Shellharbour: Branches Seafood Restaurant

I was flipping through the Lake Times and saw that Branches Seafood Restaurant had a 3 course chef special for $36. Curious, I quickly went to their website for more information.

 Chefs Selection Menu - 3 courses for $36

It's my Mum's birthday coming up and we were wondering where to take her for birthday dinner. The Branches Seafood Restaurant is the location of many a celebratory dinner whether for birthday, anniversary or just a special treat. I have fond memories of Scampi brought home one night from my Mum's meal. They were butterflied and grilled with garlic butter. Mmm... my mouth is watering at the memory of it.

I love the sound of the Fried Camembert 

Traditional Catch sounds delicious. Fresh seafood is something Branches has always been famous for. Garlic and butter with seafood - a match made in heaven as far as I'm concerned!

Dessert is where I have trouble deciding. Branches Baileys Profiteroles sound delicious but I think the Chocolate Fondant is calling me. Or the Passionate Panna Cotta. Hopefully I won't have to make a decision and we have all four desserts on the table and share them.

Children's Menu

They also have a Children's menu that includes standard favourites of chicken, fish and chips, nachos, pizza, pasta and icecream but with a refined flair.  They even have my childhood favourite - vanilla icecream topped with milo. Something there for children of all ages. The neptunes catch with calamari and fish pieces, fruit and salad for $9.50 sounds like excellent value.

Ala Carte Menu

Also available is the Ala Carte menu which I am more familiar with and still featuers my all-time favourites. 

Scampi $55 

Deep sea crustaceans grilled with an exciting ouzo, garlic and lemon marinade

Oysters Mornay($27 )

A dozen oysters topped with a delicious mornay sauce and lightly grilled

Steak and Lobster tail ($39)
Tender beef cooked to your liking, garnished with lobster tail and a delicate cream and ginger sauce

seafood platter ($130)
For your next special occassion, pre-order our spectacular seafood platter. A hot and cold assortment of ocean fresh seafood, garnished with an ice statuette.per couple without lobster ~ 130.00 • per couple with lobster ~ market price

Located in the Shellharbour Resort just North of Shellharbour Village on the doorstep of the Blackbutt Forest Reserve, the Branches Seafood Restaurant is a lovely spot for romantic couples or a family affair.

If you are able to get babysitting, why not take advantage of the accommodation packages and really spoil yourself. For $230 they have a Queen bedroom package which includes a 3 Course Dinner in Branches Restaurant dine-in or room service and a full cooked breakfast.The room comprises of a queen size bed, complete with Free Austar TV, Wifi, reverse cycle airconditioning, microwave, fridge, toaster with a toilet and shower ensuite.

    Branches Seafood Restaurant
    Shellharbour Resort & Conference Centre
    Wireless hotspot with Jomojo Wireless

	Cnr Shellharbour Road & Ocean Beach Drive Shellharbour NSW 2529 Australia
	Accommodation p | 02 4295 1317	Branches Restaurant p | 02 4297 1323
	e | mail@shellharbourresort.com.au

Dining Out in Shellharbour: Relish on Addison

One of the many restaurants a stone's throw from Shellharbour Beach to rave about is Relish on Addison.
Recently I found out that they offer  Gluten-Free options with their meals. It may pay to make a booking and specify your dietary requirements.

I'm really excited about their Chef Menu for June.

Note: All ingredients may not be listed, please advise of allergies + dietary requirements.Vegetarians & special dietary options are available on request

Shop 4, 6 Addison Street, Shellharbour Village
relish@ozemail.com.au
Phone 02 4295 5191
Fax     02 4295 4283

 Cocktail bar
Fully licensed bar
Functions available
Group bookings available


View Illawarra Gluten-Free in a larger map

Shoalhaven River and Greenwell Point Oysters

I love Oysters. I have since the ripe old age of 2 when my Father owned an Oyster lease up near Tin Can Bay in Queensland. We used to visit the mangrove swamp to collect the oysters, always stopping to taste some before leaving. There is nothing like eating a freshly shucked oyster minutes from plucking it from the water.

Last year I visited the Barilla Bay Oysters in Tasmania and enjoyed the same fresh oyster experience and flew back home with two dozen plump Tasmanian oysters on a flight to Sydney.

Recently I have been buying Oysters from the Shellharbour Seafood market at Stocklands Shellharbour (formerly Shellharbour Square) and whilst they have been fresh I am craving another oyster farm experience.

Soon I will be organising a Illawarra Gourmet Food Safari with BHC Promotions and a visit to the Shoalhaven River and Greenwell Point Oyster farms is high on my list of priorities. If you are interested in taking part in the Illawarra Foodie safari please email me at illawarrafood@gmail.com to be added to the newsletter.

Until then, the Shoalhaven Oyster Service has created some interesting videos about how Oysters are harvested and helpful information about storing, shucking and eating oysters. Not that I need any help with the latter! :)

Shoalhaven Oyster Service
Brian & Barry Allen

Address:

29 Greenwell Point Road

Greenwell Point

NSW

2540

Australia

Telephone: 02 4447 1290
Fax: 02 4447 1717
Mobile Phone Number: 02 4447 1717

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Other Oyster Suppliers

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The Sauce That Can Go With Any Seafood

I LOVE seafood. When I was two my father owned an oyster lease up near Tin Can Bay in Queensland. My family operated a seafood business selling fish, prawns, crabs and oysters to people staying in the caravan parks and accommodation in Rainbow Beach and Noosa. My Dad is an expert at shucking oysters, peeling prawns and filleting fish. Both my Mum and Dad make wonderful sauces to go with seafood (recipes to come) but I doubt they can beat this Asian style seafood sauce similar to the one I encountered in a small restaurant in Hobart, Tasmania.

I stumbled upon it on foodbuzz.com and it took my interest straight away. The fresh flavours of lime, chilli and cilantro mixed with garlic and fish sauce work really well together and a very different accompaniment to seafood than the Australian standard of Tartare sauce or cocktail sauce. Give it a try and use some of the leftovers (if there are any) as a dipping sauce.

The Sauce That Can Go With Any Seafood
as seen on I Just Love My Apron,
found on Foodbuzz

Recipe and photo by I Just Love My Apron

Seafood Sauce-Asian Style

Yield: about 1/2 cup

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons fish sauce
4 tablespoons sugar
3 limes, juice
4 big garlic cloves
1-1 1/2 tablespoons chopped ginger
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
4 Thai Chilies (aka Bird's eye Chili)--Please adjust it to your preference

Directions:

• Add garlic, chili, ginger, and cilantro into a food processor. Pulse about 5 times until it's coarsely chopped.
• Add sugar, pulse 5 times until all mixed together
• Add fish sauce and lime juice, pulse 3 times. Sugar should be dissolved into the mixture.
• Taste to correction and adjust it to your preference.

Restaurant Review: The Headlands Hotel, Austinmer

Yesterday I travelled to the Headlands Hotel in Austinmere. It was the last day of a five day adventure with my step-son Guy and his Italian Girlfriend, Stella. They arrived on Friday, joined in with the Ride Around The Lake fundraiser on Saturday, travelled to Windang on Sunday, fishing on the MV Sigma in Kiama on Monday, Tuesday at the Five Island Brewery and finally on Wednesday were preparing for their long flight to Italy via Tai Pei. 

Guy and Stella have been making their way around Australia following the fruit trail, picking fruits and vegetables and saving up for their trip overseas to visit Stella's family in Umbria, Italy. Since it was our last day together and they were on their way to Sydney International Airport, I suggested we have lunch at the Headlands Hotel in Austinmer. The views from this spot are unparalleled in my opinion and the food was amazing.

[ View towards Sydney from the outdoor tables]

 [ Stella enjoying the sunshine and the amazing view ]

I love seafood so the Seafood Platter for One was quickly settled upon at $35. All eyes were on the platter when it was brought out and I only had the chance to take two photos before it was devoured. The chef had cooked the octopus with a Greek-style marinade of olive oil, lemon, garlic and herbs. The garlic prawns and perfectly cooked scallops were nestled on a large piece of barramundi which was grilled and just melted in the mouth. As the food started to disappear there was a puddle of garlic aoili that everyone was dipping their chips and fish into. The prawns were fresh and full of flavour, a lovely combination of hot and cold seafood which tasted even better with the sea views.

[ Seafood Platter for One ($35) ]

Other meals purchased from the specials board was the Flathead Fillets ($18) and Crumbed Snapper ($18) which were very tasty but no match for the grilled barramundi which was sweet and succulent.  I almost purchased the panko prawns (prawns in a breadcrumb crust) but was very happy with the seafood platter that everyone sampled and found to be delicious.

 

[ Crumbed Snapper $18 ]

 

[ Battered Flathead fillets $18 ] 

I only wish we had purchased the Seafood Platter for two as it looked amazing when leaving the kitchen. Definitely worth trying on a return visit.

[ Specials board at Headlands Hotel ]

[ Booth style dining with a view ]

I talked with some couples who had stopped at the iconic country hotel built in 1926 on the edge of a bluff in Austinmere. Everyone said how much they enjoyed the charm of the hotel had and that the views were just spectacular. The Headland Hotel was featured in the 2005/2006 Television series headLand. Only an hour South of Sydney and well worth the visit. 

My favourite dining experiences in the Illawarra

On signing up for myTaste.com.au (a food and restaurant review site) I was asked to list my top 5 dining experiences. I have decided to share them here with some illustration as to why I rate them so highly.

Top 5 dining experiences in the Illawarra

1. Ocean Beach Hotel, Shellharbour Village
   
   
   
   I love this restaurant so much that I hired the venue as my wedding venue in December 1996. I have returned countless times for their seafood platters, oyster medley, steaks, pork belly, mushroom entree - all delicious! The childrens meals have been very popular with friends and family, especially since kids eat free!
   
   
   
   The view is of Shellharbour village boat harbour and Little Park and the atmosphere is always one where you can relax and enjoy a great meal with a view. Wonderful service and reasonable prices.
   
   
2. Emeralds Restaurant, Warilla Bowling Club
   
   
   
   The restaurant is upstairs in the Warilla Bowling Club, one of the largest bowling clubs in New South Wales and one of the best restaurants in the Illawarra. We have dined at Emeralds more time than I can count and it is always a hit with friends and families visiting from interstate. I have tasted most of the items on the menu and I can honestly say that there is something to please everyone on their menu.
   
   
   
   
3. Fujiyama Teppanyaki Japanese Restaurant
   
   One of the best dining experiences in my life was my first visit to Fujiyama. We payed for a banquet which consisted of several courses including salad, fried rice, wagu beef, teriyaki chicken, grilled fish and some fruit and saki. Absolutely delicious! It was long before I started my food blog and taking photos of food, around the time I was married. I have been back again several times since with friends and family and everyone loves the novelty of catching the raw egg in a bowl from a distance from the experienced japanese chef, then catching the bowl of cooked fried rice as it hurls through the air at you from across the room. A definite party environment and I remember being racked with waves of laughter as my husband had egg on his face - literally. Don't go in your best clothes unless you are agile. The food is amazingly delicious and the decor makes you feel as if you have boarded a plane for Japan but only a few minutes from North Wollongong station and the heart of Wollongong. I don't have any photos of Fujiyama Teppanyaki but the image below is from Shinju Teppanyaki in Sydney to give you an idea of the teppanyaki experience. Your chef cooks your entire meal in front of you on a BBQ and you get to watch the action as he spins the salt and pepper grinders in the air, dices and slices the ingredients with expertise, then marinates and cooks your meal as you sit mesmerised, hunger intensified with the smells and sights as watch the display.
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Beachouse Seafood Restaurant, Wollongong
   
   My visit visit was the result of winning a competition on Wavefm radio station answering the question 'what's the most unusual or disgusting food you've ever eaten'. My reply was 'ding ding mukh muhd' which is a Middle Eastern delicacy known commonly as 'pig snouts with avocado sauce'. Yuck! A 'friend' made it for me in 1995 and I could not get over my aversion to seeing hair on the pig snouts and the chewy texture somewhat like pork rind that hasn't crackled properly. For my troubles I won a $100 voucher to Beachouse Restaurant on Cliff Road, opposite North Wollongong harbour. It was an amazing dining experience with a seaood platter for two and toasting each other with a bottle of sparkling wine. Divine! We returned to Beachouse in 2007 for the 'blood moon' lunar eclipse for some oysters and a small seafood platter.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. La Marina Tapas Bar and Restaurant, Wollongong (previously located in Shelharbour)
   
   A little piece of Spain in Wollongong. My favourite restaurant for Spanish food in New South Wales with a great menu, unbelievably great prices - especially for their tapas which are $10 each including seafood such as Tasmanian scallops or pippies. We first visited for a birthday party but I am sure we will be visiting them at their new location in Wollongong. The great food and sangria make you want to shout 'Ole!'
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Other restaurants I would recommend:

1.  Harbour Front Restaurant, Wollongong Harbour
   
   I haven't visited in the last few years but on every dining experience I have had in the past I have been nothing but truly satisfied. When I lived in Corrimal I used to travel out to the restaurant for their buffet lunch which included oysters, seafood and a range of dishes and desserts. The view of Wollongong harbour an added bonus and customer service second to none. I'd love to go back and take some photos and sample their new menu and wine list.
   
   
2. Five Islands Brewery, Wollongong Harbour
   
   A wonderful micro brewery with an amazing restaurant. Their delicious mezze platter is responsible for my love of Avocado and Kalamata olives. Previous reviews have been birthday celebrations and there is a great party vibe with all the specialty beers flowing. 
   
   
3. Crooked River Winery Cafe, Gerringong
   
   
   
   
   I have only visited Crooked River Winery Cafe once on a winery tour of the South Coast (Gerringong, Berry, Coolangatta) but it is definitely in my top 5 dining experiences. There was a set menu for our tour but everything the people at my table at looked divine.
   
   The view was breathtaking. I could have stayed there all day.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4.  Harbour View Thai, Shellharbour
   
   
   Amazing Thai food with a harbour view. The food is fresh, full of flavour and the staff were friendly and very helpful. I love Thai food so I was so glad to find one within a short walk from Shellharbour beach, one of my favourite spots to relax.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Tandoori Junction, (Indian) Shellharbour Village
   
   As seen on 'the chopping block', this restaurant is the best Indian food I have tasted since I left Corrimal and the amazing Indian restaurants Aamaru and Manjits located there. Located on Addison St, Shellharbour you can enjoy a water view if you sit on the balcony and enjoy some of the sea air and wonderful decor with great food at wonderful prices. I heartily recommend the Tandoori Chicken and their famous 'Junction platter' which is great for people new to Indian food as it gives a sample of some of their favourite dishes. For those with milder tastes, try the Butter Chicken and Garlic Naan.  
   
   
6. Addisons Seafood Restaurant
   
   
   
   I have to be honest and say that Addisons nearly didn't enter this list due to the great 'rubber lobster' incident of 2007 but on previous visits it has been a dining highlight. I took my Mother for dinner at Addisons Seafood Restaurant for her birthday and the only thing she really felt like was Lobster Mornay. I chose a Seafood Platter for One ($40) and was very happy with the contents which my Mum shared with me after disliking the lobster which was rubbery and tasted like it was cooked from frozen which was disputed by the waiter who asserted that it had been caught fresh that day. My Mum is an expert cook of seafood and had worked in a fresh seafood business when I was five and there is nothing in the world she loves more than a perfectly cooked lobster. I hope that one day she will return to Addisons and experience that. This restaurant has a reputation for good food and fresh ingredients. We may have just been unlucky on the day.  
   

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Seafood Combination Chow Mein from Kings, Warilla Grove

One of the many budget meals available from Kings Chinese Food Takeaway at Warilla Grove Shopping Centre is Seafood Combination Chow Mein. Only $5 it includes prawns, seafood extender, fish balls, squid and fish as well as delicious vegetables sauted perfectly with delicate flavours of seseme oil. The noodles are cooked separately and have a slight chilli warmth. The perfect meal for the cold rainy weather we've been having today.


Seafood Combination Chow Mein from Kings, Warilla Grove:Vanessa Pike-Russell

King Chinese Food Take-Away NSW

Category >Takeaway > Chinese

Shop 4 Shellharbour Rd Warilla 2528
ph: (02) 4297 5717


Taken with a Pentax K20d




Photography by Vanessa Pike-Russell

www.vanessapikerussell.com.au