Garlic Bread and Parmigiana
I spend a lot of time now reflecting on my 14 months living on the Sunshine Coast. One of my most special memories would have to be the time I had with my Dad. My Dad moved up there in 2020 and is still currently living there now. When I first decided to move it was only going to be for six months and I was only going to stay with Dad for a short while. Both of those plans fell through. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Our relationship became the strongest it’s ever been, and I am so incredibly grateful for this and for the time we got together. I miss him everyday but look forward to his Melbourne trips and my trips up to the Sunshine Coast.
We had our weekend rituals- coffee and a muffin from Cuba Street Coffee. In the first apartment we would sit on the ‘top deck’ on weekend mornings looking out to Mt Coolum chatting about the weekend and what the week looked like for us both. When we moved to the second apartment, we would still do this but on the balcony looking out to the pool. I loved that that was how my weekends would start, slow and relaxed before the madness of walking into a busy kitchen. Our chats weren’t just about the weekend and the week ahead, but also about life, relationships, work and travel. Whatever was happening in life we would be chatting about it. Most weekends we would enjoy egg and bacon rolls and every time I’d say to him “I recon this is the best one”, he would just laugh and say, “you said that last time”. I made them the same every time, one egg, one to two slices of bacon (depending on what we bought that week), butter, cheese, BBQ sauce for Dad, all in a sourdough roll from the Mt Coolum Bakery. The next time I am up I am sure we will be making these! Side note: if you are ever in Mt Coolum, go and get some of these rolls and or the ciabatta loaf- 10/10.
When I first moved up, I was rarely home nights due to working late but when I changed jobs I was home more often. We would alternate who was cooking dinner, our favourite meals where chicken schnitzel and veggie or burgers and veggies. Dad also made a pretty good sugo (sauce) when he would be the one cooking pasta. They were the simplest meals, but they were my most favourite ones. We often did a BBQ; I’d prepare all the veggies and the salad. Dad would be in charge of cooking (Ziggy was the BBQ’s name) and I would always complain the steak was over cooked even know he cooked it perfect every time. We also would do ‘fish and chips’ regularly too. Again Dad would be in charge of cooking the fish and I would be incharge of the chips and the veggies. We always ate dinner outside (winter we usually ate inside) and we would always end the meal sitting and chatting for a bit before we cleaned up.
Sunset walks and chats, followed by an aperol spritz or beer with chippies on Mt Coolum beach was an absolute treat for us too, especially over summer. If we couldnt go for a walk, we would do this pre dinner sitting on the top deck or sitting on the balcony watching the sun go down.
Food was always the centre of conversation; we would still be eating lunch and be talking about what was going to be for dinner that night and even the night after.
We ate out probably once a week, always keen to try somewhere new. But one thing that became a tradition of ours was trying out the garlic bread and parmigiana at the Surf Clubs. Every time we would go to the surf club, we would share a garlic bread and then a Parma each to follow. I think in the end we tried four Surf Clubs along the coast- Mooloolaba, Alexander Heads, Coolum and Noosa. Its hard to say which was the best, but the last one we ate at together was the Noosa one and that would be on the top of my list. Dinner was always followed by ice cream. Top two favourites would be Gelato Mio in Coolum and Massimo’s Gelateria in Noosa. We also always had an endless supply of ice cream in the freezer at home- Ben and Jerry’s (Phish Food) and Connoisseaur (Mint and Cookies).
We ate at lot of different places, most on the Sunshine Coast and we also ventured to Brisbane twice for dinner. In Brisbane we ate at Joy Restaurant (my first fine dining experience- 10 setter degustation meal-incredible!) and Bianca Restaurant (by far my favourite restaurant in Qld, can’t wait to go again). On the Sunshine Coast we ate at Locale Noosa (which is also where I worked when I first moved up. It will always hold a place in my heart as it’s the reason I decided to make the move), Sum Young Guys (their roti is number 1), Bandita Mexican (celebrated Dads 60th with some incredibly delicious tacos), 250 Grammi Noosa (enjoyed yummy pizza with my cousin while she was up doing the Noosa Marathon), Boa down (a small local restaurant that had delicious and tasty bao buns and curries), Liliana’s Trattoria (food just like Nonna would make), Light Years (we dined here a few times and is definitely one of my favourite Asian fusion restaurants on the coast), Somedays Pizza (my favourite pizza place on the coast!), Dee Den (celebrated Father’s Day here and enjoyed every part of our meal, tried to get in before I left but struggled too), Mariella Mexicantina (one of the last places we ate at, that had some really beautiful Mexican street food), Bella Venezia (celebrated my 25th birthday here with house made bread and pasta and a very decadent chocolate dessert), Market Bistro (the last restaurant we ate at before I moved back), Soka Restaurant (charcoal Japanese restaurant, open kitchen, simple dishes with maximum flavour and Dads favourite because he wanted the exact kitchen in the centre of our apartment!), Augellos Restaurant & Pizzeria (Yum pizza followed by ice cream and a walk along Mooloolaba beach).
Not only did we try many restaurants but also some café too- Schwenkee Espresso, Cuba St Coffee, Canteen kitchen and bar, Café Le Monde and The Caf Coolum.
I am beyond excited to be heading up there again in two weeks’ time. To spend time with Dad again, to continue some of our traditions and to eat at either one of our favourites or try somewhere new.
My time on the Sunshine Coast was made a lot better because my Dad was with me throughout it. A lot of good food was involved, and he was always ready to try a new restaurant. Not only that, but he was one of my biggest supporters throughout my whole time on the sunshine coast. He was there for every challenge faced, every success and he would always know how to make me laugh and put a smile on my face. Thank you Dad! I’ve already said it but I am so beyond grateful for him, for the 14 months we got to live together again and all the special memories that I will forever hold in my heart.