ESCAPE OUTSIDE AND PICNIC
FOR Sharon Cameron, the way food looks on a plate – or, even better, on a platter with a bottle of wine – is everything.
So when Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced COVID-19 restrictions would ease and picnics would be allowed again this weekend, the Cuisine on Bowen executive chef sprang into action.
“We’ve offered a breakfast platter for the last 12 months but then we thought, why not make them takeaway and put together other boxes and hampers for people to picnic?” Mrs Cameron said.
The chef of two decades learned as an 18-year-old apprentice that “you eat with your eyes”, so she puts love and attention into her delicious-looking platters.
The Townsville born and bred chef started sister company Cuisine to Go 15 years ago alongside Nancy Williams; first based b d in i Flinders Fli d St, St then the Townsville Golf Club and finally in Bowen Rd three-and-a-half years ago.
“Sixty to 70 per cent of our business is catering (through Cuisine to Go) and that part of the business disappeared immediately,” she said. “We run the Civic Theatre catering, weddings and group functions, so long-term, COVID will have more of an effect on us. This could go on for 12 months. When are they going to let 1000 people back in a venue again?”
Mrs Cameron said since the lockdown began staff had put their heads together to work how to keep employed.
“Townsville has been so supportive. It gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling when people follow that ‘shop local’ message,” she said.
To order a picnic box, including the breakfast grazing box or special Mother’s Day high teas, phone the cafe on 4779 5355.
AS soon as Cafe Nova and Gallery co-owner Allen Bedford heard picnics were back on the agenda this weekend, his brain got ticking.
“We’ve been trying everything to keep the cafe open just like everyone else through all this,” Mr Bedford said.
“So this was another thing we could do for our customers – picnic platters in time for this weekend.”
The cafe has been on Blackwood St for 43 years, with Mr Bedford and David Ollett (pictured) running the business for five of those years.
“Because we’re a two-man operation we’ve been able to continue. Our landlord has been really supportive,” Mr Bedford said.
Call the cafe on 4772 2898 to organise a home-cooked picnic platter for the weekend.