An Evening with "Albert"

Well finally I managed to go for an evening meal at Albert & Co. I have written a few reviews on what can now be considered this Lakes Entrance icon, but this I have to admit, is the first time I have managed to go for a full evening meal. Was it worth it, read on to find out.

There is just something soothing about watching the sun go down over a fishing fleet and on this night it went quickly and quietly and from our table viewing to the south and west.

What's On this weekend - if you are not into AFL?

It is that time of year again when headlines are of that game, those players, their "WAGS", and any other aspect of the competing teams, before the country almost comes to a halt, not for a horse race, (that comes in a little over a month), but for the AFL Grand Final.

But not all are consumed by this annual event, there are some that prefer other pursuits and interests. For those not watching that game, for petrol heads, and for those who will be watching the Grand Final on Sunday (beamed live from Sydney "GO STORM"), here is an alternative for all the family.

Lakes Entrance and its elephants !

 A couple of weeks ago I posted a question "Does Lakes Entrance stack up?" . Currently, the answer is unfortunately no. What can be done to solve this problem and to give the town a pathway back to the prosperity and vitality which it needs and deserves but which is self sustaining in the long term.

The many faces of the Entrance at Lakes.

The Entrance to the Gippsland Lakes at Lakes Entrance is a famous piece of water for a number of reasons. It has a history not all for the good of seafarers, and yet remains an iconic sight as you travel over the Kalimna Hill and gain a view over that small piece of water with a big reputation. To me it brings a sense of being back home especially after a long trip or a long period of absence. The view from the ocean also bring a feeling of homecoming especially for those who have been at sea for some time. So lets have a look at some of the many faces of the entrance itself.

Wide Angle from Jemmy's Point Tower

Coffee with a Twist at The Barn

The Barn:     Princes Highway Kalimna West. (part of R.E.A.L. Garden Centre)  

Breakfast:  Wednesday to Sunday 8am onwards:  

Lunch: Wednesday to Sunday 12 noon til 2pm 

Bookings & Enquiries   0438 018 625; Licensed venue:

The Barn Cafe

Lakes Entrance - does it stack up

Lakes Entrance is a great place to live, it provides us all with so much to be thankful for, the access to water, the views, nature and its natural attractions close by, even the weather, the worst of which seems to miss us and go out to sea or up in the ranges to our north. I love living here.....,

Lakes as it should be busy & vibrant

Hendo’s Cafe - “Good to go back to the simple things of life – good honest food!”

Hendo’s Cafe at 77-81 Main Street  Bairnsdale.     Ph: 5152 6742                                                    Mon - Fri  5:30- 3:00      Breakfast served until 10-30am    External catering by arrangement.

Location:  Just on the left as you arrive in the main street shopping strip in Bairnsdale, Hendo’s Cafe  has on street parking  right outside, but be careful of the high kerb and fairly steep camber on the road. The café is wheelchair accessible and has clean washroom facilities including a baby change table. 

Simple yet comfortable seating at tables which can be altered to suit groups and décor which gives a sort of country feel.   There is a well-placed separate kid’s corner (“Coopers Corner”) ideal for the younger ones, and high chairs are available.  Ordering is at the service counter at the front and drinks/meals are served to the table.  Tables can be reserved as can the meeting room and street-side seating is also available.

 Menu:    Hendo’s is a café geared to serve breakfast and lunch plus coffee and nibbles throughout opening hours, plus take-out food for those who eat at their desk or elsewhere.  All the usual menu options that you would expect in a venue such as this, and always with some hot specials on the go.
The beauty of Hendo’s is its plain simplicity a roast every day, a pasta dish a rice dish, a pie or pastie ,beef rissoles with thick gravy are nearly always on the menu, and they sell out fast so don’t be late ! Here again the simple pleasures of life like date scones are made daily. Large yet light and served with butter and jam heated slightly so the butter soaks into the scone…Mmmmm.  I am sure you get the message, “Plain Jane” no nonsense food.

 Experience:   I always get a welcome  with a smile, no matter how busy they may be, someone always welcomes you and the same as you leave, a thanks or similar.  Whilst at the table “Hendo” may wander round and have a chat, homely, friendly professional customer service as it should be.  Never hurried, yet tables are cleared quickly and without fuss.
On this visit we just wanted a good hearty hot meal, “The Boss” loves Hendo’s roasts and on this occasion it was lamb, thick tender slices served with a plate full of veggies, carrots, cauliflower, scalloped potatoes, broccoli and pumpkin. Meat with thick gravy and five veg, awesome, simple, hot and tasty.

I fancied the sausage curry with rice and a serve of those scalloped potatoes, again a good serve, hot and tasty, I could have had it hotter but for general taste it was mild and perfectly acceptable, I just hit the black pepper on top!! I have to admit having a date scone with butter and jam afterwards, and as usual enjoyed every crumb, washed down with a long black.  No tea for me that day.

Summary:    It is good to go back to the simple things of life and enjoy a good simple hearty meal.  At Hendo’s this is what you will receive every time and at very good value too. No wonder it is popular with so many. Specials are limited so get there early so you don’t miss out, but there will always be an alternative dish to savour, that is why I keep going back.

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Save our young drivers - we MUST do more.

Headlines in the Herald-Sun today, (29th August 2018), reveal that 725 deaths occurred in the under 25 age group in the last decade in Victoria. Countless more are seriously injured and are the leading cause of hospital admissions in the 15 to 24 age group in the 2016 -17 financial year. 725 deaths that could be avoided.  East Gippsland is 15th out of the 79 Local Government areas, with a staggering 17 road deaths in that age group.  Nothing to be proud of. 

Lakes Entrance power outage- who is open & who is closed

Tuesday 28^th August there are to be some major interruptions to the power supply in Lakes Entrance.

I have complied an alphabetical list from information seen on Facebook to try and assist you all finding out who is open and who is closed.  This is by no means a complete listing but I hope it may help. 

First the good news who is open, then the bad news those who are closed. I have added any comment from Facebook. This is up to date as of 9am Monday, feel free to add comments and complete the listing. I will try to update as time permits. 

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What is Open

MEDICAL Services

Lakes Entrance Community Heath: Clinical and nursing services are not effected they have a generator.       Allied Health Service not operating.
Cunninghame Arm Medical Centre. Emergency Doctor 9am till 2pm then as usual.

then....

Aldi 
Beaches Coffee 
Betta Electrical and Homemakers Open 9am til 5pm
Dahlsens timberyard.  No power so no eftpos. Cash or Dahlsens account sales only.
Foodworks 
Footbridge Mini golf and Lollyshop open from 11am - have generator!
Hair + Salon
Lakes Grain Shed  - open we will have no power. Cash only and hand written receipts
Lakes H Hardware open 7am til 5pm
Lakes Secondary College - open but no heating etc. rug up. Charge laptops  BBq lunch. No Canteen
Lakes Primary - open for parents unable to keep kids at home
Lifestlye by the Sea open 11-30 til 3pm
Lonsdale Cruises  - boat will have power
Pinocchio Inn restaurant open from 5pm
Shaboutique Desinz open from 1pm

Stitches N Things - I have a generator !!

Todd Clinics
Water Taxi and Short Tours by Skipper Pete - weather permitting
Woolworths and Woolworths petrol

Wyanga Park Winery  - open and cooking open fire going too!
Vet Clinic John Ward open 11am til 2pm

What is CLOSED

Albert & Co

Amcal Chemist  - possibly 9am to 2pm

Bakers Delight

Bella Vita Jewellers

Bendigo Bank Agency -  If you need to do any banking on that day you'll have to go to Bairnsdale

Boatshed Cafe

Bold Dance & Arts  

Bowls Club  -  re opens from 2pm

Bridgestone Tyre Service  - closed for the day

Catuzza Boutique
Central Hotel  - open around 3

Charnwood Cafe

Danielle Milito Massage

Destiny3 is out for the day

Esplanade Travel
Fish a Fare

Fresh Hair
Funkey Monkey
Just Books  

Kalimna Hotel -  closed for lunch  - re open for dinner

KFC  - will be closed until 2 or 3pm
Lakes Auto Parts

Lakes Newspower will be closed all day  - Lamannas Newsagents will be open from 6am till 12 for newspapers and mags. Longer if its busy

Lakes Senior Citizens Op Shop

Lakes Sports and Community Club closed  - will be opened at 2:30
Lakes Toys

LESC

Library open all day, with limited services

Millers  - till 2pm

Maccas till 2:45pm

Nick’s  - hoping to be open for dinner.

Reggies

RSL  - closed till 3pm

Salon Classique - open from 2pm
Seagulls 
Subway

 Hope this is helpful to all

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Lunch at Albert & Co- just checking up !

Albert & Co:   Coffee – Food – Catering.   

201 The Esplanade, Lakes Entrance VIC 3909   Ph: 03 5155 1209

Hours: from 6:30am:  Check for closing time. Serving Breakfast- Lunch and Dinner (advise to book) “Pleasant, comfortable, can be a busy venue , but busy for very good reason”

Part of the Bellevue Complex

Location:   Being a local, I have followed the progress of this business in all its forms, many coffees, breakfasts, and some would say, too many lunches, some external catering, and evening meals. This is a light, bright, venue catering not only for coffee and meals, but also external catering and the bar scene, having a relaxing lounge type area adjacent to the bar.

Front windows open to create Al fresco feel

Part of the Bellevue Motel complex,  Albert & Co has a main street location with both on street and in house parking.  Access from the street is via four steps with hand rails but for those who prefer or need a flat entry, good access is via the hotel entry and through the bar area. If you park in the road careful of the road camber when you open your car door. It is steep.

Seating is plentiful and varies from comfortable chairs to slightly higher side benches with plush cushions. Either suited me both being well placed and comfortable. Full table and bar service is available here and there are high chairs available for the younger devotees of this establishment. Full washroom facilities are available just down the main corridor of the hotel. 

With open style planning, Albert & Co is clean cut with crisp décor and windows that fully open onto the street and harbour beyond providing a feel of being “al fresco” whether or not you are actually dining in or out. 

Sit inside feels like outside

Menu:   I was there for lunch, the menu is in itself quite small but when added to the breakfast menu (served until 3pm) a very good range of items is available including vegan, GF items and a kids menu.  Quality locally produced/grown/sourced ingredients are used in preference to others supporting our local economy.

The Lunch menu provides for a sharing platter of smoked meats, cheeses dips and pickles, good old fashioned fish ‘n chips, but other items are added regularly  to suit the season and availability of locally soured produce.

Experience:   I am a coffee regular at Albert & Co, for good reason, it is a pleasant venue, comfortable with good access.  Staff are well- dressed in a smart uniform, attentive, professional and friendly. Tables are cleared and cleaned quickly and without fuss, water is provided almost immediately on your arrival.  Having previously enjoyed the breakfast menu, especially “The Albert , I was keen to try the lunchtime offerings on the new menu.

Pie with Mash and salad

I went for a home baked pie with parmesan pastry served on a bed of mash, made from local “spuds” and a side garden salad. A serve of tomato based relish topped off the presentation and added a slightly spicy twang to the meal.  Here, I have to say, that there was a slight mix up with the contents of the pie. I need not go into detail but let’s say what I was served differed from the announced menu item. This was dealt with admirably by the staff on the day, a simple mix up or omission, could happen anywhere, what impressed me was the manner in which it was dealt.  Never the less the pie (chicken, vegetable and curry, was tasty, well filled, the pasty light with that parmesan twist in the taste. It was browned well on top and was not too heavy at the base. The mash was beautiful , creamy and tasty, a generous serve and the garden salad certainly fresh and a good mix of salad items. This is the second lunch time pie I have enjoyed here and the quality was maintained. 

Fish of the Day - Flathead tails

 The “Boss” had the fish of the day which was flat-head tails served with flat cut chips (real chips), and a garden salad which again was generous and a good mix.  All served with a tartare sauce which added a good twist to the dish. I tried some of those chips they reminded me of many years ago, when all were hand cut and fried in a fry pan, tasty, crispy, light and with soft centres.

Light Bright Crisp and Clean

                 Summary:    The ambience of Albert & Co provides for a relaxing comfortable and enjoyable lunch and I am sure will be the same for an evening meal. Don’t forget that the coffee is also excellent here and with a good range of teas, shakes, chocolates, fruit juices and other blends you will never leave thirsty, there is an ever growing range of house made cakes and slices, then, of course there is the bar! A busy venue especially at peak times, but busy for good reason.

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