North of the bridge isn’t just home to a slew of beautiful beaches, but it seems that Sydney’s North Shore is growing its own foodie contingent that may soon rival the offerings in the city central. Joining the district’s restaurant scene is Apera, an ode to Australian flora and fauna that has just opened in Castlecrag’s Quadrangle Shopping Village.

Apera comes courtesy of hospitality group Table Manors, and comes equipped with experienced chefs Jenny Shaw (of Hotel Palisade and The Kitchen Nook) and Ryan Blagrove (of Marco Pierre White’s The Queensbury). The duo have placed Australian produce at the forefront of their menu – particularly ingredients that have been sourced locally and ethically.

As a result the duo has designed an ever-changing shared dining menu that features a selection of small plates to start, with a collection of rotisserie and wood-fired dishes for mains. There’s Sydney rock oysters with finger lime and Tasmanian pepper, New South Wales clams with samphire and nduja oil, cauliflower with Birch’s Bay manchego, sage and Riverina hazelnuts, and Bannockburn-salted chicken.

“We are passionate about sustainability and will be using lots of under-utilised species of fish and cuts of meat”, explains Shaw. “We have always cared about the provenance of our food and feel that it should be prepared honestly and simply. Apera is all about food cooked perfectly with bags of love and flavour, designed to be shared and enjoyed by mates.”

The Australiana theme also abounds in the drinks list. Bar manager Jordan Blackman has collected a number of local alcoholic concoctions for his bar, from sheep’s whey vodka by Tassie’s Hartshorn Distillery to amaro from Applewood Distillery.

“We’re really excited to open a restaurant in a neighbourhood which has a great passion and enthusiasm for food and drink,” says Table Manor’s Dane Gorrel of the group’s latest creation. “Castlecrag was created by two trailblazing architects, Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin, who had a deep respect for native flora and fauna and an ideal of community living. That’s exactly what we’ve wanted to embrace and create at Apera – a space where people can relax and be together, and appreciate the beautiful produce that our amazing country offers.”  

Apera
Quadrangle Shopping Village, 100 Edinburg Road, Castlecrag
apera.com.au