can get a little chewy.

It seems like you had a lot of fun!
11. Elisa McC | August 11, 2009 at 9:09 am | #

I am a sucker for a good S&P squid, so may have to make the trek (and hopefully they will have worked out teh heating issue on the frit’s).

Strangest thing in a gift shop would have to be the stuffed and laquered cane toads in Townsville/Magnetic Island, with Roo Scrotum Coin Purses a very close second (sent one of those to my MIL…she used it all the time until we told her what it was made from!)
12. Big M | August 11, 2009 at 9:09 am | #

Hi L, glad you liked it. It is one of my top locations. A real find xo M
13. Iron Chef Shellie | August 11, 2009 at 9:13 am | #

Roo Poo Paper? Now I’ve seen it all I can’t remember the weirdest thing, and I really should cos I’ve traveled throughout Australia to the weiiiird litle towns. Wish I was blogging way back then!

Hope Mr.NQN gets well soon, perhaps some chicken soup for the soul!
x
14. Jacq | August 11, 2009 at 9:15 am | #

What a nice location for a cafe. The salt and pepper squid looks tasty! $5.50 for kangaroo poo paper seems a bit much (and it’s on sale too!):P
15. sally | August 11, 2009 at 9:37 am | #

Can’t wait to go there. Thank you !
16. Katherine | August 11, 2009 at 10:15 am | #

Oh how I miss tobys coffee.
17. Liv | August 11, 2009 at 10:16 am | #

Mmmm…that chicken burger looks nice! (I’m not much of a seafood fan, so I’d probably pick that burger to eat! LOL) The crumble looks nice as well!

The strangest thing I’ve seen in a gift shop…Tara & Elisa have already mentioned it – the Kangaroo scrotum coin purse…I was very disturbed!! Actually, for a while, my dad’s fake leather coin purse was nicknamed ‘the scrotum’…but we abandoned that after a while, as it brought up horrible images! LOL
18. Sophia | August 11, 2009 at 11:32 am | #

didn’t know you were a nervous driver! I myself am a reckless driver
The piri piri burger looks awesome though! Definitely worth the drive!
19. Steph | August 11, 2009 at 12:14 pm | #

Ooh that salt and pepper squid looks delicious! And the apple crumble too. Those buttons are so cute, I can’t wait to see what you come up with for Halloween this year!
20. Trisha | August 11, 2009 at 1:11 pm | #

I measure the quality of a restaurant if they have really good salt and pepper squid – and these look succulent! And a very big LOL to the roo poo paper – that’s so interestingly creative in a very strange way
21. Faith | August 11, 2009 at 1:17 pm | #

What a lovely area, and the food looks fantastic! That apple crumble has me craving autumn weather so I can make apple pie!
22. Midge | August 11, 2009 at 1:57 pm | #

Seeing how I can’t have coffee, I found the cappuccino pic heartbreaking; it’s so beautiful!

Salt and pepper squid’s always been a fave and the crumble ~ ! *deep longing sigh*
23. Shanks | August 11, 2009 at 2:01 pm | #

I’m glad you finally made it there – the road is even windier if you come in from the Asquith entry!! One of the weirdest things I’ve seen is Moose poo attached to a keyring!!
24. Lulu | August 11, 2009 at 2:31 pm | #

I’d say the strangest thing would have to be ‘coffin nails’ at a gift shop. Weeeeeird.
25. Simon Food Favourite | August 11, 2009 at 2:36 pm | #

looks like a great S&P squid. how to you rate it out of all the ones you’ve tried?
26. Alexandra | August 11, 2009 at 2:44 pm | #

Sounds like a good day trip! And I’m glad you finally got to go after the numerous cancellations The calamari looked so good! Haven’t had calamari in a while…hmmm…
27. The Food Addicts | August 11, 2009 at 3:35 pm | #

Lorraine – just thought I’d let you know that I made your Portuguese Custard Tarts! They were really amazing! Thanks for the healthy-alternative recipe. I’ve given you credit on my post and linked back to your original post. =)
28. shaz | August 11, 2009 at 5:15 pm | #

Looks like a fantastic way to spend a sunny afternoon! I must be blind – I can’t work out where the stone-fish is …(I do wear glasses!)
29. Betty | August 11, 2009 at 5:23 pm | #

Looks like a lovely afternoon out! The salt & pepper squid looks so good, so does the apple crumble – I can never resist them
30. DeLaCour | August 11, 2009 at 6:32 pm | #

salt and peper squid , yummy “push it real good” . the strangest thing I saw a few years ago in a gift shop was a brooch made out of a chickens foot complete with signet ring on one of it’s claws
31. 5 Star Foodie | August 11, 2009 at 9:55 pm | #

Sounds like a beautiful spot! The food is all delicious, I would love to try the salt and pepper squid!
32. Moya | August 11, 2009 at 10:03 pm | #

Fish is in the top right quadrangle of the stoneface, looks like a large flounder! Grew up going to Bobbin Head on weekends and holidays, it’s the loveliest place at all times of the day but on public holidays like Christmas and Good Friday, it turns into the largest shared living room in the city!
33. grace | August 11, 2009 at 10:33 pm | #

ooooh apple crumble, why must you tempt me so? that crispy topping and perfect scoop of ice cream have ignited my saliva glands.
34. FFichiban | August 12, 2009 at 12:44 am | #

Oohh I really should go Bobbin Head during the day sometime! The view looks stunning and so does that crumble!
35. diva | August 12, 2009 at 2:04 am | #

what a cool place to dine! loves it! everything looks really yummy, especially the mezze platter and the salt and pepper squid.
36. Blond Duck | August 12, 2009 at 4:42 am | #

It looks lovely! I’d love to eat on the water.
37. Conor | August 12, 2009 at 10:10 am | #

What a beautiful spot! And that S&P squid is surely calling out to me.

Like a few other likeminded (ahem) commenters, I immediately thought of the roo scrotum coin bags. When they lived out in the bush, my friend’s brother used to make them by cutting the appropriate area off dead kangaroos that they would find, and then leaving them over ants nests so that ants would eat out all the meaty bits! Pretty gross yet also quite clever!
38. ArtemisIII | August 12, 2009 at 9:58 pm | #

The steak sandwich is such a good idea, lol.
It looks so lovely over there
39. Yas | August 13, 2009 at 1:25 am | #

Haha good to know you weren’t blacklisted after all is it? LOL

Hmm the S&P squid looks good and it’d be a perfect snack for my late night work.
40. pigpigscorner | August 13, 2009 at 5:51 pm | #

What a beautiful place and everything looks so yummy! But kangaroo poo?!
41. Not Quite Nigella | August 13, 2009 at 9:57 pm | #

Hi Su-yin -It was so good. Thinking about it makes me hungry

Hi Liss-What a lovely area you live in! I’d love to know what you think of it! Hehe pickled herring with chocolate together? Wow that’s kind of crazy!

Hi Trissa-Haha really! Oh you poor thing! Although I’m sure I’ll flunk my first and second (and possible third) time

Hi Julia-Definitely! It felt like we were on holidays

Hi Anita-It’s stunning! Aww no, was it rough like braille?

Hi lisa-We couldn’t have asked for a nicer day I am worm phobic so I don’t know if I could do one of those lollipops!

Hi sandra-It was perfect weather and a great day hehe sorry!

Hi Anh-So glad that there are more of you out there! I’d imaigne living in the CBD you’re quite close to a lot of things. But this is worth a little day trip!

Hi Tara -Oh yes that reminds me there are chocolate penises somewhere around here You know I haven’t ever seen one? Or perhaps I have but didn’t know what they were!

Hi Jackie-Yes they got the cookign time just right and it seems so many places don’t! We did indeed

Hi Elisa-Me too! I love it and this is definitely an awesome S&P squid. Hehe I’ve never seen a lacquered cane toad, although it sounds a little frightening! Haha how did she react? I can only imagine!

Hi Big M-Thanks so much for recommending it to us! xxx

Hi Iron Chef Shellie-I know! This was a first time for me. Thanks so much, I hope he does too!

Hi Jacq-Isn’t it just! I know, I wonder how much it would have been full price! :O

Hi sally-I’d love to know what you think of it!

Hi Katherine-It’s great isn’t it!

Hi Liv-Hehe yes I think it was all pretty good! I really should keep my eye out for it as I’ve never seen one. I’ve really missed out! LOL that’s hilarious!

Hi Sophia-I am a terribly nervous driver! Definitely worth the drive

Hi Steph-Oooh I can’t wait until Halloween! It’s my kind of holiday

Hi Trisha-Yes I think that’s a good measure! Yes so random and I’d love to know how they thought it up!

Hi Faith-We’re in the last weeks of Winter here so I’m wishing I had your weather!

Hi Midge-Oh you poor thing! may I ask why if that isn’t too nosy?

Hi Shanks-So am I! Eeek, that would be scary! LOL Moose poo on a keyring! :O

Hi Lulu-Oh wow, were they from a real, used coffin? :O That is very strange!

Hi Simon -A 9 out of 10? It was great!

Hi Alexandra-It was lovely and I love it when you’re rewarded with food in the end That was so worth it!

Hi The Food Addicts-Oh great! Thanks so much for letting me know and thanks for the link back!

Hi shaz-It was lovely It’s on the right hand side of the rock and it looks a bit like a Jesus fish

Hi Betty-It was, thankfully we had really nice weather!

Hi DeLaCour-Oh my, that’s hilarious! Did you buy it just because it was so strange?

Hi 5 Star Foodie-It was so nice and relaxing. I love feeling like I’m on holidays

Hi Moya-Yup true! I can imagine, it would be the nicest picnic spot!

Hi grace-Hehe I said the same thing!

Hi FFichiban-Oh you should and you’re close-ish!

Hi diva-Yes if only it were closer I’d be there all the time!

Hi Blond Duck-I love eating by the water on a sunny day

Hi Conor-Hehe it does that! I feel like I’m really missing out having never seen (or touched!) one Although maybe that’s not a bad thing! Oh my, that’s gross but funny and such a kid thing really!

Hi ArtemisIII-It was great! Such a relaxing atmosphere

Hi Yas-I was glad that hubby could reserve a table. Who knows, I might still be blacklisted Can’t wait for you to do some 2am S&P squid!

Hi pigpigscorner -It was! Yes I know, that’s a first for me too