Australians today are now some of the world’s busiest people (statistically speaking). We are working the longest hours in the developed world (go figure) with an average of 1,855 hours at work each year, apparently 200 hours more than employees in other nations. Many Aussies work more than 50 hours a week: ‘All this work and no play makes Johnny get takeaway…’
Now, I’m not really sure how many people work this hard in the northern rivers, but we are all likely to take a break from slaving in the kitchen. Takeaway food in this part of the world is just magnificent and we, the consumers, have chosen to gravitate toward fast foods that have goodness in mind rather than allow a lot of rubbish to flourish here. The result is the ability to just grab a quick meal and enjoy Wategos, the hinterland beauty or just feed the kids at home with an abundance of healthy takeaway food choices on hand.
I’ve chosen a slow exposure of a few different places serving good examples of fresh foods served quickly and packed to go. Over the next week or so stay tuned for my take on takeaways.
A well-rounded Soul
Matthew Miall looks more like an archetypal healthy blonde surfer than he does a businessman. He moved up from Melbourne to Byron Bay with his family a while back to enjoy more of the friendliness he and his partner had experienced while visiting the Bay. He now contributes to this warmth in a very practical way; fronting his own health bar ‘Soul Bowl’ situated opposite the beach in Byron.
I suspect that it’s in this guy’s nature to be congenial, rather than adhering to a Byron Shire Council mandate to act all welcoming and such. Matt exudes a charm that’s infectious and appears to be quite natural. I’ve watched this takeaway from a foodie’s arms length, and you get the feeling that he works at it and it’s well received. I’ve witnessed during my visits all nations being charmed and appearing comfortable in his healthy food haven.
So, how important is all this ‘nice’ energy when it comes to choosing what you put into your body? Look out! Here comes my soapbox … I’m climbing up … and here it is: Food = energy, ergo, you can receive energy via the food you eat. This means that the people who are happy to serve you and are placing you at ease while preparing your food are doing you a service – these folks should be paid more money. So, having said this, it’s hard to get good help and a workforce that know that the ‘hospitality’ in the Hospitality industry is quantifiable, sometimes it seems that everyone is saying … ‘I can’t make it, I’m, like sick … “cough”,”cough”. Here, at Soul Bowl, you can take advantage of the difference when the care is in-house and a part of your daily order.
Millions of dollars are spent on advertising take-out food outlets, but whilst they do this to make themselves seem healthy, we all know that’s not always the case. ‘Soul Bowl isn’t a franchise, we’re still on the ground and look after the produce until it gets to the consumer’, Miall told me. ‘We’ve created a sort of destination for people to collect their own style of healthy food – literally with a stainless steel bowl we collect your choice of ingredients for your salad or wrap etc – no pre-made stuff, quick and fresh. We can step up in summer and serve food fast – so it’s a sort of fast food outlet only to this extent’, Matt added.
Fresh food is not, by its nature, produced quickly. Here the menu contains all the healthy elements people are after – all the non-allergic and good stuff. This is like the old days of beach juice bars. There’s stuff for the lads here too – the ‘meat lovers’, big baked potatoes and wholesome fills. And promotions of local growers such as Ewingsdale Coffee sit comfortably on the menu boards.
It’s great to come across smaller establishments that haven’t got a barrow to push, just great fresh healthy produce. Gluten free, lactose free, certainly not free from taste and zest. Soul Bowl is a fairly customary concept juice and salad bar. It’s clean and shiny with a large windowed salad display, drinks fridge and stainless benches, all as you’d expect to find in similar healthy food places. The difference is service with a bit of Soul.
Soul Bowl
Eat in / Takeaway. 8am–8pm 7 days.
Byron Bay
2/14 Bay Street (opposite Surf Club) Byron Bay
6685 5252
Burleigh Heads
26 James Street, Burleigh Heads
(07) 5535 7007
The street food diner
I spoke with the owner of Asia Joe’s after I decided this delightful little restaurant in Bay Lane (behind the Beach Hotel), would be a good fit for a healthy takeaway feature. This place will always impress with its vibrant veggie-filled Asian creations and fabulous laksas. People who know me will tell you that I not only love Asian food, but I’ve been known to throw it together myself. Asian cuisine is my go-to when catering for guests and dinner parties at home. I’ll whip up platters with turrets of Thai noodles reaching skyward to a healthy garnish of fresh herbs, mint, greens, chillies and nuts. Since huge handfuls of fresh veg, strong Asian roots and spices are so often the ticket in my house, as you can imagine, when it comes to take-out Asian food; if I’m buying it, it’d better be good.
Emma and Greg Thomson have owned Asia Joe’s since 2008, and after speaking to Emma, I now know that she shares my passion for the freshness of Asian foods. Of course the owners of an eatery don’t always represent the businesses they invest in. But rest assured, Emma loves the menu she sells: in fact she speaks of it with the energy and enthusiasm of a giggly teenager and has the sort of commitment to her products that sometimes takes her down to Sydney when a ‘secret ingredient’ becomes in short supply. Emma worked in the corporate world in the UK and says, ‘there was lots of money, though I always wanted more of the relationship with people that comes from providing a service and watching them enjoy that service. For me the goal at Asia Joe’s was to create an extension of my own home and to create an affordable place to grab healthy and lovely veggies’. I think they’ve succeeded in doing what they’ve set out to achieve here.
Laksa, stir-fries, and an array of good Asian dishes – fresh, healthy and colourful foods. The walls have graffiti menu notes: such as, ‘We prepare over 12 different types of fresh veggies every day’, tossed in the wok along with a house-made Thai sauce, garlic, chilli and off you go. Emma is a mum and caters for small children here. Your kids (if they’re anything like mine) may love the special dishes of noodles and rice creations on the menu and they may even miss the seven different veggies that are diced small with subtle flavours and no spice.
This petite restaurant opens its doors ready to serve. Even the decor has an energy to it – fun, quick and understated. If you’re looking to eat well and quickly, take a walk down Bay Lane to this pacey street food diner for a spirited and healthy takeaway.
Asia Joe’s
Eat in / Takeaway. BYO.
Lunch: 12pm to 3pm: Fri–Mon
Dinners: 5.30pm til late – 7 days
1/4 Bay Lane, Byron Bay. 6680 8787
www.asiajoes.com
[email protected]
Santé – good health
‘Santé’ is the new name and recent evolution of the ‘Pizza Bar’ opened in December 2012. This latest concept eatery, if you haven’t yet had the pleasure, is located famously in front of the zebra crossing and opposite the Woolies carpark in Byron Bay. It’s the baby of Sean Meehan, Will Ennis, Nick Morley and Laurie Rose; a reasonably large restaurant with a European flavour and a bit of New York styling to boot. Business partner, Nick Morley, is the fashionista here and is driving the look. It’s a colourful gallery of art and art-for-sale, an interior with an eclectic fit-out and a textile theme that has ‘fun’ sewn into it. Many of the furnishings are designed and supplied by Aussie companies. In fact they’re promoting the businesses too and if you see anything you like, you’ll be given the contacts. Sean Meehan and Will Ennis (from Italian at the Pacific), look after the food. They’ve created fresh menus with the notion of proper foods: full meal solutions such as roast duck leg, orange, pistachio and fennel with crispy polenta; well-executed favourites such as pastas, salads, and pizza; plus a range of items that serve as accompaniments to a drink, cocktail or coffee. Sharing is caring, and all can share the food in this light and casual setting.
What’s all of this got to do with take-out?
In short, this is a versatile eatery, so much so that, if you dig up a picnic basket that’s been sitting in the garage forever, then call Sean at Santé, he’ll talk you through the take-out options and arrange your meal. The menu contains many portable goodies including charcuterie, antipasto, pate, pastas, gourmet salads, pizza, tiramisu and more. This is a great idea for a lazy birthday or anniversary treat. Intimate picnics go well in the Byron Shire with a multitude of places to throw those rugs. The same applies to office parties and folk stuck at work in Byron Bay or surrounding areas on duty with no time to eat well – naturally, Santé will fill that brief. Santé means a few different things to different people; here, in a take-out context, it certainly means ‘good health’ and a great alternative to fast foods. If you like your takeaway a la carte and expertly handled then this is an eatery to try.
Santé
Eat in / Takeaway
Fully Licensed
Noon to Late 7 days
95 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
6685 5009
www.santerestaurant.com.au
[email protected]
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