As far east as you can go without getting wet, Byron Bay is the main tourism drawcard in the northern new South Wales region. This means there’s plenty to do here to get a unique taste of Australia. here are our top 7 things to do in Byron Bay, NSW.

The once quiet hippy commune of Byron Bay is now a thriving community of visitors, locals and city tree-changers. This eclectic mix of people has encouraged a rare diversity in what should be a relatively remote coastal region of northern new South Wales.

Instead, Byron Bay town and its quaint surrounding villages and hamlets have a wealth of things to see, do and experience. From world-class beaches to amazing mountain ranges, and from national parks and rainforests to music festivals and 5-star celebrity-owned spa retreats, your check out to Cape Byron will be a busy one.

And then there’s the food… but let’s see what’s on our list of things to do.

7 things you must do in Byron Bay, NSW

1. Ahoy there, dolphins, whales and turtles – Go Sea Kayak

If you want to get up close and personal with the ocean’s most intelligent, you’ll never have a better opportunity. Go Sea Kayak runs kayaking three times a day from Lawson street off Clarkes beach and comes with the guarantee that if you don’t see a whale, dolphin or turtle, you get to paddle again for free.

You also get one of the most unique views of the Cape Byron Lighthouse and the most easterly point of mainland Australia – from the water.

This was one of the best things we did in Byron Bay and we highly recommend it. This tour company is owned and run by a born-and-bred local too, which we really love. Kurk Tutt also happens to be a three-times world surf title medalist, which we also love!

He and his team photograph your trip, and then publish the photos on Facebook for you to download for free.

Check out Go Sea Kayak here.

2. Be the first to see the sun come up – toast the sun with Wild Goat Events

The Cape Byron Lighthouse has been an icon of the east coast of Australia for generations. It’s a monument to the sunrise, being the first to see the start to each Australian morning since 1901 when it was built.

Just behind the still-working lighthouse is the Cape Lighthouse Café, where – after watching the sun rise up out of the blue Pacific – you get to enjoy a private breakfast arranged for you by Wild Goat Events.

The Wild Goat events team will also open the gates for you to drive up to the lighthouse automobile park pre-dawn – a route all others have to walk up. They greet you with a (much-needed) coffee and blankets if it’s chilly, and leave you to the romance of seeing the first sunrise in Australia.

Between June and November, you’re likely to see humpback whales from this lookout on their annual migration up the east Coast. during our extraordinary Moroccan inspired breakfast, we were lucky enough to see a mother and calf playing as they made their way north.

This is a truly magical experience and perfect for romance – even a proposal – it’s that good.

Check out Wild Goat events and their toast the sun experience here.

3. See what you eat and eat what you see – The Farm

Imagine rolling fields, rustic barns, al fresco restaurants, and crops and livestock all in one place. That’s what The farm is all about, and their mission statement of ‘grow, feed, educate’ is at the heart of what you find here.

Saved from becoming a housing estate, this prime land on the outskirts of town is now one of the most extraordinary, sustainable farms and cooperatives in the world.

Most – if not all – of the produce grown here is used in the restaurant area of The Farm. Notably, Sydney-born three Blue Ducks restaurant is here, serving some outstanding food, plus The produce store and Bread Social You can come for a feed or just to explore the farm’s landscape.

It’s outstanding to see what a working farm should look like and what’s possible when you treat animals and produce with respect. The food that comes to your table from this farm is absolutely amazing, and the vibe here is enthralling and so positive.

Check out what else is going on down at The farm here.

4. eat at all of these places

Perhaps it’s something to do with Byron’s hippy heritage or maybe the fact that there’s just so much outstanding fresh, natural produce growing in abundance here. The food you can find in Byron Bay and its surrounds is just beautiful.

We were only here for a few days this last visit, but we ate so well it was hard to go home! From cheese boards in town and burata on the beach to fresh fish tacos and molecular cuisine in the country, you won’t go hungry here.

We’ve written up our top 7 things to eat while you’re in Byron, but there are so many more options available. good hunting!

Check out our post on what to eat in Byron Bay here.

5. It’s always beer o’ clock somewhere – stone & wood Brewery

Byron Bay’s first premium craft brewery started out with three mates lookingOUR top 7 things TO do in BYRON BAY, NSW (###) As far east as you can go without getting wet, Byron Bay is the main tourism drawcard in the northern new South Wales region. This means there’s plenty to do here to get a unique taste of Australia. here are our top 7 things to do in Byron Bay, NSW.

The once quiet hippy commune of Byron Bay is now a thriving community of visitors, locals and city tree-changers. This eclectic mix of people has encouraged a rare diversity in what should be a relatively remote coastal region of northern new South Wales.

Instead, Byron Bay town and its quaint surrounding villages and hamlets have a wealth of things to see, do and experience. From world-class beaches to amazing mountain ranges, and from national parks and rainforests to music festivals and 5-star celebrity-owned spa retreats, your check out to Cape Byron will be a busy one.

And then there’s the food… but let’s see what’s on our list of things to do.

7 things you must do in Byron Bay, NSW

1. Ahoy there, dolphins, whales and turtles – Go Sea Kayak

If you want to get up close and personal with the ocean’s most intelligent, you’ll never have a better opportunity. Go Sea Kayak runs kayaking three times a day from Lawson street off Clarkes beach and comes with the guarantee that if you don’t see a whale, dolphin or turtle, you get to paddle again for free.

You also get one of the most unique views of the Cape Byron Lighthouse and the most easterly point of mainland Australia – from the water.

This was one of the best things we did in Byron Bay and we highly recommend it. This tour company is owned and run by a born-and-bred local too, which we really love. Kurk Tutt also happens to be a three-times world surf title medalist, which we also love!

He and his team photograph your trip, and then publish the photos on Facebook for you to download for free.

Check out Go Sea Kayak here.

2. Be the first to see the sun come up – toast the sun with Wild Goat Events

The Cape Byron Lighthouse has been an icon of the east coast of Australia for generations. It’s a monument to the sunrise, being the first to see the start to each Australian morning since 1901 when it was built.

Just behind the still-working lighthouse is the Cape Lighthouse Café, where – after watching the sun rise up out of the blue Pacific – you get to enjoy a private breakfast arranged for you by Wild Goat Events.

The Wild Goat events team will also open the gates for you to drive up to the lighthouse automobile park pre-dawn – a route all others have to walk up. They greet you with a (much-needed) coffee and blankets if it’s chilly, and leave you to the romance of seeing the first sunrise in Australia.

Between June and November, you’re likely to see humpback whales from this lookout on their annual migration up the east Coast. during our extraordinary Moroccan inspired breakfast, we were lucky enough to see a mother and calf playing as they made their way north.

This is a truly magical experience and perfect for romance – even a proposal – it’s that good.

Check out Wild Goat events and their toast the sun experience here.

3. See what you eat and eat what you see – The Farm

Imagine rolling fields, rustic barns, al fresco restaurants, and crops and livestock all in one place. That’s what The farm is all about, and their mission statement of ‘grow, feed, educate’ is at the heart of what you find here.

Saved from becoming a housing estate, this prime land on the outskirts of town is now one of the most extraordinary, sustainable farms and cooperatives in the world.

Most – if not all – of the produce grown here is used in the restaurant area of The Farm. Notably, Sydney-born three Blue Ducks restaurant is here, serving some outstanding food, plus The produce store and Bread Social You can come for a feed or just to explore the farm’s landscape.

It’s outstanding to see what a working farm should look like and what’s possible when you treat animals and produce with respect. The food that comes to your table from this farm is absolutely amazing, and the vibe here is enthralling and so positive.

Check out what else is going on down at The farm here.

4. eat at all of these places

Perhaps it’s something to do with Byron’s hippy heritage or maybe the fact that there’s just so much outstanding fresh, natural produce growing in abundance here. The food you can find in Byron Bay and its surrounds is just beautiful.

We were only here for a few days this last visit, but we ate so well it was hard to go home! From cheese boards in town and burata on the beach to fresh fish tacos and molecular cuisine in the country, you won’t go hungry here.

We’ve written up our top 7 things to eat while you’re in Byron, but there are so many more options available. good hunting!

Check out our post on what to eat in Byron Bay here.

5. It’s always beer o’ clock somewhere – stone & wood Brewery

Byron Bay’s first premium craft brewery started out with three mates looking

Croatia’s remarkable shoreline as well as rich eco-friendly hills are house to a few of the most picturesque towns in Europe. right here are 7 renowned Istrian towns to see in Croatia.

There are few much better travel experiences than driving winding roads that expose the spire-prickled profile of a bit drystone town. Or that lead you to the blue shimmer of the Adriatic as it ends at the walls of an ancient harbour bobbing with bit fishing boats.

The Istrian Peninsula, which draws so much influence as well as culture from Italy, is a ideal blend of coastal villages that remind you of Puglia as well as hilltop towns that provide Tuscany a run for its money.

So when we went to Istria recently, we couldn’t wait to check out a few of these bit lost places.

Check out our travel video of a few of these lovely bit coastal as well as hilltop towns:

Click right here to view the video.

For some reason, Istrian Croatia, which is much even more north-west than the well-known Dalmatian coastline as well as Split, has been ignored… well, perhaps ‘ignored’ is harsh. Left alone may be much more accurate.

Comparatively traveler light, Istria still has numerous of its brightest treasures still untouched by the stomping feet of the mass tourism juggernaut. In spring time, when locals suggest coming, you have the run of a few of this part of Croatia’s many prominent areas for visitors.

At times it felt like we were the only people walking the smooth cobbles of stunningly lovely towns. It was at times eerie, however for the most part bliss!

Mind you, you shouldn’t wait as well long before you visit. You never understand exactly how long it’s going to stay like it is.

Here’s our pick of the very best towns to see in Istrian Croatia

7 towns you should see in Croatian Istria

Coastal towns

Being a peninsula, Istria has much more than its fair share of coast, as well as the fantastic blue of the Adriatic Sea, which laps at its shores, just amplifies the splendour of it all.

Rovinj

Possibly the most lovely town we’ve ever been to, Rovinj is a focal point for visitors in the high season. Its narrow cobbled streets clamber up rather steeply at times. The limit of the land is simple to see here, with the town walls looming directly up from the Adriatic.

Doors open directly out over the water, reminding us of Venice.

The early 1700s Baroque church as well as its steeple that dominates the skyline of this town provides amazing views from the top, if you’re game for a climb.

Food tip:

Be sure to eat as much squid as well as calamari (they’re different animals by the way) as you can while you’re here. as well as if the menu provides regional truffles with the dish, take it!

Pula

The region’s funding as well as thus the most significant town in Istria, Pula has a great deal to offer. many notably, the Roman amphitheatre on the northern side of town. It’s the most total amphitheatre in Europe, as well as the only one with all its sides still intact.

As you head towards the sea, you’ll discover the surprisingly little however extremely essential temple of Augustus, which is the oldest staying building in Pula, dating back to 2BCE.

Food tip:

Drive south along the coastline to Restoran Skuza in Pjescana Uvala for beachfront dining as well as the most indulgent cheese gnocchi.

Porec

Porec, a UNESCO Heritage noted town, is a prominent resort town in July as well as August. however in may as well as early June, things are calm, peaceful as well as beautiful. We were able to check out the bit streets, speak with shop owners without feeling hassled as well as delight in the quite bit park in the centre of town.

Walk the esplanade around the old town that complies with the edge of the water. It is absolutely stunning, with the old walls of the town one side as well as the flat, beautiful blue of the sea the other.

Food tip:

Restoran Rialto for excellent, reasonably-priced food, friendly service as well as a sea-view rooftop terrace. opt for the truffle gnocchi or the grilled seafood.

Hilltop towns

The interior of the Istrian Peninsula has as remarkable a landscape as its coast. So much like Tuscany it’s uncanny thanks to the hills as well as ravines of Istria, as well as the region’s occupants, there’s a riches of postcard deserving towns peeping up from their high vantage points.

Motovun

Sitting at 277m, Motovun is one of the greatest hilltop towns as well as simple to spot. It’s likewise one of the smallest towns of Istria with about 500 residents. So it’s rather unexpected exactly how much there is to do here.

Plenty of galleries as well as restaurants are tucked away down its lovely bit laneways. We were caught in an horrendous storm as we got to Motovun as well as took shelter in the nearest restaurant. For outstanding food, service as well as being waterproof, Restoran Pod Napun is the location to go!

When you arrive, don’t be lured by the totally free auto parking down at the bottom of the town. For a little fee, you can park best where the town appropriate begins as well as only the town’s few residents can drive beyond.

Food tip:

Restoran Pod Napun for amazing views of the valley from three different levels as well as beautiful, homely food.

Groznjan

Groznjan is just up the road from Motovun (you can see it from across the valley), however just like with the towns of Tuscany, Groznjan has a totally different feel to its neighbour.

It’s likewise understood as the City of artists as well as is house to numerous regional musicians, painters as well as sculptors. You can see evidence of this in the designs on the stone walls of numerous of the homes as well as in the cafés as well as bars that offer some outstanding views out across the valleys.

Food tip:

Look for a café called a Modomio-caffe Vero, which has a rear terrace that looks out across the lovely countryside.

Bale

Istrians phone call this town Croatia’s best-kept secret… even though it has its own website. It is, however, a lovely hilltop town that’s truly worth visiting.

Not far from the coast, this bit walled town, perched up 142m on a hill just south of Rovinj, is ideal for getting the feel of what Istria is about. The bit narrow cobbled streets lead you with small crooked passages as well as lanes. It’s simple to be taken back in time to Roman times when this town was founded.

Food tip:

Konoba Bembo, mercifully close to the town’s primary carpark, does tasty fish dishes as well as super-charged garlic squid.

Beram as well as Pazin

Right in the middle of the peninsula, the hilltop town of Beram is possibly the longest constantly occupied town in Istria. evidence tells us people have lived right here because 800BCE – perhaps longer.

Exploring Beram on foot, you’ll discover all the trappings of a well-kept extremely quite Istrian hilltop town.

There’s a hiking path from Beram to its closest neighbour, Pazin, that takes about an hour. Pazin is house to a gorge you can zipline across! It’s really awesome! inspect out Zip Line Pazinska here.

Food tip:

Konoba Vela Vrata in Beram is a real regional trick that visitors have now discovered out about. try the manestra soup – an Istrian version of the traditional minestrone.

Croatia’s Istria truly is a lovely part of the world. The people are welcoming, the landscapes are spectacular as well as the food is excellent. In truth we tried difficult to have a poor meal right here as well as totally failed.

Have you been to Croatia or the Istrian Peninsula? Do you have a preferred European destination? tell us in the comments!

A elegant island in the midst of the swirl as well as turbulence of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, the Calile hotel is that enigmatic wonderful area between Gatsby Art Deco as well as Rat pack palm Springs.

Easily one of the coolest hotels we’ve stayed in, the Calile has nailed its styling. Travertine, duck-egg blue as well as accents of copper, as well as the Calile’s signature shape: the arch.

It’s a sign that’s repeated (subtly) around the hotel.

From the pool as well as the balconies to doorways, the minibar as well as even the room’s keycard wallet, it’s one of those things that when you’ve observed it, you realise exactly how well it’s used.

But this hotel’s not just a quite face.

Real believed has gone into the details; things like a stool at the shower room vanity, a big area for luggage as well as a remote manage blockout blind that opens when you very first go into the room—it all adds to the sense of luxury.

The Calile is a hotel where type as well as function sing the best duet.

Check out our video of the Calile here.

The Calile Hotel, Brisbane

The lobby is the heartbeat of the Calile’s branding. sensational travertine-clad walls as well as check-in desk blend completely with slate as well as carpeted floors, as well as the exact same completed concrete ceilings as the spaces tie things together.

And opaque spheric lampshades, copper accents as well as creative illumination all welcome you into space, into the brand.

Across from reception is the Lobby Bar. Ostensibly, this is where the hotel’s breakfast is served, however is in truth a hectic cafe that’s prominent with locals too.

The Lobby Bar, which is likewise open for lunch as well as dinner, is one of the three restaurants in the hotel. SK Steak & Oyster as well as Hellenika offer traditional steakhouse as well as trendy Greek fare respectively.

Hellenika is likewise the hotel’s pool-side venue.

Surrounded on two sides by the Calile’s famous scalloped balconies, the pool, its cabanas as well as and slender palm trees are the Calile’s final nod to its palm Springs post-modernism inspiration.

There’s likewise a full gym, day health club as well as a comfy peaceful library, where you can sit as well as kick back amongst the shelves of the hotel’s books.

The Rooms

Obviously not all the spaces of the hotel look over the pool, as well as not all of them have those incredible looping balconies either. So make sure you select a Poolside space from the nine different space types when you book if that’s what you want.

Our room—a City view Room—is cleverly created with an incredible level of detail.

One whole wall is a gigantic window that looks out over the neighbourhoods above a comfy (and stylish) daybed. At night a blockout blind descends over the whole window with a tap on the touch screen near the bed.

This exact same window blind lowers when you go out for a while as well as then lifts immediately as you walk in exposing the space as well as it’s vista. extremely slick.

The enormous, extremely comfy bed is flanked by trendy bedside tables furnished with copper as well as white bedside lamps, which have their own microswitch buttons in the wall btw.

No a lot more fumbling for an awful thumb switch somewhere along a loose cord as you doze off.

And rather than cumbersome—and frankly underused—wardrobes, our space has an open hanger rail over a long low bench, purpose-built to in shape suitcases.

Finally, are we seeing an end to those uncomfortable foldaway hammock things that don’t balance contemporary luggage?

A trick door right here clicks available to expose the iron as well as ironing board. extremely neat.

The minibar

We don’t normally requirement to focus on hotel minibars—they’re all the same. however not in the Calile.

This minibar is a work of art: a great three-leaf fold-out cupboard that not only blends with the white marble as well as copper finishings however likewise reiterates the arched doorway of the entrance to the living area with its rounded front.

Inside are some thoughtfully crafted RTD mixed drinks made specially for the Calile, as well as other charming touches.

We’re delighted to see regional beers as well as white wine in the fridge, as well as mixed with the normal big-brand miniatures are bit bottles of Aussie craft spirits. It’s excellent to discover Noosa Vodka as well as Prohibition Gin from SA next to the likes of customer as well as JD.

There’s even a bottle of sunscreen, a lovely brass Art Deco bottle opener, cleverly number-coded snacks and—ahem—even something for the weekend.

A Nespresso maker as well as kettle are likewise tucked inconspicuously away in right here too.

The bathroom

Now, the bathroom. So impressed. matching the paintwork of other walls, little square duck egg tiles laid in a vertical brick pattern produce height, while a full-length mirror (with an arched top of course) adds the sense of space.

Behind the sink, lovely moving mirrors glide available to expose the bedroom behind for natural light.

The shower—like the minibar—is developed in an arc shape that mimics the arch of the door as well as the Calile’s signature.

Its copper fixtures continue the style as well as style, as well as the recessed lighting, tucked into the ceiling, is lovely as well as pleasant.

You can likewise select the level of lighting—either from the ceiling or small ankle-height spots—from the switches on the wall.

Other touches, like the wicker basket for the vanity, the copper completed shaving mirror on its stand as well as the bit shower room stall, all add that additional level of luxe.

Oh, as well as the hidden door that slides across to close off the shower room is a masterpiece.

Where is the Calile?

One of the most striking things about the Calile—apart from its immaculate styling of course—is that there seems to be extremely bit service travel guests here. Everyone’s right here for a holiday.

It reminds me of our time in the extraordinary Grand hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como, where everyone’s travelling for leisure.

And just like the Tremezzo, the Calile is completely found for this type of guest.

In the eastern wing of Fortitude Valley, the Calile is surrounded by the very best of Brisbane’s nightlife, restaurants, bars as well as cafes.

And if you don’t want to stray as well far into the Valley, you can take advantage of the hotel’s good friends of Calile programme. Over 80 venues along James Street—from hospitality to wellness to retail—offer 10% discount rates to Calile guests who join up.

But no matter where you dine, white wine or spend a dime, staying at this artfully in-depth as well as superbly styled hotel ideal in the Valley is an experience of romance, sophistication as well as luxury.

The Philippines is a amazing archipelago including over 7000 islands. Obviously, you won’t be able to see as well as do whatever there in just one visit, however here’s a listing of our top 10 things To perform in The Philippines:

1. Go Scuba-Diving

The underwater world in the Philippines is stunning. It’s like being in an aquarium. Don a mask as well as fins as well as get under there. You can see whatever from sharks to puffer fish, to moray eels as well as sea snakes. certainly make sure to bring your underwater video camera to catch the magic. The diving diving in the Philippines is world-class.

Nick going for a diving dive in the Philippines
2. Island Hop

As I said, there are over 7,000 islands in the Philippines. Hiring a boat as well as checking out the different islands is one of the highlights of a trip to the archipelago. Each island has something distinct to offer travellers, as well as numerous of them are house to the very best Philippines beaches. Don’t miss the beaches around Palawan, Boracay as well as Panglao islands.

SEE ALSO: top 8 finest locations to go to in Manila

3. trip In A Jeepney

These contraptions are hilarious! They are leftover cars from WWII, which have now been turned into the most prominent mode of transportation in the Philippines. get prepared for a inexpensive as well as bumpy ride.

The many prominent type of transportation in the Philippines, the jeepney
4. spend The night On A Deserted Island

In our opinion, this is the highlight of a trip to the Philippines. Being dropped off at a deserted island by a boatman as well as chosen up days later is really an off the beaten path experience! Bring your mosquito net, some fundamental food, matches, snorkel gear as well as delight in your castaway adventure. Not keen on sleeping on the sand? inspect out these top Palawan resorts for a bit much more luxury!

A spectacular deserted beach! All ours for 2 days

5. eat regional Food

The Philippines has numerous of the western quick food chains, however, they likewise have some tasty authentic dishes. try the pancit bihon, poultry adobo and anything BBQ’d. The fresh mangoes are exceptional and the fresh seafood is to die for! You won’t be disappointed.

Fresh as well as tasty regional mangoes
6. Snorkel With Whale Sharks

Many people come to the Philippines for this particular experience. Seeing these goliaths soaring under the water is a moment you will never forget. Insider tip: try not to shout into your snorkel or you’ll frighten the animal away! Make sure that you choose a respectable business that are accountable as well as ecofriendly.

☞ Click right here to compare costs as well as checked out evaluations on accommodations in the Philippines on Booking.com

7. have mixed drinks In The Water At Sunset

Ahh, the sunsets in the Philippines are a few of the very best in the world. get yourself a mixed drink as well as soak in the sea while the sun sets over the horizon, the ideal end to a ideal day.

Enjoying a ideal end to a ideal day in the Philippines
8. go to The Newest natural question Of The World

The Underground River near Sabang on the island of Palawan is beautiful. Take a boat with the river system, walk around the jungle as well as then inspect out the close-by mangrove as well.

Entrance to the Undgerground River in Sabang
9. trip with Rice Terraces

The rice terraces around Banaue, Batad as well as Bontoc are gorgeous! opt for a walk between villages or just look at the terraces in awe. They were built countless years ago. It’s astounding that people were able to total this fantastic accomplishment of engineering without the utilize of machines.

Us with our Filipino buddy walking around the rice terraces at Banaue
10. Take A jump shot With The Locals

For whatever reason, Filipinos like taking ‘jump shot’ photos! It’s hilarious. While you’re standing still posing well for a shot, the locals will be jumping for joy.

One, two, three, JUMP! The locals like their jump shots
There are so numerous things to perform in the Philippines, this might have been a top 100 list! It’s such a fantastic country with gorgeous scenery, spectacular beaches, friendly locals, cool transportation as well as tasty food. Come as well as see for yourself.

For much more info on travelling with this incredible archipelago, inspect out our budget plan Backpacking guide To The Philippines.

Have you ever been to the Philippines? What are your preferred things to do there? Leave a comment below!

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Crisp golden edges, a caramelised base of crunchy layers and a centre so rich and fulfilling the contented smiles and sighs of your dinner guests will be as satisfying as the gratin pot is scraped clean. This potato dauphinoise recipe is an instant dinner all-star.

From the moment I pulled the dish from the oven, I knew this recipe was a world-beater. The way the sides of the pot were crusted with a dark golden crust while the middle was bronzed like it’d had two weeks in the sun.

But of course the dauphinoise recipe worked.

After all, it was written by a pro.

French chef, restauranteur and kitchen celeb Manu Feildel has shared his means and method for this indulgent dish as part of the launch of his new line of sauces… but more about that in a moment.

Accompanied by a lavishly thick-cut scotch fillet and char-grilled greens, it’s hard to say whether it was the potato gratin, the steak or the side that played the hero dish in this toothsome threesome.

Dauphinoise potato recipe

First of all, let’s talk about what exactly is the difference between potato bake (or potato gratin) and potato dauphinoise.

Potato gratin refers to the crust you get when you bake potatoes and cream in the oven.

The word ‘gratin’ comes from the French word ‘gratter’ meaning ‘to scrape’ because the delicious crust that forms on the pan is as valued by the French (and anyone with a tastebud) as the Spanish do the socorrat at the bottom of a paella.

The crust can come from a multitude of methods – usually using breadcrumbs or cheese. The potatoes are also usually pre-boiled.

Dauphinoise potatoes (or as my brother calls it ‘dolphin nose potatoes’… I think he’s joking), however, doesn’t use cheese or breadcrumbs – or anything else really. just cream and heat.

Here’s what you need

– 1kg potatoes – peeled and sliced into 3mm thick discs
– 500ml thickened cream
– 2 cloves garlic – finely chopped
– 1tbsp thyme – chopped
– Salt and pepper to season
– 1tsp butter or – even better – coconut oil to grease the tray

Here’s what you do

1. combine the potatoes, cream, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic in a large saucepan and bring to the boil, then simmer for about 8 minutes.

2. Grease a 1.5 litre oven-proof dish with the coconut oil then pour the contents of the pan in. try to create layers of potato as you go.

3. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 200ºC for 1 hour 30 minutes or until there is a golden crust on top and the cream has absorbed into the potatoes.

4. remove the dish from the oven but keep the heat at 200ºC while you cook the steak.

How to cook a steak like Manu

Everybody has their own way of cooking steak. I really enjoyed how Manu’s method worked for me.

He has shared this method alongside his potato dauphinoise recipe but here’s what to do:

1. get an oven-proof pan (I used my cast iron griddle skillet) hot and add about 30g of butter. When the butter starts to froth and brown, lay your seasoned steaks down a cook for about 3 minutes.

2. turn the steaks and cook in the oven for another 3 minutes – this will give you a medium-rare steak.

3. remove the steaks and leave them on a plate to rest – covered.

4. While the steaks are resting, put the pan back on the stove and cook your broccolini, turning once, until you see colour forming.

5. swap the meat for the veggies and put the pan back in the oven to warm up the steaks again. While that’s happening, heat your choice of Sauce by Manu in a small saucepan.

6. serve the broccolini with crushed walnuts and pour a greedy amount of sauce over your steak.

The Sauce by Manu

Manu’s sauces are the perfect way to give a real chef’s touch to this meal.

There are six to choose from – peppercorn, mushroom, red wine, lamb and rosemary, white wine, and mustard – and all you have to do is heat them through in a pan.

We tried to peppercorn sauce with our steaks and it was excellent. There’s a real depth of flavour that’s always missing from other shop-bought sauces and that would take hours to make at home (plus real talent).

Because these sauces all have fresh ingredients – including cream – in them, you’ll have to hunt them out in the chiller section of your supermarket.

I have to give credit to our pal Maevadi for the idea of putting crushed walnuts with the broccolini. A stroke of genius.

As for the potato dauphinoise, Manu’s recipe is remarkable.

I honestly thought my roast potatoes were the pinnacle of what could be done with potatoes. This dish has proven me wrong.

We were gifted samples of The Sauce by Manu and ingredients for this meal.

It’s been quite the party week here at romance HQ. We’ve both been running around like crazy – but all in the name of fun.

So as the end of the month of October looms best up in the form of Halloween, Sydney’s annual craft beer week concerns a close and good ol’ Silly season gets its dancing shoes on, it looks like we’re in for a good time!

Hope you delight in this week’s IG Edition. As a quick caveat – many of the photos here were taken by me. So instead of Mrs Romance’s clever, well-honed photographer’s eye, you might notice a somewhat novice edge to this week’s images.

Have a great week anyway – Jim & Christina xx

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I’m really thrilled about this year’s Sydney Craft Beer Week – mostly because I’m actually in the country for it for once! Today I’m at a great craft beer pub in Surry Hills – the Dove and Olive – to take part in a beer battle! The idea is that three local breweries bring one of their best beers for people to taste and judge which one they like the most.

However, there’s another element to it. The three breweries also work with three local venues to create a new beer especially for Sydney Craft Beer Week. So that’s 6 beers to try in total. The winning brewery will take home the golden Growler and supply all three venues with the winning beer for a year. pretty good prize!

And here are the winners! These two beautiful ladies – Danielle Allen and Jayne Lewis – are the owners of two Birds Brewing Co. Their beer – the Passionhop Passionfruit IPA – takes home the goods.

I’m very pleased to say this is the beer I voted for too! Surprisingly, it’s not an overly sweet beer in spite of all the passionfruit pulp they put into this brew. instead it’s got a beautifully sour taste that works well with the rest of the flavours of this outstanding beer.

I get the impression the girls are pretty pleased with their win! Congratulations, two Birds Brewing. You’ll be able to find this beer in the Dove and Olive, the Keg and Brew, and the canine – and hopefully even much more venues than that!

It’s time to carry on celebrating (and enjoying Sydney Craft Beer Week), so the next pub to visit is a no-brainer. I’m in the royal Albert in Surry Hills. This is the best pub in Sydney as far as I’m concerned. The beers they have here are always superb and the people who work here are awesome too.

Plus they’ve got one of the best burgers in Sydney. Here’s our review of this cracking little pub.

The day ends with a beautiful sunset. Which day’s this? I’m not too sure. The session in the royal Albert has messed things up a bit. but now’s not the time to argue about things like dates. just delight in the beautiful sky!

Now we’re getting to the major end of Sydney Craft Beer Week. Today, my beer compadre Anton and I are in the local Taphouse in Darlinghurst – a legendary pub for a great brew – for a beer education.

This event’s called A Heavenly Pairing.

We get to try five beers from around the world and see how they match up with some of the most amazing cheese I’ve ever eaten.

We’re lucky enough to have beer genius James A Smith from the original local Taphouse in St Kilda, Melbourne take us through each of the beers he’s chosen for this day. James is a cicerone, which is beer’s version of a red wine sommelier. His knowledge is so deep and so interesting, it shows there’s so much much more to beer than meets the eye.

We’ve also got fromager Sognia Ocello from the remarkable specialist cheese shop Ocello in Surry Hills. Sognia’s family has had this shop for years and we always walk in drooling. The cheeses she’s supplied for today’s event are incredible, and her knowledge of cheese history and flavour pairings with everything is profound.

We were very pleasantly amazed with how well the beer went with the cheese. certainly something I’m going to be doing much more of!

For your information, here are the beers and cheeses we tried:

1. Hervé Mons Petit Heletar sheep’s milk cheese from France paired with Stomping Ground’s Saison from VIC, Australia

2. Ford farm Cheddar cow’s milk cheese from England (only 1 of 6 real cheddar producers left in the world) paired with Worthington’s White shield from England

3. Délice des Crémiers cow’s milk cheese from France paired with To Øl’s Roses are Brett from Denmark

4. Mileens Dotes cow’s milk cheese from Ireland paired with Liefmans Goudenband from Belgium

5. Colston Bassett Stilton cow’s milk cheese from England paired with Stone’s Russian Imperial Stout from USA

Mrs romance is out learning stuff today. She’s listening to three very talentedladies talk about creativity and success at the dream dare create with Cointreau event at the Hacienda Bar at circular Quay. Megan Hess, Helen Chik and Geneva Vanderzeil are each talking about their climb to creative brilliance in one of Sydney’s many beautiful bars overlooking the Harbour Bridge.

We’ve been invited to a Halloween party tonight. We’re a bit frightened because we know how much our mate Brooke from HerPackingList.com gets into this scary night of the year.

We’ve chose to go as ‘struck by lightning’ because of our recent post telling the story of how we were hit by lightning in real life when we first met.

We’ve cheekily asked our beautiful Uber chauffeur to take these shots before we get to Brooke’s party and it’s a good job we did; Mrs romance will leave her brolly prop in the car when we get there! The things those Uber chauffeurs should find their cars at the end of nights like tonight!

As suspected, Brooke has gone a bit crazy on the decorations for tonight’s party. These ‘welcome drinks’ are such a cool start to the night!

Brooke and her other half Pat have done such an remarkable job tonight. There’s just so much attention to detail – looking back on our photos, there’s still stuff either Mrs R and I missed when we were there. These bottles of poison in the kitchen: genius!

Brooke (or Dr Schoenman) has even set up a photobooth with props and lightning. The app she’s used is really cool too and emails you your shots. So much fun!

Quite a fan of the googly eyes.

One of the final shots of the night. lots of fun – this is how to throw a Halloween party. We’ve been seriously schooled!

This week’s travel Recap

Each week we go back in time over some of our preferred travel destinations using never-before-seen photos of our travels. Here’s where we’ve been looking back on this week.

The seas around Thailand somehow look even much more beautiful in stormy weather. It’s certainly time to relocation back to our hotel room here in front of the Sala in Phuket! Thankfully it’s not far from here.

Check out our full review of the Sala here. We’ve also produced a quick walk-through video of the rooms.

Nothing like a Sydney sunrise! This is at Bondi just near the well-known Icebergs – a swimming club, bar and restaurant with the best view of Australia’s many well-known beach. Of course, this is Mrs Romance’s photo. Not only is it well composed and in focus, it’s also at sunrise – a time of day I still have doubts on as to its existence.

Icebergs is in our guide to 24 hours in Bondi you can see here.

Cheers! This is a rare photo of me multitasking: I’m viewing 3 water levels at once! Our private pool at the beautiful Aleenta Phuket is absolutely perfect. wish we could’ve stayed here forever.

Check out our video walk-through of this amazing Thai resort on our site.

Looks like the surf’s up at Cabarita beach at the northern suggestion of new South Wales. This beach has been a preferred for surfers for decades, and the now very chic Halcyon house just behind us used to be the place to stay when you weren’t carving up the breaks. these days it’s a top spot for a romantic weekend away or a delicious meal.

Here’s our experience at Paper Daisy – Halcyon House’s beach restaurant.

Sunset on the west side of Phuket, Thailand over the Andaman Sea is pretty the ideal moment for romance! but then sunrise over the water can be pretty good too…

Ok – who thought this was snow? These are actually salt flats somewhere off the highway in California heading for route 66 after going to the remarkable Joshua Tree national Park.

It was a road trip we’ll never forget – from San Diego to palm Springs, then through the desert into Arizona and on to Nevada and finally Las Vegas, baby!

Here’s our full schedule and totally free downloadable guide of this awesome road trip!

The beach villas at Aleenta Phuket are pretty unbelievable. If you’ve seen our previous photos of this resort, you’ll have seen our own private pool. That wasn’t too bad, right? Well these places are something else entirely! next time we’re in Thailand…

If you want much more info on this resort, check out our review and video walk-through. Interestingly, this resort’s older (but smaller) sister resort Aleenta Hua Hin is much lower key. Still luxe and lavish, but much more of an eco resort, Aleenta Hua Hin is also well worth checking out. Here’s our review of this place too.

We hope you’ve delighted in our newest IG edition and travel Update, and that the rest of your week’s looking good. See you again soon for more!

Cheers – J&Cx

Images by Mr and Mrs romance through Instagram: @MrAndMrsRomance.