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Byron Shire
March 29, 2024

A view from The Balcony

Latest News

Retired local professor launches book on grief

A leading international thinker and researcher in the development of innovative sport coaching and physical education teaching has returned home to Byron Bay and is launching his first non-academic book, 'Grief and Growth', on April 4 at The Book Room in Byron. 

Other News

UK court seeks assurances from US over Julian Assange

The UK High Court of Justice has released a 66 page judgement seeking more information from the United States relating to Australian citizen Julian Assange, which it says it needs before deciding whether to grant the WikiLeaks founder leave to appeal his extradition.

Heavy traffic on M1 predicted over Easter long weekend

Bottlenecks in Northern NSW are predicted to occur at Coffs Harbour and Tugun over the Easter long weekend. This is expected to be further impacted by work on the Pacific Highway just north of the Queensland border.

Richmond Valley Rail Trail grand opening

The latest leg of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail opened in style on Saturday, with hundreds of two-wheeled travel enthusiasts spinning along the newly opened 13.4 kilometre section from Casino to Bentley.

Fresh air federal funds for Northern Rivers schools in need

Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week.

Mullum pods

They look so uninviting and dismal. It would not cost a lot to change the name to ‘tiny homes’...

NORPA’s wild ride at Lismore Showgrounds

NORPA is taking audiences on an adventure outside the theatre once again, announcing it will stage its original work Wildskin in a warehouse space at the Lismore Showgrounds. A sensory, destination theatre experience, Wildskin inhabits an outrageous and unpredictable world that’s part bush-thriller, part road-trip and a whole lot of NORPA’s signature theatrical style.

balcony-2Matthew Michaelis

Take a small group, a dinner and show and a severe time constraint. We ended up at The Balcony for some lively and timely tapas. This is a place that I’ve eaten in only a few times.

I arrived late and choices were already made for me.

The young guy serving us drinks was alerted to our time restriction. We asked if he could send along someone to take our order. With a studied and polite manner, he quickly made our host feel at ease and offered to take our orders, then and there.

No pad, no pen and no mobile device – this guy was in a sense ‘free-balling’.

There were six of us, and there was the usual confusing backward and forward flow of ideas with many changes and thoughts on the selections. The waiter was taking note of every order, a guest asked if he needed a pad. ‘This is what I do all day’, he reassured, and off he went with our complex list of foods, drinks and exclusions.

Impressive – a savant perhaps? While waiting for our meal another older, more composed waiter came forth, enquiring if we would like anything. This was a serious type armed with an acerbic wit combined with very proper service, a combination that might make some diners uncomfortable.

balcony-1The addition of this subtle friction didn’t however detract from the service: it was good and efficient; the atmosphere soft and pleasant.

The food came and everyone enjoyed it immensely, including me: Mejillones – a serve of organic black mussels with sherry, coriander, chilli, garlic and the addition of a crusty organic sourdough; Paletilla de cordero –  a slow-cooked lamb shoulder with cumin, lemon and coriander yoghurt; arancini, an Italian fave of mine, filled with wild mushroom, thyme and goat cheese with truffle aioli; salt-and-pepper squid, pickled fennel and preserved-lemon aioli; with a finale of ‘Stone & Wood’-cured salmon with blood orange-pickled baby vegetables and goat cheese (Salmón curado). Nicely plated and carefully balanced dishes.

The other guests ran off to their show and I stayed to observe one of my favourite courses – dessert. I asked our sharp old waiter if he could reseat me as the long table wasn’t a fit for one person alone. He jumped on it, and in the fashion that appears to be his style, organised me in a flash. So we worked together.

For dessert I asked for his recommendation without sighting the menu. I wasn’t disappointed. A superb chocolate fondant floated onto the table and I went off into a chocolaty coma (I hoped the drool wasn’t apparent). All that was left on the plate was the reflection of my smile.

The tapas concept is found in every cuisine if you look. This isn’t a cheap eat to accompany a drink as would probably be the case in Spain but, keeping this in mind, a few glasses of good wine and a well-plated meal at The Balcony is an easy recommendation.

balcony-3The Balcony

Fully Licensed

9am to 10pm: 7 days

Upstairs, Cnr Lawson and Jonson Streets, Byron Bay

6680 9666

[email protected] 

www.balcony.com.au

 


Recent stories tagged Food & Wine:

Basiloco, from Italy with love

Photos and story: Caz Parker On the Italian island of Sardinia villagers are ten times more likely to reach the age of 100 than are people born elsewhere in the world. Longevity experts believe Sardinians’ longer lives are owed to...

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Au revoir La Table

After six-and-a-half years of fabulous menus and a steady and generous culinary contribution to our region, La Table Cafe and Restaurant is coming to the end in its present form – the Mullumbimby premises.

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Educating the palate; feeding the imagination

Eating a nicely prepared, cooked and served meal out, these days, is as easy as filling your car with petrol.

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Rising to market

What’s in a name? In some cases people sit for hours stabbing in the dark, grabbing at suggestions and generally trying to inject some meaning into a business name. Other times, you just hear the name, you see the product and you say to yourself Yes!

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Making a crust

I can attest to the almost inhuman hours bakers keep while toiling for this very basic human dietary need – bread.

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A northerly aspect

You’d need a couple of lifetimes to get to the end of the good things happening on the north coast.

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Cafe culture by night

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote up the Aquarius cafe, bar and restaurant in Lawson Street in Byron Bay.

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Managing to feed the soul

We humans are sentient beings and when it comes to sitting in someone else’s space, I know I get the jitters if the overall atmosphere is unfriendly, stiff or uncomfortable.

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Bonne Santé

Santé is now open at 10am, seven days per week, for a brunch with a twist. Here, they have a rep’ for a delicate pizza crust (among other culinary choices), and using that reputation, they’ve created a brekkie hybrid that’s being introduced on the brunch menu.

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Phở (‘fahr’) the love of food

Vietnamese people move in very small circles. It’s a cliquey community where ex-pats are concerned no matter where they’ve settled.

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Resilient Lismore’s ‘Repair to Return’ funding

On the eve of the second anniversary of the second devastating flood in 2022, Resilient Lismore has welcomed the finalisation of its funding deed with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, which will enable the continuation of its ‘Repair to Return’ program.

Editorial – Joyous propaganda! 

The NSW Labor government marked its one year in office this week with a jubilant statement of achievements issued from Macquarie Street HQ.

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

A man has been charged following a pursuit near Tweed Heads on Monday.

Where should affordable housing go in Tweed Shire?

Should affordable and social housing in the Tweed Shire be tucked away in a few discreet corners? Perhaps it should be on the block next to where you live?