Not Bread Alone

The best way to kick off a new year is to remember the things that matter most in life. Time to take a moment and enjoy friends, family and even the company of strangers. Not Bread Alone in Crows Nest has been sharing the foodie love for over 11 years serving loyal customers for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tucked off Pacific Highway I’m sure hundreds of people have driven past this restaurant, many more would have dined here. The leafy trees shade the outdoor tables and this particularly balmy night called for alfresco dining.

Owner, Barbara Lloyd could easily be everyone’s adopted aunty. The one whose house you love to visit because you know you’ll get spoilt with home cooked treats, delicious wholesome meals and if you’re lucky a goodie bag for the road. Barbara’s mother owned gourmet cafes decades ago and food was always a way expressing your love for one another. Those beliefs have been passed on and shine through at Not Bread Alone.

Our first Secret Foodies event of the year is all about sharing. The entrees certainly brought people together as did a glass of 2011 Forest Hill “Highbury Hill” Chardonnay. Seafood platters with sautéed prawns, whitebait fritters, salt and pepper squid, grilled fish and mussels were laid one each table. Then antipasto plates with smoked salmon, leg ham, Danish feta, roast vegetables and dip. Try the assorted breads including bruschetta, garlic and pesto bread. They go really well with the antipasto.

seafood platter

antipasto plate

assorted breads

For mains we had barramundi with sweet potato, baby bok choy and a sweet chilli and coriander butter. My favourite main dish was the perfectly cooked eye fillet steak with sautéed mushrooms and a red wine jus. Another favourite was the baked chicken breast wrapped in proscuitto and pesto with a red capsicum sauce. For the pasta lovers the roast pumpkin risotto with mushrooms and spinach hit the spot. Barbara buys all of her fruit and vegetables fresh from the markets daily. The watercress and orange salad and mixed steamed vegetables made it obvious. The Smith & Hooper Cab/Merlot Wrattonbully SA 2005 went particularly well with the steak and risotto.

eye fillet steak

baked chicken breast

barramundi with sweet potato

roast pumpkin risotto

mixed steamed vegetables

watercress and orange salad

One of the best parts of dining at Not Bread Alone is the dessert menu. Just as most of us thought we couldn’t fit in another bite the dessert platters arrived. Crepes with fresh strawberries and maple syrup, fresh raspberry crème brulee with tuille and rhubarb and apple crumbles served in individual dishes. My favourite dessert was the chocolate brownie with chocolate sauce. A glass of the 2005 Yulumba late harvest Viognier Wrattonbully desert wine was a great match.

fresh raspberry crème brulee

rhubarb and apple crumbles

chocolate brownie with chocolate sauce

crepes with fresh strawberries

To finish our night Barbara offered her own blend of coffee roasted on site. What’s in it? She won’t tell, top secret. We’re not the only ones who like to keep hush hush.

At Not Bread Alone you’ll find honest Australian fare with comforting portions at a decent price. There’s no pretension and it’s certainly not fine dining. It’s your local neighborhood restaurant that consistently serves good food.

But enough about what I think, let’s hear what our foodies have to say…

Barbara Lloyd, Owner

Not Bread Alone

Shop 2, 376 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest

02 9966 9788

Breakfast Mon-Sun 7.30am-5pm

Lunch Mon-Sun 11am-5pm

Dinner Mon-Sat 6-11pm

http://www.notbreadalone.com.au/

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Tags: Breakfast, BYO, Cafe, Crows Nest, Dinner, Lunch, Not Bread Alone, restaurant

Category: North Shore