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\r\nFrosty festivals<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n From comedy to country music, there is a festival for just about everything on the Coast during the cooler months.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The country will come to the Coast on July 6 when Cowra\u2019s best winemakers and food producers set up by the beach as part of the first \u2018Cowra on the Coast\u2019 at Crowne Plaza Terrigal<\/a><\/strong>. The event includes wine tasting, a Cowra lamb spit roast and the chance to meet organic winemakers and attend masterclasses, as well as live music and market stalls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n On August 4, the Food and Wine Festival\u00a0turns Mt Penang Gardens into a foodie\u2019s paradise with more than 80 food and wine stalls, each offering something scrumptious sourced from the local region.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase\u00a0at the Art House Wyong on August 16 will be a chance to laugh off the winter blues. Taking the cr\u00e8me de la cr\u00e8me of the 2019 Festival on the road, it\u2019s guaranteed to be a roaring night of belly laughs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The hotly anticipated annual Winter Blues and Jazz Festival rolls into the Entrance over the July 13 -14 weekend. The free event will see the Waterfront Plaza and Memorial Park swing into action with some soulful tunes from a dozen talented musos including headliners Emma Pask and Russell Morris.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The Coast\u2019s annual Country Music Festival is a boot-scooting and toe-tapping bonanza by the beautiful Entrance lagoon. It\u2019s on August 9 at the Waterfront Plaza and Memorial Park.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Truffle time<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n One of the most decadent winter flavours is truffle and the flavourful fungi is going to be celebrated in all its pungent glory at the Central Coast Truffle Festival.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Held from June 12 to July 28 at three local restaurants \u2013 Ocean Restaurant at Blue Bay, The Entrance Lake House and Cecilia\u2019s at Toowoon Bay \u2013 diners are invited to indulge their love of truffle with each venue plating up three dishes inspired by Tasmanian truffles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A three-course set menu is available for the truffle obsessed or there will be entrees, mains and desserts available to be purchased individually.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The restaurants are essentially competing for the honour of the Coast\u2019s \u2018Best Truffle Dish\u2019 so diners are encouraged to vote.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For a fungi fix post-festival, Rhonda\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> at Terrigal serves up a hearty bowl of pork belly gnocchi in a consomm\u00e9 of truffle oil; at South End Social <\/a><\/strong>at Gosford, their fries are served with a truffle aioli; and at Sounds on West<\/a><\/strong> at Umina Beach, the mac and cheese is infused with a hint of truffle oil.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Winter walks <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Winter is a wonderful time to get out into nature and make tracks along some of the Coast\u2019s stunning coastal walks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The Bouddi Coastal Walk<\/a><\/strong> is one of the Coast\u2019s best outdoor adventures. It\u2019s a scenic eight-kilometre journey from Putty Beach to Macmasters Beach that weaves and winds through Bouddi National Park with picturesque sea views all along the way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n With\u00a0panoramic water\u00a0views at its peak and an easy breezy 3.8km hike through shady gum canopies and corridors of pretty wildflowers, the Patonga to Pearl Beach<\/a><\/strong> stretch of the Great North Walk (or Pearl Beach to Patonga depending where you start) is a great way to be reminded of\u00a0all that is magnificent about the Coast.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The Coast Walking Track <\/strong><\/a>is a pleasant three\u00a0kilometre clifftop jaunt through Wyrrabalong National Park linking Forresters Beach with Crackneck lookout at Bateau Bay beach. It offers captivating coastal views and during winter, the chance to spot a whale migrating past.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Whale watching<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n According to the local Darkinjung people, the\u00a0Central Coast is \u2018whale dreaming country\u2019 and during June and July, when thousands of Humpback and Southern Right whales\u00a0are migrating along the coastal highway, there is a good chance of seeing them from just about anywhere along the Coast.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The Skillion at Terrigal, Norah Head, Copacabana\u2019s Captain Cook Lookout, and Crackneck Lookout<\/strong><\/a> are a few great vantage points on land.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n To get up close and personal with the gentle giants of the sea, Terrigal Ocean Tours run whale watching tours off the Coast. The hour-long boat tours offer a great chance to see whales breaching and tail slapping from the comfort of a purpose built Ecotour RIB. For added insight, a marine biologist is always along for the ride.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In an ode to the whales who migrate past the Coast, there is an annual Whale Dreamer\u2019s Festival at Norah Head Lighthouse<\/a><\/strong>. It\u2019s on July 7 this year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Comfort cuisine<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The best part about winter is indulging in good food and wine without having to worry about squeezing into a cozzie anytime soon.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For the ultimate winter binge, it\u2019s hard to beat a big bowl of hearty pasta and there are oodles of delicious handmade noodles available across the Coast. Pop into Pinocchio\u2019s at Gosford and Ettalong\u2019s Gusto for an authentic plate of pasta that will transport you to Italy with the first bite.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Mid-week winter specials offer the perfect excuse to get off the couch and into one of the Coast’s fine establishments.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Woy Woy pasta bar Young Barons<\/a><\/strong> become gnocchi gurus every Wednesday night; Thursday night is pasta night at Avoca\u2019s Bombini; <\/a><\/strong> Monday is pizza night at Rhonda’s with two for the price of three; and Remy and Co Pasta Bar at Erina have risotto and wine nights on Wednesdays plus all-you-can-eat pizza<\/a><\/strong> on Thursdays.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n At The Lucky Bee<\/a><\/strong>, the quickest way to shake off the winter chills is with one of chef Matty Bennett\u2019s piping hot house-made curries, which also happened to be named one of \u201cThe 21 Tastiest Dishes of 2016\u201d by The New York Post (back when the Bee was spicing up NYC). Wednesday is curry night at the Hardys Bay eatery.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Sizzling soups such as Vietnamese duck pho with a spike of chilli, spiced Carrot with minted yoghurt plus parsnip and apple with chilli oil, all feature on the winter menu at The Springs <\/a><\/strong>at Peats Ridge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For a meaty man-size winter feast, Sounds on West\u2019s <\/a><\/strong>burgers and brisket always hit the spot while Long Jetty\u2019s Common Ground canteen is home to mouth-watering smoked and slow-roasted meat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Winter at Saddles is an enjoyable escapade when tucking into a beef, red wine and mushroom pie or pork and fennel sausage roll by the fire or overlooking the billabong.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Cosy Cuppa<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The fastest way to warmth in winter is savouring a decadent drink in front of a fire.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n At The Springs<\/a><\/strong>, winter warmers come in the form of indulgent Irish coffees. This winter, it\u2019s the Minted Coffee Nudged – coffee with Kahlua, a splash of peppermint schnapps and a dollop of cream. It\u2019s best enjoyed nestled into a\u00a0cowhide couch overlooking the rolling green hills or getting cosy in a chesterfield by the fire.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Like a hug from your best friend, turmeric lattes<\/a><\/strong> are another way to warm up with a delicious brew that\u2019s good for you. At Like Minds<\/a><\/strong>, golden lattes are made from turmeric grown fresh in the Avoca cafe\u2019s vegetable garden. While at Jasmine Greens\u2019 <\/a><\/strong>park kiosk, turmeric lattes are served with lashings of cinnamon and coconut milk.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The hot drinks at Long Jetty oasis Modern Organic<\/a><\/strong> are next level. Try a Lunar Latte for a pretty hit of purple carrot and Chinese adaptogens mixed with coconut milk or a Charcoal Latte packed with activated charcoal for a delicious detox drink.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centralcoastlifeandstyle.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Truffle-1024x915.png\")
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