Berrima - Southern Highlands - stepped in history, crafts and cuisines

Rustic, quaint and charming small town Berrima is a different world from the affluent Bowral 20 km apart. 

         Bakeries, confectioneries and restaurants lined up from the beginning of town marked by Oxley Street


The Stone Room Tapas and Bar

Though the place was not full, the staff seemed very busy. There was probably some spillover from the award winning Eschalot Restaurant across the road which was fully booked. 

                                                   Spinach & ricotta empanadas

                                                  Mussels in garlic and white wine sauce

                                            Seafood paella - uneven and soggy at the bottom

                                         
                                     Mushroom fried with garlic - similar rendition of chopped parsley

Hungry patrons may find the wait too long to endure, as did one couple, who quietly left after 10 minutes of failing to get the wait staff's attention to take orders. 

While the food quelled hunger pangs and pleased the palate initially, it lacked the superfluous flavours of Spanish cuisine and was overly seasoned with salt. Be prepared to drink lots of water after the meal. 

Historic Buildings

On the other side of the Old Hume Highway, are the correction centre and court houses, built from sandstone in the 1800s.

Glass Galore - Centrepiece, Serving platter, side dish, wall flower and more

A poorer and less glamorous cousin of crystal, hand-made and mouth-blown glass is no less charming. Creative craftsmen can transform simple glass into works of arts. It's an ancient skill that collectors and modest admirers never get tired of. 

Swedish : Kosta Boda - stunning and heavy weight

Italian floral platter and bowl

 

Villeroy and Boch mosaic colours

Maltese art glass is expensive but exudes an exquisite aura

 

Japanese inspired local artwork?

An American artist's masterpiece

Seriously, is it safe to shop for glass online? I suppose insurance will cover breakage and loss. But it's difficult to argue against imperfections of handmade products. You'd want to buy something you have scrutinized, felt and held in your hands. 

Shopping for Fabrics - Spring Interiors Makeover

Discard the dark sombre colours this spring? Some winter textiles on sale are suitable for spring, summer and autumn. Women shoppers tend to grab more than they need. Men are indifferent. Anything that is practical, not ugly and time-saving. 

The exotica - get ready to party! 

Paisley is classic

 The cottage garden - complementary contrasts