Years of passion and perfecting their craft and an operation that started during the pandemic are the bricks that have built the cozy walls of Thirroul’s Pickled Poet. Stephanie begins, “the idea for the Pickled Poet came from a love of food.”
An idea formed between her and her partner Jordan after their many years of hospitality experience, Jordan as a chef and Stephanie in the front of house. Their expertise was merged with a purpose, “to bring people together.” Stephanie says, “We opened during the second [Covid] lockdown and so during that time we focused on platters and grazing boards to deliver” – a service that that continues to this day in the wine bar.
Once doors opened for dining in their cuisine was inspired by a European approach. “We like to source the best local, seasonal ingredients. Sustainability is super important for us, we keep our wastage to a minimum and continuously look for ways to improve,” explains Stephanie.
One of the sustainable superstars on the menu is their chilli margarita, with house-made chilli syrup and chilli salt to rim the glass, “so that we don’t have any wastage”. But if spice is not your speed, there’s always an O.G. margarita or perhaps a Pickled Poet Pink Lady?
To get an idea of some of the other tastes you’ll get to experience at the Pickled Poet, Stephanie tells me one of her favourite restaurant staples on the menu is their slow-cooked pancetta amatriciana sauce for their pastas. “Our dips, we’ve got a little bit of everything, romesco, labneh, hummus”, an evocation of the Pickled Poet’s European influence.
In their selection of wines you will find an appreciation for Australian vineyards, like Spring Vale (Tasmania), Clare Valley (South Australia) and Dawning Day (New South Wales) to name a few. If you’re looking for some sweet sips, Stephanie recommends the “blueberry or cucumber gimlet, super refreshing for hotter days.”
With summer finally here, Stephanie says they plan to do ‘Spritz Sundays’ specials, “we will be making lots of different types of spritz like limoncello. We are sourcing seasonal fruit to make into syrups.” And to just to sweeten the deal, you won’t want to miss ‘oyster Fridays’, with natural oysters for $2!
But beyond food, the Pickled Poet are curators in art and culture.
“Every Saturday we have live music from local musicians”, says Stephanie. A perfect atmosphere for a weekend dinner date in the beloved northern suburb. Stephanie says that over the past two years in Thirroul have been, “incredible and rewarding. It’s a very close community.”
The Pickled Poet is special place in the late afternoon, going into the night. “It is really nice to sit outside, it really feels like you’re in Europe.” More than just a wine bar, the Pickled Poet is an experience for the senses.
Perhaps it can be said there is a poetry to how partners in life are paired in the creation of one Thirroul’s best local spots. A pairing of wine and a pairing of love-laboured food. A pairing of summer, and of course, you at your new favourite wine bar – the Pickled Poet.
Visit the Pickled Poet
368-370 Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Thirroul
Wednesday – Saturday 12pm – 10pm
Sundays 12pm – 7pm
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