The last couple of years have seen some changes and additions in Kenmore. Brothers Greg and Daniel Pennisi own Ingredients Deli and Kenmore Fresh in Kenmore Village and have a great range of products. Always up with the latest, particularly in exotic fruit and vegetable lines but also stocking some of my favourite brands. One of these is Careme Pastry, made by ex-Brisbane chef William Wood who now lives in the Barossa Valley. William has added to his four pastry types with two gluten free doughs that are a dream to work with. Because they are lacking in gluten there is no shrinkage when being baked and the flavour is excellent.
I recently bought some fresh currants – tiny little black grapes bursting with flavour that had been grown in the Riverina region and I hear that apple picking has started on the Granite Belt so look out for some new season fruit.
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The Single Guys cafe opened early last year with a simple menu (due to a sever lack of kitchen facilities) and is now my favourite place to have a cuppa in Kenmore. They roast their own coffee as well as supply to other outlets and my order of flat white is perfect every time. I admit to being a bit fussy about my coffee (I suspect along with many other Australians) and like a “flat” coffee; not a cappucino, minus chocolate and lots of fluff on top. A brunch of sourdough, avocado and feta is nothing new but this place uses good quality ingredients and keeps it simple and keeps me coming back.
Right next door is Julia Matusik who has been building up a customer base by selling her baked goods at the Moggill Markets every fortnight for the last few years. A few weeks prior to Christmas she opened Julia’s Pantry, a delightful shop full of the aromas from the kitchen onsite and packed with an eclectic mix of all things to do with food. At the entrance are a good range of seedlings ready for the herb and vegie patch. Julia makes excellent preserves and tables are stacked with jars of jams, pickles, chutneys and lots more. There are also freshly made take home meals and pasta sauces and for busy people lunch box and breakfast items such as vegetable tarts and slices, muffins and muesli bars. Basic pantry items of good quality flours, grains, beans and more, a small selection of refrigerator items such as Myrtleford butter can also be found. Julia has a great understanding of people with dietary needs and many of her offerings are suitable for those on gluten free, diabetic, vegetarian diets and more.
My favourite butcher just up the road is James Starr at James Connoisseur Meats who stocks Nolan’s Beef from Gympie and the most delicious Tasmanian lamb. James has also added to his traditional meats with many other products including the superb seafood from Harris Smokehouse in Hahndorf, local Brisbanite Suzanne Quintner with her range of Moroccan and Spanish inspired products and Princi Smallgoods from Western Australia.
4/2069 Moggill Road, Kenmore (07) 3378 1481
Wild Canary is a new restaurant set to open in mid-February at Brookfield Garden Centre on Moggill Road just west of Kenmore. Owned by Scott and Robin McLay, this latest addition to their business will be welcomed by everyone on the western side of the city as well as people coming into Brisbane from Toowoomba and further west. Glen Barrett, ex head chef at Restaurant Two will lead the kitchen team and he will have his own kitchen garden on the approach path to the restaurant for a handy supply of produce. Wild Canary will open for breakfast and lunch and also serve morning and afternoon teas with freshly made in house cakes. Why the name of Wild Canary – because there is a splendid wild canary palm in the middle of the restaurant.
www.brookfieldgardencentre.com.au
The De Jong family settled in Upper Brookfield around 1950 and have been farming ever since. Every January for a few weekends they sell their mango crop in Kenmore and now is the time. I hang out for these mangoes to make my mango chutney for the year as well as freezing some puree to use in cakes and breads after the season has finished. Mangoes will be on sale this weekend and next (25 & 26 January and 1 & 2 February) in the driveway of Mark McCarthy Automotive on the Kenmore Roundabout and at $15 for a tray of perfect Kensington Pride (Bowen) mangoes, it is a great bargain.
Other food finds are Sichuan Bang Bang, a restaurant specialising in Sichuan style food. This must be one of the best value restaurants in Brisbane and the food is excellent. My only gripe is that making bookings is a bit erratic but keep persisting as it is worth it.
Cafe Tres Bon open in the latter half of 2013 and the owners have turned what was the Kenmore Police Station into a lovely cafe with a welcoming deck.
The Kenmore Tavern has recently undergone a complete renovation, now known as The Kenmore and the bistro has been given a new look. The predictable menu centred on steak seems to be drawing good numbers of people and on a recent visit my steak was cooked medium rare as ordered and wine choices by the glass covered a single selection of the popular varieties.
Aldi supermarket is set to open soon which will add to Coles and Woolworths but sadly there are no small independent supermarkets still existing. What we do have are some excellent small businesses who understand customer service so please support them.
Seasonal Pursuits 