National Geographic Traveller (UK) - Food
| ASK THE EXPERTS The best Cuban rum and a foodie road trip in New South Wales
OUR PANEL ANSWERS YOUR CULINARY QUERIES, INCLUDING WHERE TO EAT ON AN AUSTRALIAN ROAD TRIP AND HOW TO MAKE A DOBOS TORTA
I’m planning a road trip around New South Wales. Apart from Sydney, where should I stop for the best food and wine?
Kate Gibbs: In 2020, the pandemic inspired many Australians to embrace road trips, supporting small producers and businesses along the coast. And in New South Wales, local produce and native ingredients take centre stage.
In the surf town of Cabarita Beach, at the recently revamped boutique hotel Halcyon House, the Paper Daisy restaurant pays homage to local ingredients, serving dishes such as spring vegetables with native finger lime, and bay lobster with celery, apple, green garlic and desert lime.
Head to Byron Bay for healthy vegan food
— try Bang Bang for modern Thai and Combi for delicious smoothies. West of Byron is the town of Federal, where Doma Cafe serves up fabulous
I’m hoping to travel to Cuba and would like to try rum I can’t get in the UK. What do you recommend?
Ian Burrell: Cuban rums are unique and distinct in flavour, cultivated by the natural, tropical environment in which they’re made. Havana Club is the biggest brand on the island, but there are many local brands that aren’t sold in Europe, including Santero, Sao Can, Perla del Norte and Vigia. Rum distilleries rarely permit tourists, but there are many historical bars and hotels in Havana: El Floridita is famous for its daiquiris and for being Ernest Hemingway’s favourite bar; La Bodeguita
Japanese food, including ultra-fresh sushi. In Brunswick Heads, book early for a spot at Fleet and sit at the bar to try cured local snapper with green tomatoes, nectarine and mustard leaf. Make time for the pretty hinterland village of Newrybar, where you’ll find Harvest — a bakery, deli, shop, restaurant and kitchen garden.
Further south, the One&only resort in
Wolgon Valley has chef James Viles at the helm, who forages and gathers ingredients from the surrounding landscape of the Blue Mountains. In the beach town of Mollymook, swing by the Bannisters hotel for Rick Stein’s seafood restaurant, which draws on global flavours using local produce. Drive further along the Sapphire Coast for the oysters of Tathra, Merimbula and Pambula, passing Narooma to spot stingrays and seals, and Bermagui for the day’s best catch. del Medio is known for its graffitied walls and quick mojitos; and, at the Havana Club museum, you can learn how the rum is made while listening to salsa and puffing on a cigar.
Havana Club Silver Dry (no longer sold in the UK) is light, dry and easy to drink, especially with a mixer or in a cocktail such as a mojito (rum, lime, sugar, mint, bitters, soda water and ice) or Cuba libre (rum, cola and lime). If you’re looking for a special rum to bring home, try Vigia Gran Reserva 18 or San Cristobal. Both are rare and worth the extra cost.