Brain Injury Awareness Week - Date Claimer

Mark your calendars...Brain Injury Awareness Week (BIAW) is running from 17 - 23 August this year. There will be plenty of events occuring all across the nation as part of the annual BANGONABEANIE campaign.   Now in it's fifth year, BANGONABEANIE is the National campaign supporting over 1.6 million Australians affected by Brain Injury.  The BANGONABEANIE Campaign is simple - proudly wear a beanie and make a donation to support national Brain Injury Awareness Week. Events are run across the nation throughout the campaign, including BangOnABarbie, which encourages organisations, schools, and families to hold a BBQ to raise funds and support for Brain Injury. Website |  Facebook

RPAC Tapas Night

I was visiting my Facebook page when I noticed a post by RPAC (Redland Performing Arts Centre) about Tapas Friday No. 2. 

Tapas Friday has just started at RPAC in Cleveland!  

Come down for great food and free music until 7pm!

There are a range of Tapas plates for $13 each and flat bread pizza for $6.  

The night’s entertainment includes original music and covers of popular songs from Eva Cassidy, Sting, Sam Smith, Coldplay, Justice Crew, Sia, Sheppard and Michael Jackson performed by Noisy Minors and other artists from Vocal Manoeuvres.

Chorizo filled dates wrapped in bacon

Lamb kofta balls with mint yoghurt

Cauliflower and carrot spiced fritters with avocado aioli

Cajun spiced chicken skewers with lime

Cheesy garlic bread

OR

Ricotta and chive filled dates

Falafels with mint yoghurt

Cauliflower and carrot spiced fritters with avocado aioli

Cajun spiced tofu with lime

Cheesy garlic bread

plates are $13 each

Sounds delicious! Hopefully there is a Tapas Night No.3 next Friday. I'd love to hear the live music and nibble on some tapas. Sounds like a great Friday night!

Address:
2-16 Middle Street, Cleveland QLD 4163

Phone: (07) 3829 8131

Events: Abbey Medieval Festival, Caboolture QLD

This weekend is Tournament Weekend!!! Phil and I will be on a very early train from Cleveland to Caboolture for one of the biggest medieval festivals in Australia! 

1-63 The Abbey Pl, Caboolture QLD 4510 ‎

(07) 5495 1652 ‎ · abbeytournament.com

FREE Tournament buses meet the trains at Caboolture train station for the Abbey Medieval Tournament on July 6 and 7. View Bus Timetable 2013

Information from their website below:

On Saturday, the gates open at 9am to Abbeystowe, new home of the Abbey Medieval Festival.
Each day begins with the Grand Parade, the opening ceremony of the 24th Abbey Medieval Tournament. Witness more than 500 knights, warriors, ladies and their retainers present themselves to the crowd as the magnificent Master of Ceremonies, Blair Martin summons the knights to take part in chivalrous combat for honour and courage.

Throughout the weekend, the Tournament program offers a wide range of entertainment. There is something on the program for everyone, from Historical Combats to Medieval dance, Turkish Oil Wrestling to music and fabulous street performers and much more! 

There are more than sixty stalls covering a huge range of products, arts and crafts in Australia’s most authentic medieval market. You’ll also experience delicious medieval food and drink. Try an authentic venison pie at the “Stag Inn”, or ale or cider at the The Friar’s Folly Tavern.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sGQn-iN_cA

http://abbeytournament.com/events-and-tickets/medieval-tournament/ 

What is the Abbey Medieval Festival?

The battle and the combat are very popular parts of the Medieval Tournament, held on July 6 and 7 at the Abbey Medieval Festival, the best cultural event in Brisbane. Photo by Brett Croese.

The Abbey Medieval Festival is a week-long event that commences on Saturday 22nd of June with the first of two Medieval Banquets. The Banquets are ticketed events where patrons enjoy a medieval feast beyond compare whilst being entertained with music, dance and theatre.

On Tuesday 2nd July, families are invited to take part in the much-loved Kids’ Medieval Fun Day. At an affordable cost, children from 3 to 12 years old can take part in a wide range of workshops and activities. Young squires are able to make their own swords, shields and learn the Knight’s Code of Honour, whilst little princesses enjoy gypsy dancing, making a flower garland and medieval pottery! Online bookings are essential.

On Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th of July join the many visitors who will come to immerse themselves in the spectacle of the 2013 Abbey Medieval Tournament.

Be one of the spectators at the joust and cheer on your champions who compete for glory and honour. Watch as combatants take up arms on the field of valour or prove themselves in the Turkish Oil Wrestling pit; be entertained by colourful dancers and taste the finest medieval cuisine. Lose yourself in the bustling marketplace or amongst the colourful tents of the medieval re-enactors’ encampments. Here you will glimpse the past as re-enactors portray facets of everyday life of Viking raiders and traders, of Middle Eastern warriors and nomads, and nobles and peasants from the great European households. Visit the Friar’s Folly Tavern for a drink or to sing along to the raucous music.

Once again the Birds of Prey will take to the skies over the Tournament grounds demonstrating the prowess of medieval falconry.

For more information call (07) 5495 1652.

The Abbey Museum Caboolture – Where is it?

The Abbey Museum is located in Caboolture, about 40 kilometres north of Brisbane on the way to the Sunshine Coast. Head east from Caboolture towards Bribie Island and then take Old Toorbul Point road north. For public transport and driving directions, see our Cultural Events Brisbane Transport section.

The Abbey Museum is one of the premier cultural attractions for visitors to Bribie Island and the Sunshine Coast, and makes a great stop off for long drives north (see more tourist information on our Brisbane Events page or on the Abbey Museum website).

Both Caboolture and Bribie Island offer handy accommodation options to suit all kinds of travellers with all kinds of budgets. For more information, visit our accommodation for events in Brisbane section.

http://abbeytournament.com/about/where-are-we/

Greek Bouzouki night at Mambo Cafe, Cleveland

One of many hidden gems in Cleveland, QLD is the Mambo Cafe. Located on Bloomfield Street in the Cleveland House arcade. I had been fasting for a blood test and came out of Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology with a craving for coffee and something sweet. My nose directed me inside Mambo Cafe and the amazing coffee aroma. 

I talked to Helen, the owner, and she directed me to some gluten-free almond flour-based greek biscuits and handed me an amazing mocha (coffee with hot chocolate) and I was in love.

Lucky for me I pass by Mambo Cafe on a regular basis and I have returned for more sweet treats. I have also taken friends to meet Helen and experience her amazingly authentic Greek foods including:

• Antipasto tray
• Spanakopita
• Calamari
• Octopus
• Parmesen Mushroom
• Dolmades
• Lamb Balls
• Moussaka
• Souvlaki
• Stuffed tomatoes

Desserts:

• Baklava
• Galaktoboureko
• Honey Tart

Below are some of the images taken on this amazing night. Please click on the video for the bouzuoki (greek music) experience.

Antipasto plate

Antipasto plate

Moussaka and Dolmades 

Parmesan Mushrooms

Calamari rings

Squid

Zorba the Greek dancing!

 

Mambo Caffe

120 Bloomfield St
Cleveland Queensland 4163
(07) 3821 1166

A Christmas Party with Nathan from Stockmans Choice

Nathan from Stockmans Choice Free Range meats is one of the many interesting and friendly people I've met at the Cleveland Village Bayside Produce and Craft market in Bloomfield St, Cleveland QLD.

It was with great excitement that I received a SMS text message from Nathan with an invite to a Christmas Party to which he had invited people he knew from the markets (customers and fellow stall-holders) and included a choice of fish, beef or kangaroo for dinner plus some wines and soft drink.

I remember when Philip went to the markets without me and came back talking about this friendly butcher who he had lengthy chats with, and later loaned Phil a book on Billy Connoly, as written by his wife Pamela Stephenston - Billy

The next Sunday markets I met Nathan and could tell straight away why Philip was so enamoured of him. Nathan is such a friendly, interesting man was proud of the high quality of the produce that he sold.

So, on December 12th Philip and I caught a train from Cleveland, QLD to Murarrie (somewhat near Brisbane) and made our way from the station to the Murarrie Progress Hall. As we are somewhat new to the area (leaving NSW in November, 2011) it was great to 'break bread' with people and enjoy getting to know new people. Some I had met at the markets but hadn't talked to in great detail.

Nathan was busy cooking the meat and fish and was a most friendly and warm host.
We had a great night and donated some chocolates to the 'raffle' which were warmly received.

Nathan now works out of the Chandler Markets, quite a distance by train. I hope that someday soon we make the journey and catch up with Nathan and explore another famous Queensland produce and artisan market. I do so love the energy you find at such markets and the new products, tastes and smells to be found there.

Restaurant: CC Cafe, Raby Bay, Cleveland

C C Cafe is a lovely Bar / Cafe and Deli on Cleveland's Raby Bay Marina.

We had arrived back at Cleveland after a night in Brisbane. Most of the restaurants in Raby Bay were overflowing with people and I find the noise level difficult to process. I prefer to be able to hear what my husband is saying so I suggested we pop into C C Cafe. It has a menu that rivals any restaurant and whilst busy it was much quieter. Perusing the menu,  had a hard time deciding between seafood curry and seafood platter so we got them both and shared.

Seafood platter (minus a scallop - oops)

Sri Lankan Seafood Curry - a little out of focus as Phil was impatient for his meal!

• Seafood platter with 1/2 moreton bay bug, calamari, scallops (minus one delicious scallop eaten before the photo), Panko prawns, beer battered chips, salad and sauces for $25
• Sri Lankan Seafood curry with prawns, calamari, barramundi, salmon, mussels served with steamed jasmine rice, chutney, papadum and raita for $21

Best of all the staff were warm and friendly and wished us a happy anniversary. It was a great way to end the day. 

To see more reviews of CC Cafe Deli click here. 

CC Cafe Bar & Deli

Address: Shp 6/ 152 Shore St,

Cleveland QLD 4163Phone:(07) 3286 4340