Lynwood Cafe, Collector

EDIT: Lynwood Cafe closed in spring of 2009. Their preserves are still available through the Lynwood Preserves website.

Oh my god, I love this place.

We were on our way home from the Balloon Fiesta, and in one of those funny coincedences, I'd just been checking the handbag to see if I'd missed any calls when my mobile rang a nanosecond later.

"Where are you guys?" asked MangoMan.

I looked about at the scrubby bush. "Um, outside Canberra somewhere. We're heading back to Sydney."

"Well Pig Flyin' is having lunch at some place in Collector. He reckons the food is good."

About three minutes later we approached a road sign with an arrow pointing towards Collector. We couldn't believe our luck, and turned off the Hume Highway with a grin.



Collector is a tiny town 45 minutes from Canberra. From Sydney it's about two-and-a-half hours, or 228 kilometres. It feels like a two-shop town and I'm curious about the homestead-like Lynwood Cafe with its dusty dirt car park. To the left of the entrance is a huge pile of firewood, neatly lopped and stacked, and as we enter I immediately note the stacked jams and preserves on display on a shelf, as well as the muffins and brownies under rustic netting covers on the counter.


Jams, relishes and preserves


Blueberry muffins

There's plenty of old-fashioned country charm here. There are green and white gingham tablecloths covered with squares of butchers paper, a working fireplace in the corner, white-washed walls, sensible cutlery, wooden chairs and plenty of light and air. Out the back is a private dining room with more jams in painted glass-fronted cupboards, and a collection of blue-trimmed enamel kitchenware hangs from a suspended wooden ladder overhead.



Outside in the grassy garden are more tables and chairs filled with brunching locals. I even notice a pile of complimentary picnic blankets stacked neatly on a low stone ledge.

But we're here for a lunch, and not long after we arrive, Pig Flyin' and his wife join us at our table. We're impressed by the delightful feel of the place, the traditional dishes and the galoshings of charm and hospitality that enhance our meal.


Taste plate antipasti for two $21.50
terrine, salami, prosciutto, smoked salmon, olives, rocket and chutneys
served with toasted triangles


Corned beef with Dutch carrots, peas and mustard sauce $25.50


Ploughman’s platter $18.00
Carved ham off the bone, pickled onions, cheese, celery,
chutney and sourdough bread


Rocket, pear, pinenut and parmesan salad $14.50


Roast lamb with vegetables $25.50

We enjoyed all our mains. The roast lamb was fresh out the oven and deliciously soft and moist. The corned beef was the only disappointment--a little overcooked and dry--but I really enjoyed my ploughman's lunch with hearty slices of leg ham carved off the bone, and especially the Top Paddock brie and a crumbly bitey vintage cheddar from Yea.


Poached pear with pannacotta $12.50

Desserts are another plane of happiness.

The five of us share three desserts and there's a display of restraint not to push everyone else's forks out of the way. The poached pear is a beautiful cinnamon in colour, a generous portion of vanilla bean-specked pannacotta huddles to one side.


Creme brulee with Grand Marnier oranges $12.50

The creme brulee is smooth and satiny, the rink of toffee gleefully smashed to get to the custard within.


Macadamia nut and chocolate ganache tart $12.50
with butterscotch sauce and King Island double cream

The knee-buckling winner for me is the macadamia nut and chocolate ganache tart. A crisp pastry shell is lined generously with thick sweet caramel studded decadently with macadamia halves. The top layer is a rich dark chocolate ganache, and we combine them all with dabs of King Island double cream and lashings of golden butterscotch sauce.

G-man and J-girl are so besotted they order two more serves to take away. I'm wishing now I did too.


Lynwood Cafe shop

We seriously roll ourselves back into the car for the trip back to Sydney. There's a little detour to Goulburn for the Big Merino, of course. The double-neck look is coming in, I hope!


The Big Merino in Goulburn




Back onto the Hume Highway to Sydney


Lynwood Cafe
1 Murray Street, Collector, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 4848 0200

EDIT: Lynwood Cafe closed in spring of 2009. Their preserves are still available through the Lynwood Preserves website.


Related GrabYourFork posts:
Canberra Road Trip Part 1: Berrima
Canberra Road Trip Part 2: Canberra
Canberra Road Trip Part 3: Balloon Fiesta Nighttime Spectacular
Canberra Road Trip Part 4: Dinner at Les Rendezvous, Manuka
Canberra Road Trip Part 5: Balloon Fiesta at dawn, Old Parliament House
Canberra Road Trip Part 6: Breakfast at The Pancake Parlour, Civic
Canberra Road Trip Part 7: Lunch at Lynwood Cafe, Collector