Food & Wine visited last week and can vouch for the $13 “Southern Bro” – southern fried chicken, smashed avocado, cheddar, shredded cos, slaw and black garlic mayo. 

There is a strong craft beer focus at The Boat Shed Bar + Galley, where Burger Bros. can be found, and a host of members’ specials. Thursday is “Independent’s Day” where four local beers are offered for $6 per schooner, and on Wednesday burgers are $8 if purchased with a drink (conditions apply). 

The club began as a one-room clubhouse opposite Sharp Street in Belmont and was granted a liquor licence in 1952. A larger club was built in stages on land by Mill Creek and in 1980 the Spinnaker Room was completed. The Brian Ellis Boat Shed opened in 2011 and by 2015 it had transformed into The Boat Shed Bar + Galley with 16 craft beers on tap and a huge cocktail list.

Burger Bros. is open Wednesday to Sunday. Children are welcome. 

Westside Pizzeria has been doing a brisk trade since opening in Mayfield just over a month ago. It is open Wednesday to Sunday, 5pm to 9pm, and offers hand-stretched, stone-baked pizza with a thin crust and loads of flavour. 

John Standret opened his sixth Domino’s franchise in Cameron Park last week. He also owns Domino’s Newcastle City, Mayfield, Warners Bay, Wallsend and Glendale.

“I live locally, so when I got the opportunity to open in the area, I jumped at the chance to set up shop,” he said.

Domino’s Cameron Park is equipped with technology innovations such as the GPS Driver Tracker and On-Time Cooking as well as digital menu boards, in-store Wi-Fi and a new store design. It is located at Shop 4, 119 Stenhouse Drive, Cameron Park.

Grab a blanket or chair and some nibbles and head to Picnic in the Park at Toronto foreshore this Friday, November 10, 5.30pm to 7.30pm. You can enjoy live music from National Music Academy’s Vocal Revolution Choir and free games including giant Jenja or Yahtzee. This event is an initiative of the Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance, Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group, Ability Links, Lake Mac Libraries and Lake Macquarie City Council.

While men the country over are putting down the razor this month in the spirit of Movember, Doughheads have launched their MoBro’s doughnut. They will donate $1 from every MoBro sold to the Movember Foundation.

It’s all about raising funds and awareness for men’s physical and mental health.

The MoBro doughnut is dipped in Glee espresso icing and then stuffed with fresh banana and salted caramel and topped with a dark chocolate moustache.

The MoBro’s movement is the latest partnership in Doughheads’ monthly charity initiative. Head chef Kallan Bragg has set the bar for male members of the Doughheads team, having already trimmed and styled his moustache into the faithful horseshoe.

Street Feast returns to Market Street Lawn this Saturday, November 11, 4pm to 8pm. Bring a rug and dine under the stars while enjoying live local music. 

After a couple of false starts Barista Miss has opened at 79 Regent Street, Lambton. Gillian and her team know their coffee and serve a simple all-day menu with smoothies and milkshakes to keep the kids happy. Barista Miss is open 6am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 6am to 2pm on Saturday.

Also, Blackwood Apothecary has opened at 75b Regent Street, New Lambton. 

Caves Beach Hotel is now known as Caves Coastal Bar & Bungalows – and that’s not the only change. The dining area has been revamped and every Sunday in November, from 4pm to 6pm, children eat free and can play on a jumping castle (weather permitting). There is also live entertainment. On Fridays there is a free barbecue from 4pm to 6pm. 

Crowne Plaza Newcastle’s Seasalt Restaurant is hosting A Taste of Tamburlaine on December 1. Mark Davidson, managing director and chief winemaker from Tamburlaine Organic Wines, is matching organic wines to a five-course menu. Tickets $120 per person by phoning 4907 5075.

Music festival Grow Your Own is branching out to include home-grown talent in all its forms. And that includes our farmers and producers. Bungwahl’s Burraduc Farm is already on board, known for its buffalo dairy products, with more to be announced. The festival is on December 22 at Tuncurry Footy Fields, Beach Street, Tuncurry. Tickets are on sale now. 

The Autumn Rooms has taken over 127 Darby Street and is the creation of Becci Fowler, of The Tea Collective, and her partner Ben Richardson. Becci says Ben is “the face” of The Autumn Rooms and has ownership interests in The Junction Hotel, The Sunnyside Tavern and The Premier. Oh, and he’s a nice guy.

“He took a year out last year and went down to Melbourne to train and build a strong relationship with Proud Mary Coffee Roasters as he wanted to bring his skills to Darby Street,” she told Food & Wine.

The Autumn Rooms is now open for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. 

In Finding Fire: Cooking at its most elemental, chef Lennox Hastie tells the story of how he learnt the language of fire. 

To help readers understand how a fire can enhance flavours, Lennox explains the techniques behind creating a good quality fire and shares more than 80 recipes celebrating the instinctive, focused cooking of ingredients at their simple best. Lennox reminds readers that the recipes are primarily about produce – about respecting it and about unlocking its true character. 

Finding Fire: Cooking at its most elemental is out now through Hardie Grant, RRP $60. Food & Wine has a copy to give away. To enter, send the words “Finding Fire” with your name, address and number to freelunch@theherald.com.au. Entries close on Monday, November 13, at 9am.