Seaside snacks, Terrigal

There must be some kind of psychosomatic link between feeling the refreshing tingle of salt spray on the skin, and an irrepressible urge to get salt under the skin. Fish and chips aside (and yes, even those artery-clogging deep-fried Mars bars), nothing screams Aussie seaside satiation like the beloved potato scallop and the pineapple fritter.


The potato scallop is but the transportable clutchable heartwarming carbohydrate. Take a 5mm disc of potato, dust gracefully with flour, coat with a light batter and deep fry until golden. Sprinkle generously with salt and then crunch your way through its crisp overcoat to reveal its soft but firm starchy interior.

You'd be needing something sweet after that mate, to give your stomach a bit of closure, you know. How's about a pineapple fritter. Tinned pineapple ring deep-fried in breadcrumbs, icing sugar optional. Sweet.



I couldn't resist either of these sudden cravings on a recent weekender to Terrigal, a popular beachside town about 90km north of Sydney. From a city increasingly plagued by bland and predictable franchises, it felt horrifically refreshing to see traditional fish-and-chip shops and local takeaways in Terrigal. Even here though, a number of franchises are already rearing their ugly heads.

The scallop and fritter both brought back reminiscent flashbacks of childhood; when scallops only cost 15 cents, and you'd wolf them down in-between frenetic bouts of Double Dragon and Wonder Boy.

These days though, they're best consumed sitting on soft sand, salt spray prickling your skin, wind whipping your hair and the screech of seagulls and crashing waves filling your ears.


Terrigal Beach (click on pics to enlarge)