Nourishing Atmosphere

Newcastle Herald

Saturday April 5, 2008

JENNY TARRAN

I love the Olive Branch Cafe, I love what they do there.

Not only can you get a cheap but wholesome and well-made lunch, or a cake and coffee fix, but when you dine at the Hannell Street, Wickham, cafe you are helping to train up hospitality workers.

The cafe is run by the Salvation Army and is a training venture to help disadvantaged youth and those with various intellectual and physical disabilities with work experience, on-job training and education in various aspects of the hospitality industry.

This is one place that doesn't mind it when staff get poached by the cafe or restaurant down the road.

In the kitchen is chef Shannon Geelan, known not just for his food but also his voice and occasionally you can hear him burst into song in the kitchen as he sings with the trainees little ditties to help reinforce kitchen procedures.

While his grill cleaning song may never make it onto a music chart, it does help the various trainees learn and flourish in the kitchen and on the floor.

While I managed to catch some singing, I was there for the food and soon I was presented with a huge serving of a chicken, spinach, fetta and semi-dried tomato crepe, $12.90. It was a huge meal for the price, with a decent side salad and chips as well.

While I chose the chicken, one of the trainees was singing the praises of the seafood crepe, but after the huge serving in front of me, I decided to leave the seafood for my next visit.

Both crepes are on the main menu, $12.50 to $15.50 which also includes snapper in a lemon and poppy seed tempura, veal schnitzel, salt and pepper calamari and pasta of the day.

There is also a lighter menu and a breakfast menu.

This light menu ranges from a $7.50 Greek salad to a $11.50 prawn and bacon skewer on steamed rice with a garden salad and the Thai beef salad with crispy noodles.

This lighter menu also includes the Novocastrian, a seared rib steak, $9.20, with caramelised onion, garden salad on toasted Turkish bread and the cafe's famous capsicum jam.

QUICK BITE

What: Olive Branch Cafe, 116 Hannell Street, Wickham, Prices from $2.50 to $15.50.

Chefs: Shannon Geelan and Chris Blanch.

Coffee: Marrichio.

Wines: No alcohol on site as the cafe is run by the Salvation Army.

Functions: Both in the restaurant, upstairs function area and off site.

Open: Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 2pm.

Bookings: 4969 8066.

VERDICT

While you may not get to hear the dulcet tones of chef Geelan singing away to the trainees in the kitchen, you can taste the passion in the food. The menu is simple fare, but well made, and the prices are fantastically low. This is a training cafe so feedback and encouragement are welcomed.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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