Grazing platters and picnics are a perfect match at Bistro Eden | Food Bites

"The property itself is called Watagan Lodge - which we lease a part of - and is owned by the Mansfield family and available for use by customers of Bistro Eden and residents of the lodge," Ailish explained.

"We have been operating out of the site for several years through our sister business Eden Catering. It has always been such a beautiful spot and we have been honoured to be allowed by the Mansfield family to share it with the locals."

Matt and Ailish have both worked in hospitality "from a young age", she says, "Matt in the kitchen and me front of house both on the Central Coast and in Sydney".

"Matt is the executive chef overseeing both businesses but predominantly cooking in the bakery. He did his training in leading hotels and restaurants in Sydney and loves sourcing in-season fresh market produce, with a classical approach to cooking. His food has a natural and vibrant appeal."

Bistro Eden is open for breakfast (8am to 11am) and lunch (11am to 2pm), Tuesday to Saturday. The breakfast menu ranges from a tropical fruit salad with toasted granola through to bacon and egg rolls, croissants, and smashed avocado with fetta, heirloom tomato, baby herb salad and pomegranates.

Lunch? Think shaved zucchini flowers with heritage tomato, burrata and basil pesto; vegan bao buns; cold-smoked ocean trout carpaccio with raw beets, shaved carrot, pink grapefruit and lime mayo; or a ploughman's platter for two.

Everything on the menu is available for dine in or take away. Bistro Eden also sells grazing boxes.

"They are perfect to have relaxing in our garden with the family or as takeaway for a picnic, if you're on the road. Many of our customers order them as a gift for friends and family as well," Ailish said.

"We have a lovely open deck, gravelled courtyard, public seating in the bamboo garden for our takeaway customers and lots of grass for picnics. We have loved seeing extended family picnics on Saturdays, with grandparents enjoying kicking a soccer ball on the grass with their grandchildren and everyone enjoying bakery treats while watching."

Bistro Eden is also introducing a Pop-Up Table Share Lunch this Saturday, November 27. The cost is $55 per person (BYO wine, no corkage charge) and the menu is shared platters: slow braised lamb shoulder with confit garlic and rosemary potatoes, heirloom carrots and red wine jus; hot smoked huon salmon with pickled cucumber, pomegranate and baby herbs; harissa roasted eggplant with pomegranate, pistachio, heirloom tomatoes and tzatziki; roast pumpkin, fresh figs and baby zucchini with labneh, sourdough crumbs and thyme honey; and green bean salad, broad beans, mint and witlof with extra virgin olive oil and crumbed fetta.

Book by emailing bistro@edencatering.com.au or phone 4977 1335. Minimum bookings of four. Bookings are essential and close tomorrow.

Speers Point Park on Lake Macquarie is the place to be, it seems. Not only has Harry & Lola's cafe opened there as part of the newly-launched Multi-Arts Pavilion, Table 1 Espresso is also claiming its patch of the park.

The popular Warners Bay cafe owned and run by George James is branching out and he couldn't be happier.

"We've taken over the cafe in the park right next to the Football Fives facility and the playground, and we've gutted the inside," he said, revealing that he had signed a 15-year lease. "We're making it classy and elegant - we're going all out."

James lives in Speers Point and walks through the park daily. He has seen firsthand how busy the park gets when the markets are on, or if it's simply a sunny day, and says Table 1 will be "like a lighthouse smack bang in the middle of it all".

"The cafe has a takeaway window that's adjacent to the playground and we'll be offering healthy and naughty choices. We know what kids want. We'll be sticking with what we have worked so hard on over the years - our modern Australian menu."

He expects to open later in December or early in the New Year.

David Antcliff, Lake Macquarie City Council's executive manager of future city precincts, had this to say: "It's fantastic that we can generate employment and support local business like this. Speers Point Park is a destination for tens of thousands of people every year, and with the Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima, now open, Harry and Lola's already proving very popular and the new Table 1 cafe soon to launch nearby, it's set to become an even more attractive prospect."

Korean Italian fusion? Blooming Garden on Beaumont Street at Hamilton have a kimchi pork belly creamy spaghetti as a special this weekend. Check it out. Smokin Hot N Saucy's Broke venue has a new home at Somerville Wines (85 Wollombi Road, Broke). It officially opens on December 3. And keep an eye out for Hunter Persian Catering at the Newcastle City Farmers Market. This week's menu includes fesenjan stew, eggplant boorani and cherry cake.

READ MORE: Blooming Garden is the restaurant dream that become a reality

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