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Alan and Bronwyn sought a tree change 10 years ago, and they found it in Olive Trees. since then they have produced amazing olivey things - oils, olives, balsamic salad dressings and more. Bronwyn also developed a lovely line of olivey beauty products. They are passionate about authentic farm produce and love sharing it with people like me and you. You can find them at the Noosa Farmers Market every Sunday. We've featured their balsamic salad dressing in our Full of Sunshine Coast Box and we're sure you're going to love it.

Favourite Restaurant

Fleet, Brunswick Heads

Recently awarded Regional Restaurant of the Year by the SMH Good Food Guide, tiny Fleet is bursting with great local food and wine. Astrid and the team are absolutely delightful and have developed an unique menu of sharing plates. Book as far in advance as you can to get into one of their 22 seats, although you might be lucky with a last minute booking, particularly if you are happy to eat at 3 or 4 in the afternoon. It’s worth it! While you're there, get started with a gin and tonic, with their locally-made tonic syrup. 

Favourite Cafe

Footbridge Cafe, Brunswick Heads

Brunswick Heads keeps getting better, but top of the pops is Footbridge Cafe. With a great brekkie menu, fantastic coffee and smiling happy staff, Footbridge is our go-to place for a quick catchup with friends or a leisurely brunch. 

Favourite Farmers Market

New Brighton Farmers Market. Tuesdays 7.30am-11am This was our local market for the last five years and inspired My Farmers Market Table. Popular with locals and visitors alike, this great little farmers market has oodles of atmosphere. New Brighton Farmers Market the best place for brekkie on a Tuesday morning, and just a short skip away from the beach.

But it's hard to choose a favourite when there are wonderful farmers markets almost every day of the week, include Murwhillumbah on Wednesdays, Byron Bay on Thursdays, Mullumbimby on Fridays, and Bangalow and Lismore on Saturdays.

Favourite Festival

So many festivals to choose from, including Bluesfest, Splendour in the Grass, Mullum Music Festival, but our favourite has to be the Byron Bay Writers Festival. It’s relaxed outdoor vibe and a consistently great lineup of writers makes it one festival we never want to miss. Usually in early August. 

Favourite Store

Unlike all our other favourites, this one is actually in Byron Bay. LTCO is our favourite for homeythings and gifts. They’ve got a great online store too. 

Favourite Pit Stop

On your way to or from Gold Coast Airport and want to stop somewhere nearby for a cuppa, brekkie or lunch? Food Smith Cafe & Pantry tucked into Bay Street Tweed Heads is the place to stop. Sarah started off selling amazing small batch produce at the Murwhillumbah Farmers Market. Her granola and strawberry jam regularly feature in our boxes. 

Greeky Lemony Potato Salad Recipe

This simple Greek-inspired potato salad gets a flavour boost from smoked or lemon myrtle olive oil and amazing sundried olives. It's vegan and gluten-free too. I hope you like it. 

600g potatoes, unpeeled 

1/4 cup Grumpy Grandma's Lemon Myrtle or Smoked Olive Oil

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1/4 cup scallions or spring onions, chopped finely

2 tablespoons of fresh dill or parsley, chopped finely

50g Grumpy Grandma's Au Naturale Olives

salt and pepper

handful of cress, to serve

Cook whole potatoes in boiling water for approximatly 30 minutes, until tender. Drain.

Peel potatoes while they are still hot (wait until they have cooled just enough to touch). Cut potatoes into cubes and place in mixing bowl. 

Combine olive oil, lemon juice, scallions and herbs in a jar or small bowl. Pour dressing over potatoes and combine gently. 

Add olives, salt and pepper and toss. Allow to stand for at least 10 minutes. 

Transfer to a serving bowl, add cress. Can be served warm or cold

At Rancho Relaxo near Byron Bay, Jane grows fragrant and tasty pesticide-free citrus fruit and turns it into award-winning fruit cordials. I bet you want to go there right now and pick fresh limes and mandarins from her trees. The next best thing is to grab yourself a bottle of her amazing lime cordial and whip up a Byron Cooler, and imagine that summer is already here (Jane has kindly shared her recipes on the back of the bottle). Jane's products are featured in our Blissful Byron Bay Gift Box and Byron Bay Monthly Box. Yummm...

I call him Mr Pecan – Frank Boyle from Nimbin Valley Pecans and Dryland Rice. There’s a simple secret to his pecans. They are cracked fresh every week. Really! I reckon that’s just one of the reasons that he’s been awarded the best pecans in Australia. I think that pecans are an under-rated nut. But thankfully Frank is changing that. Frank's pecans are featured in our Blissful Byron Bay Gift Box and the Byron edition of our monthly Tasting Box and Discovery Box. Oooh..

Au Naturale Olives. If you like olives, you’ll looooove these sundried olives. Even if you don’t like olives, you might just like these – really, just try one. They are the plump raisins of the olive world and there's nothing quite like them. Take them as gifts overseas, and the Greeks, Italians and Spanish are bowled over by them. Two lovely fellas pit the little olives by hand to keep them as intact as possible through the natural drying process. Denyse, the Grumpy Grandma (a term of endearment from her grandkids) and hubby Alan have won barrels of awards. Be warned, they are addictive. You'll love Grumpy Grandma's smoked olives and flavoured olive oil too!

Grumpy Grandma's products feature in our Blissful Byron Bay Gift Box, I Love Olive Gift Box, and the Byron edition of our monthly Tasting Box and Discover box. Yummm...