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A Consistent Standout on Clovelly Road: Out of the Blue Fish Burgers

Many local kids have strolled by Clovelly Road after Nippers and stopped over at Out of the Blue for some tasty burgers and chips. For nearly two decades, this nondescript eatery has attracted a long line of people who patiently wait outside to get their tasty fill.

Out of the Blue is consistently a standout when other eateries have come and gone at this busy street corner bordering Coogee and Clovelly.

At times, especially when the weather is beautiful, the queue of people may extend all the way to the beach so it’s might be a good idea to call in advance for your orders or expect the long waiting time (it’s worth it!).

The variety of burgers at Out of the Blue is plentiful and reasonably priced. Julien’s Famous Fish Burger really lives up to its name because it is the most popular choice.

But what makes the burgers truly irresistible is the chili mayo. Thick, creamy and with the right amount of kick, batches of chili are made fresh and in-store every day.

This takeaway shop has been a family-run business ever since. Every order is prepared right in front of the customers.

“We don’t believe in compromising on quality or taste, thats why we put a great emphasis on homemade,” Jean Marc and Sophie Gubian said.

When Chef Jean Marc and Sophie Gubian arrived in Sydney from France to set their roots in the 1980s, they also dreamt of having their own restaurant. Today, the couple’s children are managing Out of the Blue.

For the store’s opening hours, visit their website or Instagram for the details. The shop takes cash payments only.

“You can get fish and chips here and it’s outlived many good competitors, the serving staff are always friendly and like to connect, dudes hang out on the pavement out front with their skateboards and spandex beach gear, there always seem to be a mixture of earthy beach goers and happy tourists hanging out there.”
studentini, TripAdvisor

“Have been eating here for years and have always had a good experience – I like the veggie and the fish burger – also the chicken with chilli mayo. Chips are great and generous portions. So good that you can get a half-small serve of chips – enough for one person. Order ahead if you don’t want to wait. Friendly staff.”
Sophi_AKS, TripAdvisor

“Food is well priced and most importantly delicious. I’ve been here multiple times and food is always high quality. The Julien’s famous is a must! Only downside is the wait time because they get busy so best to call in advance.”
Jeremy, Google Reviews

Sugarcane Restaurant: Best Bang for Your Buck at this Carr Street Thai Eatery

Sugarcane Restaurant continues to surprise and delight its patrons four years since opening its beachside location on Carr Street in Coogee. The Thai eatery just updated its menu to keep bringing the best bang for the buck choices with great-tasting food, large portions, a friendly vibe and excellent service.

The star of this season’s menu is the newest dessert dish: black sesame parfait with a sticky blackcurrant glaze and shredded coconut.

Frequent Sugarcane Restaurant guests, however, usually order favourites like the Crisp Tortilla (crab, green apple, coconut, lime), Chicken Pad Thai, bao buns and the Hiramasa Kingfish (roasted rice, chili, lime, coriander).

First-time diners are highly recommended to pick the “Trust Me” choice off the menu, which is good for two to five people. The trustworthy selection is up to the creativity of the chef and owner, Milan Strbac, who will fill the servings with generous quantities.

Outside of Thailand, Sydney perhaps has the most developed and distinct Thai food culture, where other cities have mash-ups or fusions. Sugarcane Restaurant often tops most diners’ lists for the best Thai food on this side of the coast because the dining experience always meets expectations.

The eatery encourages communal dining but since reopening in June, the staff has committed to making the place safe for guests.

“We’re still serving the same delicious food, but we’ve adapted our processes around hygiene and record-keeping, including a new sign in to dine in policy and single-use menus,” the owner said.

For updates on its trading hours, menu and deals, follow Sugarcane Restaurant on Facebook.

“Great location, delicious food, excellent service. I couldn’t decide on the wine, so they let me taste a couple before I chose. Also mentioned we were celebrating a bday, they took the initiative and brought out a dessert with a candle in it at no charge. It’s the little things, the attention to detail that matter the most. Have already recommended you to friends. Thanks for a wonderful afternoon.”
Hilla Irani, Facebook

“We had a great night at Sugarcane tonight. The food was spot on, great mix of flavours and spices we tried the recommendations from the wait staff and were delighted. The staff were so friendly and knowledgable. Our first night out for months and felt safe and totally satisfied with the choice of restaurant. We will be coming back to sample more from this menu. Thanks Sugarcane.”
Keith Young, Facebook

“Been to Sugarcane for dinner twice now and each time the food has been excellent. The staff are also attentive and professional and the wines well chosen. It’s quite pricey for Asian food but the quality makes it well worth it – you definitely get value for money. 4 of us ate really well being pleasantly stuffed, with 2 cocktails, a beer, sparkling water and 1 bottle of wine for under $100 a head including tip. If you’re up for spending that kind of money do yourself a favour and try it. You will NOT be disappointed!”
Micael Neuman, Google Reviews

Wylie’s Baths Upgrade Completed in Time for Summer

Upgrades to the Wylie’s Baths Rock Pool in Coogee have been completed as the summer season approaches. Work done on the public pool took over 100 days but the effort and improvements have been worth the wait.

The community pool closed in mid-May for the installation of new valves vital to the pool’s maintenance. Demolition of the existing stars and the replacement of compliant concrete stairs were also undertaken, along with several much-needed repairs.

“We’ve taken this closure period as an opportunity to do some cleaning, sanding, painting, pressure washing, stair-building, valve-installing, leak-plugging, gardening, scrubbing, reviewing, organising, pest-controlling, irrigating, sewer pump servicing, urinal repairing, roof-sealing, sanding, painting, sanding, painting, sanding, and painting,” the Wylie’s Bath staff posted on social media. “We’re pretty stoked with the results so far and we think you will be too!”

This undertaking was possible with the collaboration of The Wylie’s Baths Trust, Randwick City Council and the contractors from Antoun Civil, along with other tradespeople from GardenLink, Venice Projects, Men In White Painting, GJ Electrical, ESS, The Lone Drainer & Pronto.

The Council shared the video of its completed redevelopment on its Facebook page:

The tidal pool, built in 1907 by Henry Wylie, was where Wilhelmina Wylie, Henry’s daughter, and Sarah Durack trained to swim. They went on to become the first Australian Olympic female swimming champions.

Alteration and repairs of Wylie’s Baths were undertaken several times to maintain and preserve the site, given the harshness of the sea environment. In 2003, the state recognized Wylie’s Baths as a heritage site.

Coogee Dive Wreck Plan Gains 10,000 Signatures of Support

A community initiative to establish a dive wreck four kilometres off the coastline of Coogee has reached over 10,000 signatures. Supporters of the initiative agree that sinking a decommissioned navy vessel to create an artificial reef will bring economic and environmental benefits.

Gordons Bay Scuba Diving Club (GBSDC) is spearheading the creation of the dive wreck with the help of the Coogee Chamber of Commerce. These groups said that a dive wreck will be a more sustainable option than selling the ship parts for scraps.

A dive wreck may become a habitat for many types of marine life for hundreds of years, increasing the biodiversity. The site may also serve as an attraction for scuba divers who want to learn challenging skills on wreckage penetration.

“The advantage of a purpose sunk wreck is it can be cleaned and made safe for divers first. This means that wildlife are safe to use the artificial reef from the beginning,” per the Sydney Dive Wreck campaign.

Dive wreck historical artefacts and and other archaeological resources may also boost underwater cultural heritage and provide a rich story and interesting story for history and science buffs.

As the sinking of the ship will be miles off the coastline, the beauty of the Coogee beach will be preserved whilst improving the recreational spots in the area.

With more than a million locals diving, snorkeling and “treasure hunting” every year, the potential for business revenue is at $12.5 to $48 million within five years, especially when managed well.

“Our estimates for the economic benefits are based on advice from the Sydney Dive industry and validated against Australian and International research on the economic benefits of Dive Wrecks worldwide. We are confident that the dive wreck will be a great economic benefit to NSW, in addition to the recreational, scientific and environmental benefits it will provide.”

If you’re interested in supporting this cause or learning more about the dive wreck proposal, phone John Rowe, Marine Scientist, Founder, Gordons Bay Scuba Diving Club Inc at +61 412 099 453 or send an email to jcprowe@bigpond.net.au

Council Launches Plans for Coogee Bay Road Shared Space — Feedback Needed!

A proposal to create a shared space to extend cafe and restaurant operations on footpaths along Coogee Bay Road has been lodged and Randwick City Council needs your feedback on it.

The shared space is in support of local businesses that want to open outdoor dining areas on their premises. The move will help these eateries implement social distancing measures properly, amidst the COVID-19 restrictions.

The Council plans to introduce the Coogee Bay Road shared space by October 2020 and trial the scheme for three months. Under this plan, Arden and Brook Streets will be open to one-way access online, whilst parking on both sides of the streets will still be allowed.

“With parking remaining on both sides, I think this is a good compromise,” Gavin Field, a local, said on Facebook. “As spring and summer ramps up there will be many more people on the streets so for safer social distancing this is a good idea. Be good to have a safe queue system for popular takeaways amongst seated diners and people walking by often with prams, sometimes wheelchairs, etc. (ie businesses not just taking up the entire space for seating).”

“Randwick Council, please don’t make Coogee Bay Rd one way. For locals that regularly duck down to the shops, it becomes very inconvenient and acts as a deterrent! It forces drivers onto Arden St and increases the congestion there,” Deborah Laurence said.

The public consultation will run until 22 Sept 2020 and has so far generated over 300 feedback. You can add yours by sharing your opinion on the official feedback form.

On 29 Sept 2020, the Council will deliberate on the shared space. Once implemented, the guidelines set will be reviewed in November.

The proposal comes as Coogee Bay Road underwent a massive streetscape upgrade that was completed in March 2020.

Estate in Coogee Offers Big Mac Risotto for a Limited Time

Estate at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Coogee Beach is supersizing things up! Following its opening in March, the restaurant is serving a fast food favourite — the Big Mac — with an interesting twist. However, it will only for a limited time.

Chef Matthew Butcher will recreate a Big Mac-inspired risotto dish created by Chef Ryan Clift from the Tipping Club in Singapore. Mr Butcher trained under Mr Clift, who happily passed along his super secret recipe for this sinfully delicious dish.

View this post on Instagram

Next weeks live workshop kicks off our whacky risotto masterclasses we will be teaching you how to make our famous Big Mac risotto ! Each guest will receive a full pack with all the ingredients to feed up to 3 people and a half bottle of makers mark to wash it down ! Www.tipplingclub.com @tipplingclub @deji89 @makersmark @andyloudon85 #risotto #whacky #masterclass #live #livestream #signup #bigmac #wagyu #pickle #burger #foodpornography #recipe #workshop #zoom #demo #savefnbsg #picoftheday #photography #notfastfood #secretsauce #dineinmovement #follow #lovemyjob #team #thanks #sanitizer #staysafe

A post shared by Ryan Clift (@chefryanclift) on Jun 4, 2020 at 12:25am PDT

The Big Mac Risotto is the star of Estate’s new spring menu and will cost $26 a plate. The meal consists of wagyu beef, homemade cheese and special mustard based sauce, dill, fermented cucumber pickles, sesame seeds, and a fold of lettuce.

Mr Ryan said that he tried to copy the McDonald’s Big Mac sauce recipe unsuccessfully. The fluke, however, turned out to be a blessing since he created his own secret sauce to use for the risotto.

Meanwhile, Estate’s formal dining space and taqueria follow different trading hours amidst the COVID-19 restrictions. Government restrictions remain in place for all of the eateries at the site, whilst the outdoor deck, the Terrace, has reopened effective 3 Sept. 2020.

The taqueria’s Private Karaoke Room has also reopened for late night, small group parties.

Photo Credit: Estate Coogee Beach/Google Maps

The restaurant has brought back its Taco Tuesdays, which has actually extended until Wednesdays. Deals during these days include 2 for 1 tacos and $10 margaritas.

Booking in advance is highly encouraged for guests who want to dine-in at Estate. For more details about trading hours, deals and other offers, follow Estate’s Facebook page.

Here’s How Coogee Businesses Plan to Bounce Back in the Pandemic

Businesses in Coogee are coming together to mount a Coogee Bay Road dining and entertainment pop-up precinct to help each other bounce back amidst the pandemic.

Among the proposed ideas is to host a ‘live and local’ stage for musicians and pop-up parks where people can also enjoy the finest food in the city. The proposal has the backing of Mayor Danny Said.

“All of our town centres and businesses have been hit hard by COVID-19. In particular, the Coogee town centre has been disrupted by both COVID and recent road upgrade works,” Mr Said stated. “During recent weeks and months, I have heard from businesses of the pressure space restrictions are having on local cafes and I have heard our local hotels continue to experience high accommodation vacancies. Businesses are feeling the pressure and Council is looking at ways we can help to boost our local economy and create jobs.”

Learn More ABout THis Plan

Cat Owners Reminded to Desex Feline Pets Amidst Tougher New Government Guidelines

Cat owners across New South Wales are asked to desex their pets once they are four months old or risk paying the $80 fine amidst new and tougher government guidelines.

The new guidelines were in effect since 1 July 2020. Desexing cats will help “address concerns about feral, stray and roaming cats.” Studies show that desexing also improves the feline’s health and wellbeing.

Local vets, the Cat Protection Society or the RSPCA conducts desexing regularly. Cat owners will receive a certificate after the procedure, which will entitle them to a pet registration discount.

Learn More About the Policy

Smart Tech Parking Rolls Out in Coogee Beach

Finding a parking space at Coogee Beach will now be a breeze as the Randwick City Council rolls out the trial of a new parking system with smart technology.

Launched at Coogee Beach and the Coogee Oval car parks on Friday, 4 Sept 2020, the new smart technology parking system has cameras and in-ground sensors that will track parking availability. Drivers, on the other hand, may find available parking spaces via the LED smart signs outside of the car parks.

Alternatively, drivers may also download the PayStay app to track available car spaces. Meters from PayStay have been installed where parking spots are convenient in the Coogee Beach area.

“There will be no change to the number of metered parking spaces, how long people can park in spaces and certainly no new metered parking,” Randwick Mayor Danny Said explained. “This new system is all about decreasing the amount of congestion on popular roads as people spend time looking for parking spaces.”

Mr Said also added that smart parking may “save time, frustration and fuel,” as well as increase public safety since drivers will not be distracted while looking for parking spaces.

“We’re keen to see how well this new system works over the next few months and, if successful, we plan to roll the technology out to even more areas within Randwick City.”

The Council plans to roll the scheme next in Kensington and Kingsford if the trial goes well in Coogee.

Experience Supreme Postnatal Pampering at this Coogee Maternity Suite

Giving birth is both a stressful and joyous time and in Sydney, mums have that extra option to experience a luxurious postnatal recovery period at a special maternity suite in Coogee.

If you’re having a baby at the Prince of Wales Private Hospital, you can ask for a room at the Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach. The hospital and the hotel have set up a program called Little Luxuries that provides mothers and babies a relaxation time like no other.

What is Little Luxuries?

Little Luxuries is a first in New South Wales. The program offers new mums a five-star accommodation after giving birth, which includes:

24 hour access to on-site Midwife Service
Customised room service menu
Personalised parenting education
Breastfeeding support
Large plasma screen TV with Foxtel channels
Additional services such as massage, movie channels and mini-bar

New mums will be settled in rooms that have the most beautiful view of the Coogee beach and they don’t have to worry about meals or making beds. Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach’s staff are at their beck and call to ensure that the mums are well-rested and rejuvenated.

*Photo Credit: Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach-Sydney/Facebook*

What can you expect with Little Luxuries?

The Prince of Wales Private Hospital in Randwick is just 10 minutes away from Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach and you can arrange for limo service with the hotel if you need to be picked up at the hospital. You have to check out of the hospital if all the tests and baby screening are done and you get an all-clear from the doctor. Your baby’s blue book and the handover pack will be turned over to the hotel’s midwife from the hospital’s midwife.

Your partner can stay with you at the maternity suite, which has a king-size bed, a feeding chair and a bassinet. You can enjoy a wide selection of meals prepared and served with the same quality as dining at the hotel’s restaurant. You may schedule in-room massages as well.

The midwife will check in with you a couple of times a day to take your blood pressure stats, inspect your wound (for C-section deliveries) and assist you with feeding the baby.

Is Little Luxuries expensive?

As for the expenses, there are private health funds that cover Little Luxuries so check with your provider for the terms and conditions.

You don’t need to book and pay for advance reservation. It’s the doctor who will determine if you and the baby are fit to avail of this privilege, depending on the status of your health after the delivery.

However, until October 2019, the Little Luxuries program is suspended since Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach is undergoing a renovation. The program will resume until then.

For enquiries about Little Luxuries, phone the Prince of Wales Private Hospital at (02) 9650 4693 and look for the Maternity Bookings Coordinator.