Simon Haslam
An iconic Claude Monet ‘Haystacks’ painting Meules, milieu du jour, 1890) will be exhibited at our local Tweed River Regional Art Gallery in Murwillumbah from this month, providing yet another reason to visit this excellent free gallery. Monet, a key Impressionist painter, devoted about 18 months in 1890 and 1891 to capturing the very act of perceiving nature, creating 30 paintings of the haystacks in a field near his house at Giverny, and this is a wonderful opportunity to see this work with your own eyes.
In response to the upcoming exhibition of the Monet work, Apex Dining, the new bistro at Tweed River Gallery, will serve a French-inspired menu and will even feature a dish called ‘Haystacks’.
Also reflecting Monet’s themes of landscape, Apex has an elevated perspective with picturesque views that sweep right across the Tweed River Valley to Queensland in the north and Wollumbin (Mt Warning) in the south-west. The cafe has plenty of ‘plein-air’ dining space on its open decks to soak up the landscape as well, the dining room is largely open and breezy and easily captures the stunning vista.
The fare at Apex are small works of art, Red Wangara iced tea, made from local hibiscus, star anise, peach and lime, is a deep claret colour and is served in a large, stemmed balloon glass with garnish and straw. There are equally admirable cocktails and mocktails as well.
New operators Toby and Hannah Bamford are experienced Tweed foodies, they’ve been involved in many of the region’s premier dining destinations for over 20 years, and they own the bakery Baked at Ancora, so the delicious bakery and dessert items you see in the cabinet are freshly baked by their own team.
The current menu is a treat as well, new head chef Andelson Dela Vega has curated an Asian fusion menu from our regional produce. The ‘Baingan’ masala – a curry of eggplant, garam masala, tomato, cumin, coriander and with warm paratha bread was absolutely more-ish and pan-fried fish fillet of the day, with roast cauliflower cream, bok choy and sesame soy was delicious! This menu has plenty of scope for a return visit, with: panko crumbed prawns with spicy mayo; two Korean chicken dishes; and kare kare peanut pork belly. Twice-cooked pork belly, lemon grass, bok choy, green beans and peanut coconut are also eye-catching menu items. There’s also a cabinet menu available, with a selection of fresh local ingredients that include salads, toasties, loaded croissants and other pastries like the spanakopita, or sweet potato roll or their signature sausage roll, with pork, fennel and apple in flaky pastry.
The Northern Rivers Rail Trail has a Gallery stop, with easy access to the gallery and Apex Dining via stairs. Cyclists pop in for a refuelling bite or a performance-enhancing coffee or other refreshing beverages, whether they make it to their next trail stop… that can be decided later.
The only thing better than dining at Apex and taking in the view would be indulging in this during a glorious sunset over the valley. Apex is hosting Twilight Series over the warmer months, featuring relaxed Asian street food, happy hour and live musicians – book online.
Dining at Apex is such a pleasure, it is a beautiful sojourn up to the Tweed and to the gallery and to add a pause on the decks of the dining room with truly enjoyable food and drink is a gift that allows us to reflect and really appreciate the sensory wonders of life.
Bookings: apexdining.com.au
Phone 02 6672 5088
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