The other day I saw a social media post by a "B Farm" at Bobs Farm. It looked familiar.
Intrigued, I dug a little deeper and discovered it was, in fact, the soon to be rebranded Murray's Brewery on Nelson Bay Road. It's going to be called B Farm.
A lot has changed since I last visited, and there are more changes to come.
"B Farm is the rebrand of the property and our broader brand. Murray's Craft Brewing Co is now one of the offerings at B Farm," Ashleigh Howe explained. She is the daughter of founder Murray Howe and B Farm's creative director.
"The brewing company will retain its name however that no longer pertains to the property. Our onsite distillery is Golden Age Spirits at B Farm."
There have been lots of changes at B Farm, which was established as a brewery in 2008 but now has a distillery, restaurants, a farm store and accommodation, and there are plenty more changes to come.
"The time has finally come for the big rebrand and the big launch," Howe said.
"I would say the biggest story is the unveiling of our new B Farm miniature Animal Nursery, Farmshop and Photo Studio. These experiences launch with a grand opening on the first weekend of the next school holidays at the end of September.
"The Farmshop houses an ice-creamery, an old-fashioned lolly store and bakehouse, homewares and gifts and a nursery potting shed with plants and market flowers available for sale on the weekends.
"Our new Animal Nursery is a paid walk-through experience where guests can encounter some unique and quirky animals including speciality Valais sheep, miniature donkeys, alpacas, goats, pigs, ponies and more. A core component of the animal nursery will be our photo studio where you can get up close and personal with our furry friends and have a photo taken."
Once just a brewery with a beer garden, B Farm now offers workshops, honey bee encounters, beer tastings and brewery tours, wine, spirit tastings and tours, a perfumery experience, mixology masterclasses, cooking classes ... the list goes on.
In addition to Restaurant William, which opened in 2022, there's also Agnes High Tea, which is served in a pretty glass conservatory; Murray's Beer Garden and its smokehouse; and picnic boxes for use on the grounds or further afield.
B Farm's Golden Age Spirits distillery is being used to craft artisan spirits from native botanicals, and there are various liqueurs, oils, wines, spritzes, teas, jams and chocolates made on-site, as well as the premium Darkdrop coffee range.
New glamping suites at B Farm are tucked away on the edge of the bush, offering views of the 50-hive apiary, and each open-plan suite combines a bedroom and sitting area with a wrap-around deck, outdoor soaking tub, private dressing room and ensuite bathroom. Bespoke cabins will open in 2025, featuring an open-plan bedroom with garden views, an ensuite and an outdoor bath.
Also available to book next year is Stella The Stargazer, a tiny house with a floating roll-out sleeping platform and access to the Stella Bathhouse (a woodfired Swedish-style sauna with two outdoor bathing tubs).
The Howe family have certainly been busy. I'll have more to share about the B Farm rebrand and grand opening soon.
Cory Campbell is Cuisine's Chef of the Year
Former Newcastle chef and all-round nice guy Cory Campbell was named Cuisine Chef of the Year at the Cuisine Good Food Awards in New Zealand this week. He is head chef at The Grove Restaurant in Auckland, and it was awarded three chef's hats for the first time at the awards. A coincidence? I think not. I recall he told me in 2016 that his dream was to open a three-hatted restaurant in Newcastle, so he's halfway there! And his long orange beard? Long gone.
Steph De Sousa branches out
Speaking of New Zealand, Steph De Sousa is flying there this week for the Food Show at Sky Stadium in Wellington. Her recipe book, The Air Fryer Queen, was in such high demand that it sold out ... but is now back on shelves and available online. Also, she's gradually adding all her recipes from Instagram and other social media platforms to her new website, easyrecipegang.com.au, where you can also access eBooks including Fasta Pasta. The former MasterChef contestant who calls Warners Bay home is killing it online, with more than 1 million followers on her Frugal Foodie Instagram account alone.
Trophy time
The 2024 Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards For Excellence gala night took place at Doltone House, Darling Island, on Monday night and some familiar names came home winners. Sprout Catering at Tocal Homestead won a major award: NSW Regional Caterer of the Year. It also won an award in the Regional NSW category (Best Events Caterer) alongside The Wood at Brokenwood Hunter Valley, Pokolbin (Best Restaurant in a Winery); Little Beach Boathouse at Nelson Bay (Best Seafood Restaurant); The Gates Restaurant at Pokolbin (Best Steak Restaurant); and Peterson House at Pokolbin (Best Wedding Caterer).
Bar makes the cut
Newcastle West bar The Koutetsu has placed 44th in the top 50 bars in NSW as judged by Boothby. Judges said "this original Newcastle small bar is still going strong nine years after its debut. You'll want to be drinking cocktails here - they're as good as they get up here in Newcastle". Only three bars outside of the Sydney metropolitan and Northern Beaches radius made the cut. The other two were Wollongong's Howlin' Wolf (33rd) and Terrigal's Pocket Bar (48th). First place went to Double Deuce Lounge on Bridge Street in Sydney.
Short and sweet
The Tipsy Italian has opened at 98 Maitland Road, Islington.
EXP. Restaurant at Pokolbin has made Gourmet Traveller's top 25 restaurants in NSW list.
The Little Edgie Boy has opened at Edgeworth with an impressive yum cha menu.
Ginger Megs has a $10 bar food menu Wednesday through to Saturday.
TINTA Belmont is opening for breakfast and lunch from September 11, Wednesday to Sunday from 7.30am. It will be open for sunset drinks and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays only.
