Pyrmont Village

Pyrmont Growers’ Market: a buzzing, social, foodie hive

2012-02-07T04:34:07Z

The Pyrmont Growers’ Market has come and gone for the month of February. But, are they worth waiting around for each month? Amy Rathbone writes.

It’s 7am on an overcast, dreary morning, and yet, Pyrmont Bay Park is packed to its harbourside brims.

The first Saturday of February is here and so too, the Pyrmont Growers’ Market.

There are farmers in checked shirts and cowboy hats, eccentric types with their vintage, hip clothing flecked by piercings and tattoos and herb growers with wide grins. But there’s more to these markets than simple, aged stereotypes.

The monthly markets are home to roughly 85 stalls, which line the harbourside boardwalk and park’s edges. The Star, the city skyline and the super yachts moored in the harbour prove an ironic backdrop. The markets are organic, homegrown, pared back, authentic, simple. Their setting is anything but.

Far from pretentious, the Growers’ Market’s vibe is relaxed. There’s a clatter of noise, but considering this involves the acoustic music of a guitar, a cooking demonstration underway and the laughter of happy families, the atmosphere is tranquil; calming in its own way.

There’s a strong focus on limited food miles (the distance the product has been transported), ensuring that everything at the market is fresh, seasonal and local.

But don’t think there’s little variety. As one stallholder puts it, there’s “too much choice.”

The crowds have flocked for the artisan breads from the likes of Sonoma Bakery, fresh vegetables, gourmet meats and cheeses produced with time and care, colourful flowers, baked foods, coffee and preserves. There’s also cooking demonstrations from Chef Lucio Galletto to promote his new cookbook, The Art of Pasta, co-written with journalist David Dale. Food is the language here.

The beauty of farmers’ markets is the opportunity they provide to converse with the farmers and growers. Here, there’s a story behind every delicious morsel of food. Of course, there’s also the opportunity to try before you buy. Breakfast is almost unnecessary with the grazing on samples that is to be had at almost every store.

The markets are not strictly a foodie’s affair. Claire Mahoney has been making the trip from Dee Why with her 14-year-old daughter as long as she can remember. She aptly states that as much as the Pyrmont Growers’ Market is about fresh food and shopping local, it’s also about family and bonding. She couldn’t be more right.

Rowie’s Cakes

Rowie Dillon’s Marrickville kitchen bakes delicious treats that are one hundred per cent wheat, yeast, dairy and gluten free. Dillon has been selling her wonderfully naughty, allergy-friendly treats at the Pyrmont Growers’ Market for 10 years now and says supermarkets just don’t compare. For Dillon, the markets are a prime opportunity to talk to customers, and educate consumers regarding how things are grown and made. She says selling at the markets has allowed her to develop “a loyal, kind of cult following.” When a regular interrupts us, Dillon responds warmly telling them to “Pop in!” It’s plain obvious that Dillon loves her customers back.

Rowie’s Cakes

78 Livingstone Road, Marrickville

rowie@rowiescakes.com.au

Or visit her website

Regal Smoked Salmon

Regal Smoked Salmon is different from all other salmon in Australia, Richard Wood informs me, “because it’s all Atlantic, whereas here it is King Salmon.” This King salmon, from the south island of New Zealand, has double the amount of Omega-3 oils and is farmed a lot more naturally. The salmon has a wonderfully rich, full flavour and a deep red-orange flesh colour. Wood describes it as “The best in the world.”

Visit the website

Dynamic Herbs

Frank Mazzotto is as friendly as can be. His store is buzzing with business and yet he takes the time to speak to me. Dynamic Herbs grows and sells potted herbs—including chillies and tomatoes—as well as gardening products like lavender and hydrangeas. The nursery is based in Glenorie, near Dural, and Mazzotto says getting fresh produce to the consumer is of upmost importance. Mazzotto cannot rave more about the Pyrmont Growers’ Market. “It keeps me alive,” he says, but also, “It’s a good day out, with a relaxed feeling… it doesn’t feel like a chore.” The bright, bold colours and excellent structure of the plants makes it obvious that Dynamic Herbs’ produce is of high quality

13-19 Schwebel Lane, Glenorie NSW 2157

Phone (02) 9652 2996

Gwydir Grove Olives

Gwydir Grove Olives specialises in olive oil, with their products ranging from your standard olive oil to lemon myrtle, blood orange and spicy chilli and fresh lime varieties. They also manufacture paté, vinegar and soap. The product is from Moree in northwest NSW. Steve Fletcher is looking after the Gwydir Grove Olives product range, as well as a couple of ring-in chutneys and marmalades from Maxwell Treats (which hails from Berry). Fletcher is beyond friendly as he talks various customers through the products. You can test everything here, with an ample supply of biscuits and bread for your dipping pleasures.

Visit the website

Farmgate

Market provedore and fine meat retailer, Melinda Dimitriades, personifies these markets; she is bubbly, vibrant and a little bit eccentric, yet equally down-to-earth and friendly. Her stall offers a wide range of preserves as well as gourmet meats. For Dimitriades, sister to The Slap actor Alex Dimitriades, markets are about personalisation in terms of the source and consultation. “It’s about sort of sharing stories about food, and cooking recipes and actually having a relationship with the people who provide the food you’re putting on he table.” Nearly all of Dimitriades produce is sourced from a farm in Windsor and available at her Waterloo store.

Farmgate

7 Botany Road, Waterloo

Drover’s Choice Saltbush Lamb

Brett Stockings is helping out at the Drover’s Choice stall today, jovially donning a very appropriate checked shirt and hat. The saltbush lamb sold here is from Narromine and, Stockings assures me, boasts an extremely unique flavour; he describes it as tangy, salty and rich. For Drover’s Choice, markets are a means of advertising and educating consumers. They also give farmers a bit of control in an increasingly globalised and commercialised market.

(02) 6889 1188

Or visit the website

La Tartine

La Tartine, owned by Laurence Anthony and her husband, specialises in certified organic wood-fired sourdough. Their delicious artisan breads come from Somersby on the Central Coast. Anthony believes that the produce available at markets is all-round better quality than that at supermarkets, a reason being that such products are more than a number on a mass production line.

Pyrmont Skin Care: Are you looking after your skin?

2012-02-05T11:44:30Z

Did you know that the skin is the largest organ in the body? It weighs about 3.5 kg and covers about 2 square meters! No wonder it’s imperative to look after this waterproof and insulating shield. Here are 5 skin care tips to ensure your skin is as healthy as possible.

Keep your skin hydrated – The weather and our environment can cause the skin to become dehydrated, so be sure to drink plenty of water, at least 8 glasses a day.
Get plenty of sleep – Skin cell regeneration is when the dry, dead skin cells our skin constantly sheds, are replaced with new skin cells. At night this occurs at a slightly faster rate, so make sure you’re having a good 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
Eat a balanced diet of healthy foods – Heard the expression “you are what you eat?” This also applies to our skin. The skin is the largest organ in the body, what we put into our body not only affects the internal, but it shows on the external as well. See your dietician for more details on the best foods for your body.
Take care while in the sun – Our body does need vitamin D from the sun, but we need to be careful while exposed to it. Make sure you apply sunscreen, or wear a make-up with a good sun protection factor.
Maintain a good skin care regime – Cleanse, Tone & moisturise daily, exfoliate 1-2 times a week and have regular facials to deeply cleanse and nourish the skin. Skin Juice recommends a daily regime that will help cleanse, repair, balance and protect the skin. For more information on their range of products, visit their website: www.skinjuice.com.au

Carolyn Firth
Skin & Massage Therapist
Sanctuary Sanitarium
W: http://sanctuary.sanitarium.com.au/
E: info@sanctuary.sanitarium.com.au
T: 9506 0400

Eva Fera: Clinical Psychologist, Sanctuary Sanitarium Pyrmont

2012-01-25T12:35:48Z

Eva is a well-regarded clinical psychologist working here in Pyrmont in the newly established Sanctuary Sanitarium. Her 15 years of professional experience includes clinical, health psychology and family therapy.

Eva offers assistance for a variety of issues, from marriage, relationship and career counselling, to addiction and coping with trauma. Eva is committed to helping others reach their full potential and experience meaningful living by treating you as a whole person – mind, body, heart and spirit.

Eva holds a Master of Arts in Psychology and Family Therapy, a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Nutritional Medicine for Mental Health. She is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and ATAPS accredited.

As a Clinical Psychologist, Eva specialises in:

- Mood disorders

- Addiction management/treatment

- Family Issues

- Sex-related issues

- Employment Assistance Program (EAP)

- Post traumatic stress disorder, TBI

- Workers compensation, EPC, MHCP

- Victims of crime

- Sleep Disorders

- ADD/ADHD

- Grief/Bereavement

- Psychopathology

“Working in Pyrmont is extremely rewarding”, says Eva. “People come from all walks of life. There seems to be, however, a common underlying search for healthier more fulfilling living which is exactly what we are about.”

Eva Fera

Clinical Psychologist

Sanctuary Sanitarium

info@sanctuary.sanitarium.com.au

T: 9506 0400

Pilates Pyrmont and Bootcamp Pyrmont: An active body for health and happiness

2012-01-25T12:00:32Z

Do you feel sad sometimes? You’re not alone! Everyone feels sad from time to time, but depression is characterised by prolonged feelings of sadness, dejection and hopelessness. One in five women and one in eight men will experience depression at some point in their lives.

So here’s the good news… keeping active can be a great way of helping to prevent or manage depression.

Research has shown that if you take part in regular physical activity that you will have a decreased risk of developing depression. On the other hand, people who do not take part in physical activity of more than 20-30 mins most days are more likely to have depressive symptoms compared to people who exercised regularly.

A recent study concluded that 16 weeks of regular exercise is equally effective as a certain group of antidepressant medications for treatment of mild to moderate depression. When you consider that a high percentage of people stop taking antidepressants within six weeks of the drugs being prescribed, making exercise a great alternative.

But how does this work? Regular exercise has been shown to increase levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain involved in mood, sleep, libido, appetite and other functions. Exercise may also increase endorphins, which are ‘feel good’ chemicals.

Exercise does not need to be extremely vigorous to be helpful for depression – simply briskly walking each day can be beneficial.

Some people need some motivation to get in the habit of regular exercise. At Sanctuary Sanitarium Pyrmont we have a number of classes including Pilates and Outfit (a bootcamp style morning exercise program), as well as one on one sessions. Our aim is to get people to experience the wholeperson benefits of healthy living.

Michael Marthick
Exercise Physiologist
Sanctuary Sanitarium
MMarthick@sanctuary.sanitarium.com.au

WA Minister Redman’s GM silence

2012-01-17T10:27:14Z

Image from PerthNow

By Sheshtyn de Souza

While Australians have been preoccupied with the cricket and what Elle Macpherson was wearing at this week’s Golden Globes, a more subtle (and arguably less attractive) debate has surfaced once again regarding genetically modified foods. With a Farmer Protection Bill to be introduced by the Greens early this year, Pyrmont Village contacted several politicians to ask them their views on genetically modified (GM) contamination and how they plan to protect Australian farmers and consumers from this threat. We did this as a follow-up to our story on WA farmer, Steve Marsh, who lost his organic status due to GM contamination in 2010. In the past few months we contacted several politicians, asking their views on genetically modified foods and contamination cases such as WA farmer Steve Marsh. We also asked the Greens to discuss their plan to introduce a Farmer Protection Bill, and what this means for GM and non-GM farmers.

While NSW Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham and WA Greens MP Lynn MacLaren were very obliging in answering our questions, WA Agricultural Minister Terry Redman declined to respond. Minister Redman is responsible for the WA government’s partnership with Monsanto through the crop breeding company InterGrain, and the increased production of GM wheat crops in that state. The email response from Minister Redman’s office is pasted below for your benefit, as are our full interviews with Minister Buckingham and Minister MacLaren. Pyrmont Village also contacted Monsanto’s Corporate Affairs Lead Keryn Mclean to ask about Monsanto’s position on GM contamination; she did not return our calls or email.

The following is the list of questions Pyrmont Village sent to Minister Redman (we thought they were pretty reasonable).

1) What do you think of WA farmer Steve Marsh’s situation, regarding the contamination of his organic farm?
2) How do you plan to protect non-GM WA farmers from GM contamination?
3) How do you plan to protect the rights of Australians who wish to eat non-GM food, considering the risks of contamination?
4) What is your opinion of the Farmer Protection Bill the Greens are planning to introduce to Parliament early next year?
5) Can you outline the tests that have been completed to ascertain the safety of genetic modification, and their conclusions?
6) Can you explain how links between Monsanto and your branch of government, creating a conflict of interest between big business and Australian citizens, is a fair partnership?

And this was Minister Redman’s response:

Minister.Redman@dpc.wa.gov.au

Hon. Terry Redman MLA, Minister for Agriculture and Food; Forestry; Corrective Services

Dear Sheshtyn

Thank you for your email, dated 1 December 2011.

Please be advised the Minister does not wish to respond.

Kind regards

Office of the Minister for Agriculture and Food

So there you have it; Minister Redman has no interest in answering questions regarding his responsibility to his constituents or any role he has played regarding Steve Marsh and genetically-modified foods in WA. The following two interviews are with NSW Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham and WA Greens MP Lynn MacLaren.

Jeremy Buckingham MLC, Greens NSW MP

Firstly, what do you personally think about Steve Marsh’s situation and the contamination of his farm?

I think it’s an outrageous situation that the liability does not lie with those who have caused the contamination. That’s why I will be introducing a bill into NSW Parliament called the Farmer Protection Bill that seeks to establish a fund. It will be funded by GM industries and people who are looking to grow GM crops. The fund will cover the cost of any liability or loss of market caused by GM contamination.

Do you think that the blame lies with the contaminating farmer or the company providing the seeds or with the government itself for not providing any legislation to protect the farmer?

I think that the blame lies first and foremost with the government. It’s their responsibility to regulate industry, and there is no proper regulatory regime that’s going to deal with contamination in broad acre crops in NSW. Secondly, the liability lies with the GM companies – it’s their product, they’re marketing it, and if it is contaminating non-GM farmers, the liability should rest with them.

What do you think is going to be the outcome of the Farmer Protection Bill and the fund is introduced, do you think that it is the most effective way of preventing contamination?

No, it’s not the most effective way of preventing contamination. The most effective way of preventing contamination is to not allow GM crops into the system in the first place. The Greens are opposed to these GM food crops, but if the government sees them as fit, they have to have a regulatory regime that protects non-GM farmers from the costs associated with running potentially a court case, and the cost for them if they lose their non-GM or organic status because of contamination.

So you think this fund will be a good incentive? Does that mean the GM farmer will be much more careful because of the costs if he does contaminate another farmer’s land?

There will be a cost. The levy will be paid by all GM farmers, they will be paying into that fund, and that certainly will put out an incentive for GM farmers and people who are handling GM grains to be far more careful with their product.

Regarding the whole issue surrounding GM, what do you think the future of GM looks like at the moment?

There’s a massive growth in GM broad acre grains across the globe. Australia has now gone down the path of GM wheat and there are trials underway. I think this is a major issue in NSW where we’ve already got GM canola, but we as a society really have to make a decision as to whether or not we want to allow GM wheat into our agricultural system. So there’s a big debate to be had, but at least recognizing the cost of contamination is the first bit, that’s what the bill does.

What do you think about the latest news that Nicola Roxon ruled against having proper labeling of GM products, saying it doesn’t need to be done because there are already strict rules in place ensuring all food is already tested as safe before it arrives in the supermarket? What do you think about proper labeling of GM products on supermarket shelves in NSW?

Food labeling when it comes to GM is woefully inadequate. There aren’t requirements for things to be declared as having GM content, and that’s woefully inadequate. More information for consumers is always good. We’ve always had concerns that the food safety standards and the testing in terms of health impact of GM have been inadequate. We don’t think that there’s been the rigorous testing that consumers and the society demand, and therefore we believe that those people who don’t want to eat GM food should have the opportunity to know what is and isn’t GM.

What can people do to change the lack of labeling, because it seems that no matter what kind of standards bodies advise that proper labeling of GM should be done, the ministers rule against it anyway, and this seems to be a trend all across Australia?

People can vote with their wallets. They can decide to buy local, buy green, buy organic. They can buy from producers who choose to label their products voluntarily as GM free. There are producers who do that – the organics industry – and they’re a mass growth sector in the economy and in agriculture. So people should vote with their wallets and use their consumer power to choose non-GM goods.

Hon. Lynn MacLaren MLC, Greens WA MP

What do you think about Steve Marsh’s situation, regarding the contamination of his farm?

What has happened to Steve Marsh is a real tragedy and demonstrates why the WA Government should never have allowed the introduction of GM canola without adequate protections in place for farmers.

What other effects have occurred following the introduction of GM on WA farmers?

Since the introduction of GM canola we have seen a premium of up to $50 per tonne develop for non-GM canola. In the last few years over 90 per cent of our canola has gone to Europe – a market with no tolerance for GM. Because of the contamination risk posed, the Minister for Agriculture and Food Terry Redman is jeopardising these markets by allowing GM canola to be grown.

What are some ways the current WA government could improve to protect the rights of farmers & consumers?

The Government needs to support Farmer Protection legislation to protect non-GM farmers from economic losses caused by GM contamination.

What do you think about the partnership between Monsanto and the WA government, particularly through InterGrain?

The CEO of Intergrain Bryan Whan has already admitted publicly that InterGrain will now be focusing on the development of GM rather than conventional crops. This is not in the best interests of either farmers or consumers.

What do you think about Terry Redman’s response to contamination, that what is considered ‘organic’ is too stringent and should be more flexible?

It’s appalling that Terry Redman is attempting to water down the organic standards because of a contamination problem that he has created. It also demonstrates what we have long suspected, that he doesn’t appreciate the organics industry. If GM contamination cannot be controlled GM crops should not be released.

Finally, what do you think is in the future for GM in Australia?

I think there is quite frankly no future for GM crops in Australia. Consumers don’t want them and the purported benefits such as drought and salt tolerance are more easily developed using other methods. The sole beneficiaries of GM crops are the GM crop companies who stand to make millions due to the patents associated with GM crops.

Cafe XXII, Pyrmont

2012-01-17T03:27:21Z

Cafe XXII's decor is full of rustic charm. Photo: Amy Rathbone

Whether you have a voracious sweet tooth, crave somewhere serene to relax in inner Sydney, have a thing for icons of past eras or love yourself a good coffee, Café XXII is the place for you. Amy Rathbone writes.

Café XXII’s homepage features the Virginia Woolf quote, “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” It follows then that if you are trying to muster brain power, are in search of love or just simply after a good night’s sleep, Café XXII may well be all you need.

Our visit to the Café XXII happens to fall on a Sunday morning. It is quiet but this certainly has nothing to do with its quality. While we prepare ourselves for a lavish breakfast, the rest of Sydney sleeps.

And even if all of Sydney were up and ready, this would have little effect on Café XXII. Tucked away in a delightful 19^thcentury sandstone plaza, the café is untouched by the hustle and bustle of city life. That’s not to say that Café XXII doesn’t get its fair share of dreary-eyed, coffee-craving commuters or the occasional uni student who sips their soy latte while “working” away on their laptop.

An iced mocha. Photo: Amy Rathbone

Rather, Café XXII is in a secluded pocket of the old Pyrmont; hidden among the elegant terraces and cottages of a bygone era. In such a setting and shaded by the large, leafy branches of a stunning tree, it’s easy to forget the world around you and just relax. And don’t we all need just that?

Café XXII occupies a corner terrace, with its own sunny courtyard. Diners are swept back to a prior era by the large sandstone brick walls, contrasting sleek floorboards, majestic fireplace and antique feel of the predominantly wooden furniture.

A waitress notices our entry and directs us to a free table, but really, she may as well have shoved us there. Ending on such dry, unfriendly service would have sworn us off Café XXII, but we manage to steer clear of her for the rest of our visit.

A significant amount of time passes before another waiter prances to our table to take our drink orders. Fortunately, this one is live and moving, armed with jokes and a wide grin. We order an orange juice ($4.50) and iced mocha ($5.50), and find ourselves with said items in a split second.

Our drinks are presented in quirky, curvaceous glasses. The orange juice is organic but, in all honesty, nothing special. The iced mocha, on the other hand, perfectly balances the dark chocolate and coffee flavours. It also arrives as ordered—with skim milk and no cream. It is amazing how hard this request is for some cafes.

Some time passes before the waiter returns to take our breakfast order. Mind you, we needed these 15-or-so minutes to make up our minds.

After a glance at the menu, we want everything. Instead, we find ourselves facing the stomach-wrenching task of deciding between all the breakfast staples—bircher muesli, eggs benedict, omelette, banana bread, pancakes and a big breakfast—and a couple of extras.

Buttermilk pancakes fit for a god. Photo: Amy Rathbone.

We finally figure that we both have massive sweet tooths that we haven’t placated in a while, and this seems like the perfect chance. We decide on the brioche crunch French toast with marinated strawberries and mascarpone ($14.50) and the buttermilk pancakes with caramelised banana and camp maple syrup ($14), to which we added praline butter for an extra dollar.

Again, we wait. During which we notice the pop music playing in the background. Rihanna’s “We Found Love” is a bit odd for nine in the morning, especially considering the contrasting rustic décor.

Still waiting, jealousy hits us as we observe the diners around us. Most are consumed by eating their meals, and all look satiated. One man plays away on his laptop while tucking into bircher in a latte glass. He appears relaxed, at home. Likewise, Café XXII is a little bit quirky, with a whole lot of special, and yet, the perfect location to unwind.

Our meals arrive, and god, the presentation is divine. The thick fluffy pancakes are contrasted by the crispness of the toffee glaze on top of the bananas. The whole thing is lathered in sweet and delicious maple syrup. The serving is huge, and even with our nagging sweet tooths and the two of us sharing, we struggle to get through it. On a negative note, we never received the praline butter that we asked for.

Cafe XXII's crunch French toast. Photo: Amy Rathbone.

The crunch French toast is an experience, having never come across it before. The light and fluffy brioche is pitched against the crunch of its outer skin. The velvety vanilla mascarpone adds yet another fine texture. The French toast is so delicious that it’s a shame we couldn’t finish it. But then again, who could when the piece of toast is the size of a standard plate.

Café XXII also serves lunch and dinner, with the menu for the latter changing completely every two days bar three items. I would like to think that both are as great as their lavish breakfast, consequently making the café a pure gem.

Address: 22 Union Street, Pyrmont

Open: Breakfast Mon-Fri 7am-11.30am

Brunch Sat-Sun 8am-3pm

Dinner Wed-Sat 5.30pm-10pm

Licensed: Yes; BYO is $3 per corkage

Price guide: For breakfast, meals range from $10-17

Bookings: Recommended; 9552 3093 or at cafexxii.com.au

Pyrama, Pyrmont

2011-12-22T05:16:28Z

At first glance it would seem that Pyrama’s Spring menu special delivers a great deal given the inner city location. But is this really the case and is the restaurant worth visiting? Amy Rathbone writes.

Pyrama doesn’t look special from its Harris Street facade. Unlike Graze or Adriano Zumbo’s new dessert train down the road, the restaurant’s decor doesn’t rope in passers-by.

That’s not to say the restaurant isn’t nicely decorated: it has its feature red wall, peeping hole into the kitchen, sleek bar and floor-length panelled glass windows. It’s what you would expect of a sophisticated restaurant with mid-range prices; it’s nice and consistent but doesn’t really offer anything to rave about. And the same goes for the food.

We had booked for two at 7pm on a fine Saturday evening. Half an hour before our arrival we had called and asked if this could be changed to a table for three at 7.30pm. The man that answered our call was friendly and assured us that was fine, without even a hint of annoyance in his voice. One hour later and we were gridlocked on Harris Street. When we finally arrived at the restaurant the clock had ticked past eight. And yet, the waitress still welcomed us with open arms.

Salt and pepper calamari with harissa and coriander aioli. Photo: Amy Rathbone

The restaurant is bustling; at all but one table sits happy diners, chatting away. There are families, business people, couples and a 20-or-so person function. The outdoor patio overlooks a rather large ditch that happens to be the tramline. It’s not the most pleasant view, but seems to be forgotten in the dimly lit, loud restaurant.

With a smart menu punctured by a few unique dishes, the restaurant easily caters to everyone. Pyrama has a Spring menu special that we can’t help but take advantage of. Three courses are often too much, but at $52 it seems like we’re getting a good deal. We order the salt and pepper calamari with harissa and coriander aioli to share (the other two diners opt for two courses for $40).

The entree arrives almost as quickly as we demolish it. The calamari has the perfect balance of salt and pepper. It has bite and the taste remains on the palate minutes later. Dipping the calamari into the harissa and coriander aioli improves the flavour tenfold. When lettuce leaves accompany such items as calamari and skewers it is usually no more than a garnish, but the calamari imparted its flavour to the salad. We find ourselves forced to clean our plates of everything edible. There are three of us sharing the entrée and none of us hungrily pine for our main courses, such is the serving size.

Twenty-five minutes have passed and we are yet to receive our mains. A waitress approaches and apologises for the wait. She admits it has been a busy night, gesturing to the function. The apology is sincere and refreshing. Oftentimes I have waited longer for a course and received no apology, as if the waitstaff believe slow service is acceptable.

Two of our three mains disappoint. The roast riverina lamb loin with sweet potato and spiced French cous cous we couldn’t get enough of. The lamb is tender and paired excellently with tangy cous cous and wholesome sweet potato; the hazelnuts add a nice touch.

Roast riverina lamb loin with sweet potato and spiced French cous cous. Photo: Amy Rathbone

When the waitress places the crispy skin ocean trout with spring globe artichokes, olives, heirloom tomato and fennel on the table, I straight away wish I had ordered something else. The presentation is somewhat careless. Fortunately the skin is crispy as advertised—a shortfall at many other restaurants—and the fish falls apart on the fork. But mainly, an unpleasant liquorice flavour from the fennel dominates the palate and the vegetables don’t gel too well.

The beer battered flathead fillets and chips with housemade tartare sauce is okay, but boring. One diner calls it a “classy fish and chips.” Really, the meal offers no more than fish’n’chips from a takeaway store. It’s presented better and thrice the price.

Dessert is Pyrama’s chance to redeem themselves. After that entrée, there is still hope. Although this hope decreases every one of the 25 minutes for which we wait. In the meantime we come across all three staff working the front of house. The service proves itself uneven. While an attentive waitress had greeted us milliseconds after setting foot through Pyrama’s doors, another now rudely leans over the table to fill our glasses without so much as a smile.

When the two French white chocolate and passionfruit crème brulees we order arrive our expectations instantly shrink. It is obvious that the desserts’ hard caramelised shell is burnt. We almost give up with wishing Pyrama well, but the custard is simply divine. The white chocolate and passionfruit flavours develop as we dig deeper into the dessert.

One diner had ordered the vanilla bean pannacotta with strawberries. The presentation, once again, disappoints. A handful of strawberries sit next to the pannacotta. The pannacotta is nice but not amazing. Sadly, the desserts have slightly missed the mark.

For an inner city restaurant, we received what we had paid for. However, many elements across the seven dishes were not perfected, which undeniably should be the case when the chefs are cooking the same dishes every day.

Address: 56 Harris Street, Pyrmont

Open: Dinner Wed-Sat 6pm-9.30pm

Lunch Fri noon-2.30pm

Breakfast Sat & Sun 8am-3pm

Brunch Sat & Sun noon-3pm

Licensed: Yes; BYO Wed & Thu dinner ($10 per bottle)

Price guide: 1 course for $29, 2 for $40 or 3 for $52

Bookings: 9692 8844 or at pyrama.com.au

Getting there: Metered parking is available in the area. Pyrama is across from the John Street Square light rail stop.

Allan Joyce and Qantas : CEO Behaving Badly !

2011-10-29T07:35:26Z

Allan Joyce the CEO of Qantas has just announced that he is grounding the airline. What a terrible decision to take, given that he is in the midst of negotiations with the unions over the future of this once proud airline. If I and the rest of the travelling public thought that the Qantas brand was troubled, this shambolic move, has just about guaranteed that the Qantas brand is now on life support.

From a national security and national interest standpoint, it is simply unacceptable that someone let alone the CEO of a national airline should be allowed to take such a move which is going to have monumental implications for a ton of related industries starting with tourism.

This must not be allowed to stand. Julia Gillard and the federal Labor government must step up to the plate and use whatever legislative frameworks already in place to rescind this decision. No one should be allowed to hold the travelling public and indeed commerce in Australia to ransom in such a cavalier fashion.

This really is Julia Gillard’s chance to shine as a leader. How she reacts and the decisions she makes here will either make her as a leader or completely damn her. Lets hope for the country’s sake its the former.

The Fight for Organic

2011-10-18T10:39:15Z

Image by Marie Nirme

By Sheshtyn de Souza

A Western Australian farmer is getting ready for the battle of a lifetime. Steve Marsh is a soft-spoken organic farmer from Kojonup, a town located 250km south east of Perth. Marsh talks to me over the phone in timid, diminutive tones, and despite being quite talkative about his situation, he trails off to almost a whisper several times as though wearied by discussing such a great burden.

Marsh is taking his neighbour to court after 70% of his property was contaminated by Roundup Ready canola, a genetically

Photo Courtesy of Farm Weekly, Rural Press

modified (GM) seed created by the US-based farming giant Monsanto. The patented seed has been modified to withstand the toxic effects of Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide. Farmers have been purchasing the potent herbicide and its accompanying GM seed as a “weed control system”. Marsh’s land was contaminated in December last year after his neighbour’s GM canola spread down the hill to Marsh’s farm, carried by wind and a minor flood.

What were the costs?

The National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASAA) decertified Marsh’s farm after having organic status for eight years, with 325 hectares of his land being contaminated by the GM canola plants. This means Marsh can no longer sell his wheat, oats, rye, spelt or even his lambs as organic. This is a significant financial blow for Marsh because organic and non-GM products fetch a higher price than GM products. Non-GM canola currently fetches a premium of up to $50 per tonne more than the GM product.

“Under the NASAA organic certification, there’s a zero tolerance for GM product, and I can’t use seed contaminated with GM and so on,” Marsh says. “What we’ve proven here is that GM seed can’t be controlled and contained by the GM farmer, hence it has crossed by wind into my property on a pretty large scale. What do we do? That land’s contaminated for how long? You know, it could be many years.”

Canola field, picture by Gene Ethics

GM canola seed can germinate on contaminated land for up to 16 years. Marsh is planning to claim compensation for the financial loss associated with the contamination, and the resultant clean-up costs.

“Organic certification is not something you obtain easily, and it’s not something you maintain easily. It’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of effort, and it’s a lot of discipline,” says Bob Mackley, a conventional farmer from Western Australia whose land was also contaminated by GM seeds early this year. “One jackass neighbour has put that whole show at risk and appears to think, ‘Well, that’s fine. I’m allowed to do what I jolly well like’. And the West Australian Minister for Agriculture says, ‘Oh yes, everyone has to move aside to make room for GM’.”

The government’s response

WA’s Agriculture Minister Terry Redman has proven to be no friend of Marsh’s or the organic and conventional farming industries. Redman wrote a letter to Marsh in October urging the NASAA to be flexible, calling the food purity standards expected by the certifying body “unrealistic”.

“The European Union recently adopted a threshold of 0.9 per cent unintentional presence of approved GM material in organic products. This decision acknowledges that zero per cent thresholds are unrealistic in biological systems,” Redman wrote to Marsh last October.

A Monsanto spokeswoman agreed with Redman, proposing the solution to Marsh’s problem was for the NASAA to relax its zero tolerance policy.

“Having a couple of canola plants blow into a farm should not be affecting its organic wheat status,” she told The Australian in December.

Marsh says he is “very disappointed” with Redman’s response to his situation. “There’s clearly no legislation, as I understand, in protecting any non-GM farmer,” he says. “I’d like to ask Terry Redman, what happened to my choice? You’ve given the GM farmer the choice. Well, I want the same choice to remain GM-free.”

Australian government’s partnership with Monsanto

In an insidious twist, there is a distinct partnership between Monsanto and Australian state governments. After helping lift the GM farming ban in Western Australia in 2010 (the ban was lifted in NSW and Victoria in 2008), Redman has been working with Monsanto as a business partner. Last year, Monsanto purchased a 19.9% share in InterGrain, a crop breeding company of which the Western Australian State Government is a majority shareholder. InterGrain is now in charge of Western Australia’s wheat breeding program, GM wheat being their joint research priority.

“When [Redman] announced the lifting of the ban, Monsanto’s representative was with him on the podium. You can’t get more in bed than that really,” says Bob Phelps, director of the Melbourne-based activist group Gene Ethics. “Our governments have public/private partnerships with GM companies, so they’re in bed with each other. The premier and the government of Victoria and also the government of QLD are members of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, which is based in Washington D.C. to promote American corporate interests abroad.

We’ve argued strenuously that they should divest themselves of that connection, but at the moment there are still four [Australian state government] members of the Biotechnology Industry Organization.”

Marsh also said the government had ignored his concerns about GM contamination. “I personally went to see Terry Redman before they approved GM; I’ve seen the Department of Agriculture and I’ve seen various ministers, but it all fell on deaf ears,” says Marsh.

A contamination strategy?

One wonders whether contamination is all a part of Monsanto’s plan. Marsh’s neighbour allegedly left the legal five-metre buffer between his GM crops and Marsh’s land. However, neither the government nor Monsanto seems to care that GM product is easily spread, especially after being windrowed (cut from the root).

“The assurances that contamination can be controlled are nonsense,” says Mackley. “It’s been shown many times that they are unable to control where these genes ultimately end up. So I think to say that we can stop GM contamination is just a joke. We need to say that GM canola may not be windrowed, because that makes it far more likely to get washed because it’s dry and light and it’s detached from its roots. And we also need to GM industry to have a mechanism to compensate those non-GM growers who are affected by their product.”

“Contamination is in Monsanto’s interests,” says Phelps. “That’s why it happens, so that there is no going back, so that you take away shoppers’ choice. And of course this is all done under the guise of giving the farmers choice, which is a load of rubbish. By allowing GM canola to be grown, of course the choice of every other farmer to be non-GM or GM-free has essentially been snuffed out.”

What anti-GM campaigners want is for Australian state governments to pass Farmer Protection Laws to compensate the victims of contamination. Since there are no legal precedents surrounding GM contamination in Australia, Marsh’s case will be a groundbreaking decider on the rights of farmers to keep their land GM-free. “It could set a lot of precedents,” says Marsh, “if it’s successful.”

The battle ahead

Marsh has retained Slater & Gordon Lawyers, the Australian law firm known for representing asbestos victims, with the intention to lodge a writ against the offending neighbour. In the meantime, Marsh urges Australians to lobby their government ministers and representatives.

“A lot of people don’t realise this yet, but it’s our food for god’s sake, it’s going to affect every one of us,” says Marsh.

He also says we should demand the right to have food properly labeled from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and to lobby the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, so people “can make an informed decision if they want to avoid eating GM. But there’s been a lot of resistance by the GM industry not to have full disclosure.”

The Pastoralists and Graziers Association of Western Australia is funding the offending neighbour’s legal costs, and Monsanto has stated its support for him. Conversely, the NASAA has set up a benefit “fighting fund” for Marsh to help him pay for the legal battle ahead.

If you would like to know more, or are interested in helping out or spreading the word, contact sheshtyn@live.com. To speak directly to the NASAA, contact David Kibble at mail@nasaa-wa.com.au, or Gene Ethics’ director Bob Phelps at info@geneethics.org.

Ultimo Pyrmont Photography Exhibition 2011

2011-10-15T10:48:12Z

Our Neighbourhood, Our Friends is a new exhibition of around 130 photographs by residents of Ultimo and Pyrmont, reflecting their personal vision of our neighbourhood and our local community – the friends who play such an important part in our everyday lives. This exhibition is above all a tribute to these ordinary, very special people who, over the years, have helped to create the unique character of our area This follows the concept’s highly successful debut in 2010 with Stories from our Streets.

Photographers interpreted the theme as they wished, which produced a wide variety of creative approaches. The family next door, the couple on the corner, the old man across the road, the sporty,the dog-lovers, the toddlers….are all seen with fresh eyes.

As before, the aim was to include as many community members as possible; it was not a competition. Everyone was encouraged to take part, and they could submit up to 3 photographs of their choice, taken anywhere in Ultimo or Pyrmont. The project loaned cameras to people who didn’t have one. This year’s oldest entrant was eighty, and the youngest were students from Ultimo Public School. All proceeds from sale of the photographs will be donated to a local mental health initiative, and copies will once more be archived after the exhibition closes to provide a record for the future of Ultimo and Pyrmont as they are today.

The exhibition opens on Friday, October 14 at the Uniting Care Harris Centre, Quarry Green, Ultimo. Entry is free and all are welcome.The photos will also be displayed at:

Wentworth Park Games on Sunday 16th October
The Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre (ITAC) and The Powerhouse Museum (King’s cinema),
The Bendigo Bank, Pyrmont branch, The Ultimo Community Centre and the Pyrmont Community Centre until end October

More Info from upphotogroup@gmail.com or Oscar at the Harris Centre 9552 or 1140.