Pete is the oldest of five siblings. His brothers and sisters don’t all live in Sydney, so it was a rare treat to have brunch with them last weekend.
We were visiting Orange, one of the largest rural cities in our state, and dined at The Old Convent in Borenore, about 20 minutes from the centre of town. We were seated in a huge private room, complete with lounge area and fireplace, which provided plenty of skipping room for our young niece.
The fixed menu breakfast included sublime poached pears, homemade muesli and yoghurt…
…followed by poached eggs and bacon on toast…
…and corn fritters served with smoked salmon and yoghurt.
For the children, there was French toast and maple syrup, as well as toast with Vegemite. And yes, I did take a crossword to Sunday morning breakfast!
The venue was charming and quaint, and I was sorely tempted by the local pottery on display…
. . . . .
On the four hour drive back to Sydney, we stopped at Bilpin Springs, nestled at the foot of the Blue Mountains. This family run orchard allows you to pick your own fruit, and we spent the better part of an hour exploring amongst the fruit trees.
Available for picking were Granny Smith apples…
…the last of the Pink Lady apples…
…and an assortment of citrus fruit. Sundowner apples were due to start picking the following week.
We picked a few kilos of Pink Ladies and some Granny Smiths, as well as a kilo of juicy limes.
That night for dinner, I made Small Man’s favourite apple pie, using our just picked Granny Smiths. The perfect ending to a great weekend!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
What treasured memorable family time Celia and a remarkable weekend out – very special.
:-) Mandy
Thanks Mandy – it was lovely to catch up with them all. Happens all too infrequently!
Sounds like a delightful trip though a little disorienting for us in the other hemisphere. Australian apples are just coming into our markets here so intellectually I am aware of the opposite seasons but it always shakes the mind a little.
Question: Is it common for citrus and apples to be grown in the same area? Most apples need a cold winter and citrus.. not so much.
Enjoy your blog.
Patricia, thank you – I’m not sure about growing regions, but the Bilpin Springs orchard had several varieties of apples as well as naval oranges, mandarins, lemons, lime, as well as blueberries and raspberries. It’s been a hard year for fruit in Oz – the rain has played havoc with many of the crops.
The Hawkesbury region, just below Bilpin, is a major citrus growing area, but Bilpin must be just low enough/high enough to do both. It is a major apple and stonefruit growing area. I think those orchardists on the mountains must have a pretty tense life, contending with bushfire, hail, rain, heat and drought (sometimes all in the same year). Hats off to them! A family friend of ours was an apple grower at Berambing (a few villages higher than Bilpin). He had such a bad run of luck that he threw it all in and expanded his school bus run into a thriving coach business.
Celia, we had a great time in Orange for food week last year. The husband and I did a cider-making course at Small Acres Cyder in Borenore. It was great. Good to see cider apples still being planted. The number of varieties of cider apples alone is mind-boggling!!
Vix, rumour has it that there’s an orchard in Bilpin that allows picking of old apple varieties – I’ll have to do some research! Thanks for explaining about Bilpin!
beautiful, high class! Thank you.
Thanks Carmen, glad you enjoyed the post! :)
What a wonderful trip. I just had lunch at my desk and this made me hungrier…I have not heard of vegemite in a thousand years. I would also go for the pottery.
Have a great weekend.
Norma, the pottery was so beautiful, but quite expensive too. Plus there’s no more room in my kitchen! :)
Hope you have a great weekend too, with eagles soaring past your window! :)
Sunlit mellow fruitfullness, it all looks so calm and peaceful in Orange! What a pleasure to have someone else fix breakfast for a change. I love the photos as always !
Jo, thanks love, it was a very restful morning. The room was big and open and quite sunlit, so I didn’t need to use a flash at all for the photos. It was particularly nice to sit at a big table with family, eat breakfast, watch our small girl run around, and attempt the crossword. It was a hard one too – I bought a book of the giant crosswords from The Times! :)
What a lovely occasion to share, and the meal looks delicious.
As an apple growing country, I have to admit I’ve never seen PYO apples here, only soft fruit and some veg. I wonder why, perhaps I’m just in the wrong part of the country. The pie you made looks delicious, apple pie was always my favourite Sunday pudding when I was little, preferably with lots of (Bird’s) custard… mmm….
C, you and my Small Man would get along well. If I let him, he’d eat apple pie every night of the week! :)
Celia Lovely :) You gave my little heart such a fright when I opened up this post – but first I need to explain said fright methinks …. I went to school in Orange, in fact I grew up around there & sadly my Dad passed away there. Embedded into my mind forever is a little church just like this one where we said our goodbyes to him & for one tiny moment until I read your post, I thought…. OMG, they’ve sold the church & now its a cafe!!! But, of course there are lots of churches just like this one around the area & its not the same one – phewww!!!
It’s a beautiful old town isn’t it, lots of beautiful buildings – lots of good memories too. So glad you loved it & enjoyed the old convent surrounds – the brekky looked pretty awesome I’ve gotta say :)
Have a wonderful weekend Celia :)
Darling, I’m sorry to have done that to you! Glad to know it wasn’t the same church though…
Yes, gorgeous area, and breakfast was divine. Have a great weekend too! :)
Thanks Lovely :) We’re snuggled up keeping warm – what’s going on with the dead of winter hitting this soon eh ;)
OHMYGOSH. Are these food photos even legal!!!!??? SOOOO delicious!!!!
dakotad.com
Dakota, I’ve just had a look at your blog, and I’m very flattered you like the pics, as yours are amazing! Thank you! :)
Awww!!! Thanks Celia. You’re awesome. Hope you are having a good weekend!!! :) Thanks for complimenting my photos. I think it comes down to the person behind the lens!! Like your photos too. :) :) Would you mind if I link your blog?
Dakota, I’d be honoured – I’ve already added you to my Favourite Links! I’ve been sitting here with a cup of tea enjoying a little virtual tourism via your photos. It’s a nice way to spend some time on a lazy Sunday morning – thank you! :)
What a nice sounding weekend. It’s always lovely to catch up with extended family, and if you can combine it with a foodie adventure- even better!
Becca, it was especially nice because all of Pete’s siblings feel like my siblings too – I’ve known the youngest ones since they were nine years old!
Oh what a heavenly weekend. I am envious!
Linda, it gets better – it’s a week later, and today I have time to play around in the kitchen with all those gorgeous apples we picked! :)
What a lovely excursion…and mouth watering too.
Thanks Hazel! It was all delicious, and we spent the weekend eating and sitting – back on the treadmill this week! ;-)
Lovely family day, Celia – the brunch photos look extra yummo. We’ve just been to a Farmers Market in Brisbane and amongst our booty we have some unwaxed apples – they have such a different feel and smell, don’t they, to the waxed ones we’ve almost come to regard as normal. I loved your “de-stress” post Celia, such peaceful photos and chooks – I hope you’re feeling comfortably ‘whelmed’ now i.e. not over or underwhelmed.
Jan darling, that’s such a nice word, I’m going to use it from now on. Next time someone asks how I am, I’ll let them know that I’m “comfortably whelmed”. :)
The apples were so lovely fresh off the tree!
Then I hope you use it lots of times Celia:)
I love the look of that breakfast. Isn’t Dakota’s blog amazing? I found it a while ago. I love his photos.
Thanks Deb! Yes, Dakota’s photos are just astonishing, I’m so glad he left me a comment, or I’d never have found his blog!
I miss Bilpin organic markets!
We must make a point of checking them out next time, Frances! :)
I want it! I want it! I want it!
So delicious!
Maz
It was delish, wish you could have been there, Maz! :)
That looks like a fantastic breakfast. I love that place. A client took me there for dinner when I was last in Orange and I was pleasantly surprised (had expected ordinary).
And you managed to resist some of that great looking local pottery?!
Lucky you – they don’t do dinner any more, just breakfasts, and only on Sundays!
My daughter loves pink lady, but will settle for Sundowner in a pinch. We have been meaning to take a drive to the pick your own orchards.
One of our fave family stories is about PYO. On a trip to Qld a couple of years ago we picked our own strawberries – 2kgs – and then immediately drove down to NSW. We put the strawberries in the back seat. After a five hour trip, with the car was smelling of sweet strawberries, we were surprised to find a WHOLE 1kg punnet gone and the best part of the other gone as well. our then 6 year old had quietly eaten 1kg, including the green leaves! We thought he’d have a tummy ache the next day, but he was completely unaffected. he just LOVES fruit. . .His idea of heaven would be a magic island with a mango tree, strawberry patch and raspberry canes!
Anne, it was a nice hour or so, and the apples have been delicious, even this late in the season. We love Pink Ladies as a family, and the boys are partial to a crisp Fuji too, and like your daughter, we’ll settle for Sundowners, or Galas, if we have to.
We only went strawberry picking once, but it was enough to inspire us to keep trying to grow our own! I can completely relate to your then 6 year old – they’re so good when they’re warm and just picked that I’d find them irresistible too! :)
Bilpin holds a really special place in my heart and I’ve talking about going up there with Mr C for the last few months. I need to make it happen, especially while the apples are in season. (Haven’t the pink ladies been delicious lately!)
Brydie, go soon – the orchard we went too is only open until the June long weekend (and I think they’re closed next weekend – best to check before you go). The Monkeys would have a great time! :)
Oh my, breakfast looks awesome! I especially like the poached pear with the muesli and yogurt. Do you by chance have a recipe for homemade muesli?
Sounds like a very special day you had, very relaxing. The fruit at the orchard looks gorgeous too. Be sure and send some of those Pink Lady’s our way. Its one of my favorite apples. I’m starting to see Australian pears at the market and I’m buying them all up, cause I just love them.
Melanie, Pete makes his own untoasted muesli, I’ll get his recipe next time and post it. It’s so nice that you get our Pink Ladies over there – I’ve always found they’re an apple that keeps very well, so I’m sure what you’re getting is nearly as good as the ones we’ve picked from the tree! :)
That looks like a lovely place to stay and it must have been a nice treat for you to have the cooking done for you for a change Celia. Now why can’t I ever get my poached eggs looking like those in the picture?
Choc, I was saying the same thing! And I’m using just-laid eggs! There must be some trick.. :)
Oh I do love pink lady apples which are the most expensive apples in the supermarket. But I’ve found an Irish equivalent Elstar … but they’re not in season for another while :-(
Sounds like a grand fine day ye had – good on ya!
Gill, I guess if your Pink Ladies are coming from here, they’d be expensive, but I’m glad you’ve found an Irish equivalent! It was a lovely day, thank you! :)
I so enjoyed this culinary outing. I need a relaxed weekend breakfast with a crossword soon.
Sally, there really is nothing quite like a crossword with breakfast on the weekend! :)
humma, humma, humma…sorry that is just me trying to pick up my tongue which has just fallen on the floor after looking at your divine food pictures. I don’t think I could eat for the rest of the day if all that was in front of me..I’d have to try everything! It all looks too good. What a lovely post, thanks for sharing, Celia :)
Thanks Chris! It really was a lovely weekend! I’m cooking up apples today – the kitchen smells amazing.. :)
I’m late to comment- drove 10 hours today!
I love orchards,local pottery, family gatherings, everything on that menu and crosswords.
And the apple pie- Oh MY!
Heidi, I’m glad you had a safe trip! I found four hours a long way, but ten hours is a marathon! :)
it seems to me you are coming to terms with your new camera, there are some delightful photos you have included.
I am a big fan of apple pie too.
M {:0)
Moo, the new camera is already covered in flour! :)
Oooh apple pie! My local green grocer quite often has boxes of discount apples. I think I might grab one next time and whip up some pies, apple sauce and pectin with all your wonderful recipes.
Cheers, Claire! :) Do make sure you grab new season ones if you’re going to make pectin – the end of year stocks coming out of cold storage won’t have a lot of pectin left in the fruit (although they could still make wonderful sauce and pies!).