8 May 2018

Regional Gem: Get cosy over winter at Penny Whistlers in the heart of Kiama

| Sophia Brady
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Penny Whistlers is Kiama’s favourite harbour-view café. Photos: Supplied.

Penny Whistlers is Kiama’s favourite harbour-view café with a relaxed atmosphere, artisan coffee and amazing gourmet food. The venue is open daily for breakfast and lunch, and for dinner, drinks and live music from Thursday to Saturday.

Owners Pete and Cheree Henderson opened the venue three years ago, bringing with them over 15 years’ experience at some of Sydney’s top coffee roasters and cafés including Allpress Espresso, Katipo Coffee House in Bondi and Tiger Mottle in Paddington. The venue gets its name from the first painting Pete and Cheree bought together, Penny Whistlers by 1950s artist Vladimir Tretchikoff, which now adorns the café wall and menus.

Penny Whistlers Pete and Cheree Henderson.

With a commanding corner location and sweeping views of the spectacular waterfront lined with palm trees, it is one of the South Coast’s premium cafés. As the seasons change, Penny Whistlers is getting ready with cosy new dishes and a series of warming winter events to keep the food, drink and music flowing throughout the cooler months.

A number of tasty new dishes have hit the daytime menu including the warming Crispy Potato Rosti with smoked ocean trout, curried egg and asparagus; Chia Seed Coconut Yoghurt Pot with seasonal fruit; and Sweet Potato Toast with eschallots, avocado, tahini dressing and a poached egg.

Chia Seed Coconut Yoghurt Pot with seasonal fruit.

Hiramasa Kingfish Ceviche with cucumber, capsicum and chilli salsa with avocado cream.

Hiramasa Kingfish Ceviche with cucumber, capsicum and chilli salsa with avocado cream.

For dinner, available Thursday to Saturday, diners can choose from a range of smaller dishes meant to be shared, as well as some hearty main courses. New dishes on the menu from next week include the delicate Hiramasa Kingfish Ceviche with cucumber, capsicum and chilli salsa with avocado cream; and Southern Fried Spiced Chicken Burger with American cheese, slaw, smoky BBQ sauce and crispy bacon.

Head Chef Rylee Cole explains: “At Penny Whistlers we’re all about simple, locally sourced food that tastes good, is packed full of flavour and prepared with love. We strive to give our customers consistently great food that brings new and exciting flavours to their palate, and after 20 years in the industry I still get a high from seeing the customers’ faces when new dishes are presented to them.”

Beautiful views and wine.

On the music menu, one of Penny Whistlers’ favourite musicians Liam Wright will be returning to the venue on Saturday 16 June from 5.30pm for a night of food and music to launch his latest EP. Tickets are $35/$30 for Kiama Jazz and Blues Club members and include entry and substantial canapés all evening.

It wouldn’t be winter without a Christmas in July event, and what better way to celebrate than with a delicious three-course Christmas feast with seven matching wines on Saturday 28 July from 6.30pm? Dave O’Brien from Manning Street Cellars and wine educator Penny Claiborne from The Wine Bulb will be on hand to talk about the wines and there will be an opportunity to order discounted bottles on the night, including free local delivery. Tickets are $100 per person.

Wrapping up the season will be a warming whisky night on Saturday 15 September from 6.30 pm featuring a three-course set menu with matching whisky in conjunction with Manning Street Cellars. Dave will be on hand again to talk through the tipples and explain the fine art of matching whisky to food. Tickets are $120 per person and there will be an opportunity to order discounted bottles on the night, including free local delivery.

Penny Whistlers is located at 5/31 Shoalhaven Street. Kiama, NSW.

For further information or to make a booking, visit www.pennywhistlers.com.au, call 02 4233 2770 or email pennywhistlerskiama@gmail.com.
*Sophia dined as a guest of Penny Whislters

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