Today was one of those many days that do sparkle on Bruny Island. A cool start, then lots of sun, calm water and clouds just puffing around in the sky. Ray took off for a long bike ride and at an agreed time, I was to meet him at Murrayfield to dig spuds. Lynne and Bruce have been bringing some delicious potatoes up to the café lately and have been saying ‘come and dig your spuds”. Until now we have been too busy but since we have introduced our winter hours (see below) we have had time to savour the peace and tranquility of the last days of autumn and do some fun things like go to beautiful Murrayfield farm to get dirt under our fingernails in the potato patch.
We started the hunt for the buried treasure after grabbing the garden fork, aiming it at a spot amongst the drying top leaves, and voila! as we turned over the red loamy soil, there they are, heaps of them, all now exposed to the sunlight. As our hands sift through the dirt we find more and more! There’s even little surprises like a tiny field mouse quietly watching us and waiting to make a run for it and of course some fat worms. It gets so exciting…..in no time we have two crates full of Dutch Cream potatoes and we have only gone down a 1/3 of 1 row!!
Now I know how the pirates of old must have felt!!
After admiring the view for a minute (no wonder these spuds grow so well with a view like that…!), we hoist them into the van, take them back to the café, pick out some little ones, scrub them, boil them, toss them in natural salt flakes, a chunk of Tasmanias’ creamy Ashgrove butter add some springs of chopped parsley and black pepper and EAT! The best lunch – so very simple and so nutritious.
Come to the Jetty Café and get a serve of Rays’ special bowl of spuds – Yum. Chips just wont do it for you for ever after. That’s if you come when we are opened on our limited days and also if we haven’t eaten them all first! If you are coming to visit us, give us a call first, it’s nice to know who is heading our way and when.
Bookings ph: 62606245

Jetty Café Winter Hours:

Opened:      Friday Saturday Sunday & Monday 10am – 4pm

Dinner bookings by prior arrangement only (must have 12 or more)

Closed          Tuesday Wednesday & Thursday