Shoalhaven Food Network

29/10/2026

🌿 HOMEGROWN HERO | Sean McCarthy |

From Michelin-starred kitchens in Scotland and superyachts cruising the Mediterranean, to building a business and raising his family right here on the South Coast – Sean McCarthy’s hospitality journey has taken him a long way.

Sean left school in Year 10 to begin his chef apprenticeship, setting in motion a career that would take him through kitchens in Melbourne, Edinburgh, the South of France, Italy and beyond.

Eventually, that journey brought him to the Shoalhaven.

Today, alongside his wife Liz, Sean is behind Season & Savour, bringing years of international experience to weddings, private events and intimate dining experiences across our region.

His story is also a pretty great reminder of something Sean strongly believes – hospitality skills can take you anywhere in the world.

We’re proud to share Sean McCarthy as one of our Shoalhaven Food Network Homegrown Heroes.

There’s plenty more to Sean’s story, to read more head to our website:
🌐 https://shoalhavenfoodnetwork.com.au/heroes/homegrown-heroes/sean-mccarthy

29/10/2026

🐎 MELBOURNE CUP IN THE SHOALHAVEN!

Where will you be celebrating Tuesday 3 November?

Whether you're planning a long lunch with friends, a little glamour and Fashions on the Field, or a relaxed afternoon of great food, drinks and racing, our local venues have you covered!

Here's where you can celebrate across the Shoalhaven:

🥂 Willinga Park | Bawley Point
A premium race day experience with delicious food, live music and Fashions on the Field.

🍷 Cupitt's Estate | Ulladulla
Beautiful vineyard views, long-table dining and a special community fundraising connection.

🍽️ The Growers by Ponte | Worrigee
Gather your favourite people for a festive Cup Day lunch.

🏇 North Nowra Tavern
A special luncheon, sparkling on arrival, sweeps and Fashions on the Field.

🥂 Club Nowra
A Chinese banquet lunch, prizes and best-dressed fun.

🍴 Bomaderry Bowling Club
Buffet lunch, bubbles, sweeps and Fashions on the Floor.

Whatever your Cup Day plans, there's no shortage of fantastic local venues ready to welcome you.

For more information on what's on, head to our website:
🌐 https://shoalhavenfoodnetwork.com.au/events?days=0

29/10/2026

🏆 A big congratulations to our members at North Nowra Tavern 🍻

What a fantastic achievement, taking home Best Bottle Shop at the 2026 Australian Hotels Association NSW Awards!

A wonderful recognition of the hard work and dedication of the entire team.

We're so proud to have North Nowra Tavern as part of the Shoalhaven Food Network and love seeing our local businesses recognised for their excellence.

Congratulations to the whole team on this well deserved win! 👏🎉

28/10/2026

📌 What’s On This Weekend?

Another weekend is almost here, and there’s plenty happening across the Shoalhaven from Friday through Sunday!

From local markets and Halloween fun to live music, woodfired pizza, great food and w**e, there are plenty of reasons to get out and about and support local this weekend.

FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER

🥕 FAB Farmers Market | Martins Ridge Farm, Burrill Lake
4pm–7pm

🩷 Frocktober Fundraiser for Ovarian Cancer Research | Club Nowra
From 10am

SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER

🎶 Jemma Beech at The Rutledge | Berry

🎃 Halloween at North Nowra Tavern | North Nowra

🎤 Frenchy – Never Been Before | Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra
8pm

SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER

🍕 Wood Fired Pizza Afternoon | Martins Ridge Farm, Conjola
5pm–8pm

🎶 Sunday Sessions at Swordfish Brewing | Sussex Inlet
1pm–4pm

🍷 Aristotelis ke Anthoula & Caterina KV | Caterina, Kangaroo Valley
From 12pm
Six new w**es matched with six seasonal plates, with the w**emakers joining in for the afternoon.

🎶 Sunday Sessions with Horse Drawn Cadillac | Cupitt’s Estate, Ulladulla
12:30pm–3:30pm

🎶 Sunday Sessions with Alex Clark | Bannisters Pavilion Rooftop Bar & Grill, Mollymook Beach
5pm–8pm

There’s something happening from one end of the Shoalhaven to the other, so make a weekend of it and get out there to support our local venues, producers and businesses. 🙌

👉 Head to the What’s On page on the Shoalhaven Food Network website for event details, bookings and more.
🌐 https://shoalhavenfoodnetwork.com.au/events?days=0

27/10/2026

🏆 SHOALHAVEN SHINES IN THE SMH GOOD FOOD AWARDS!

There’s plenty to celebrate in the Shoalhaven, with some very familiar local names awarded Chef's Hats in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards 2027! 👏

A huge congratulations to:

👏 Simon Furley & the team at
👏 John Evans & Sonia Greig -
👏 Alex Pritchard -

It’s fantastic to see the Shoalhaven continuing to make its mark on the NSW dining scene, and even better to see the people behind some of our region’s incredible food experiences receiving the recognition they deserve.

From Simon and the Bangalay team’s continued focus on local produce and the flavours of our region, to John and Sonia’s much-loved South on Albany, and Alex beginning an exciting new chapter with Sara Dining in Berry – there’s a lot happening in our little corner of the South Coast!

We’re especially proud to have Simon, John and Sonia as part of the Shoalhaven Food Network and love seeing our members recognised for the work, passion and talent they bring to our local industry.

A huge congratulations to all involved, it's such a great result for our local hospitality community and another reason to be proud of the food scene we have right here in the Shoalhaven!

27/10/2026

FACES BEHIND THE PLACES AND PLATES | SIMON FURLEY |

🏆 ONE HAT & PLENTY TO CELEBRATE!

Fresh from Bangalay Dining being awarded One Hat in the 2027 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide, we thought there couldn’t be a better time to introduce you to the talent behind the plates – Chef Simon Furley.

From Michelin-starred kitchens in Europe to the beautiful South Coast of NSW, Simon has built an impressive career around his passion for great food and respect for the environment.

Originally from Bath in the UK, Simon began working in kitchens at just 16, going on to cook across Europe before bringing his experience to Australia. After leading kitchens in Queensland and Orange, his creativity and passion for local produce can now be seen in the kitchen at Bangalay Dining at Shoalhaven Heads.

His approach is contemporary and natural, guided by the belief that food should reflect the place in which it is prepared.

At Bangalay, this means working closely with South Coast producers, exploring native Australian ingredients and foraged flavours and making the most of each ingredient rather than allowing it to go to waste. Techniques such as wood fire cooking, fermentation, curing and preserving help Simon develop bold flavours while supporting a more sustainable approach in the kitchen.

Using produce foraged close to home, Simon’s cooking at Bangalay has included bottlebrush nectar ice cream, foraged turkey rhubarb, native flavoured vinegars and locally sourced seafood and meats – creating food that is both inventive and deeply connected to the natural environment of the Shoalhaven.

The One Hat recognition is a fantastic achievement for Simon and the entire Bangalay Dining team, and we’re incredibly proud to see one of our SFN members recognised among some of NSW’s best. 👏

A huge congratulations to Simon and the Bangalay team! 🥂

Next time you visit Bangalay Dining, take a moment to appreciate the talent, passion and innovation behind the plate.

27/10/2026

21/10/2026

A Huge Congratulations to our Member at Inlet Butchery! 🥇

There's nothing we love more than celebrating the achievements of our incredible local food businesses,and this one is certainly worth celebrating!

Inlet Butchery have achieved an outstanding result at the 2026 NSW Sausage King Competition, taking home six awards from six entries! 👏

🥇 GOLD – Indian Sunset

🥈 SILVER – Persian Nights

🥈 SILVER – Creamy Curry Chicken Burgers

🥉 BRONZE – Sweet & Sticky Chicken

🥉 BRONZE – Shanghai Garden

🥉 BRONZE – Traditional Thick Beef

For a family-owned butcher shop in Sussex Inlet to be recognised alongside some of the best in NSW is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to the passion, creativity and hard work behind this local business.

It's businesses like Inlet Butchery that make our region's food community so special. People who genuinely care about what they do, take pride in their products and continue to put the Shoalhaven on the map.

We're incredibly proud to have Inlet Butchery as part of the Shoalhaven Food Network and couldn't be happier to see their hard work recognised! ❤️

Congratulations to the entire team. What a wonderful achievement!

21/10/2026

📌 What's On This Weekend? | 23–25 October

Looking for something to do this weekend? There's plenty happening across the Shoalhaven, with live music, delicious local food, Sunday sessions and some fantastic events hosted by our Shoalhaven Food Network members!

Here's what's happening from Friday through Sunday!

🎶 Friday 23 October

🎸 Swordfish Brewing – Blues & Brews Festival kicks off in Sussex Inlet with a free blues jam from 7pm.

🎤 The Rutledge Bar & Eats – Live music with Cassy Rae in Berry.

🍝 La Vespa Italian Restaurant – Cher & Tom Jones Tribute Dinner Show, 6pm–9pm in Vincentia.

🎵 Saturday 24 October

🍻 Swordfish Brewing – Blues & Brews Festival continues with a full afternoon and evening of live blues, craft b**r and great food.

🎸 The Rutledge Bar & Eats – Live music with Kane Calcite in Berry.

🎶 Bomaderry Bowling Club – The Barefooted Souls Duo performing from 7pm.

☀️ Sunday 25 October

🌸 The Prickly Pear, Milton – Prickly in Pink Long Table Lunch from 12pm.

🎶 Cupitt's Estate – Sunday Sessions with Benji and the Saltwater Sound System, 12:30pm–3:30pm.

🎤 Mystic Meadow Retreat – Elvis and Friends: Music, Magic & Memories, 1pm–4:30pm.

🍻 Swordfish Brewing – The final day of Blues & Brews Festival in Sussex Inlet.

🎸 Jervis Bay Brewing – Sunday Sessions with George Bush, 4pm–7pm.

🍹 Bannisters Pavilion Rooftop Bar & Grill – Sunday Sessions with Amy & I, 5pm–8pm.

Whether you're heading out for a long lunch, catching some live music or discovering somewhere new, there's no shortage of reasons to get out and support our local venues this weekend!

We're proud to showcase the wonderful businesses and experiences that make up our Shoalhaven Food Network community.

Find event details, bookings and more on our What's On calendar:
🌐 https://www.shoalhavenfoodnetwork.com.au/events?days=0