Bombora@Goolwa Beach, SA – 2010 Update

Goolwa Beach Carpark, Beach Rd, Goolwa Beach SA 5214

I first reviewed this place only months are moving down to the coast – and I loved it.  The location, the food, the location, the coffee, the location – and to be honest, searches on ‘Bombora@Goolwa’ direct about 50% of the traffic to this blog – so I thought it about time to go back, and have another look.  To be really, really honest – I wish I hadn’t.  The location is still fantastic, and with today’s blue sky and good off shore breeze – the place was a buzz with people and surfers (?).  And I am sure the food by Olaf is still a major attraction, but….I should never have ordered that coffee.

Latte Quality – Passable  – watery – which is a concern in a latte – as my first coffee for the traditional working week, as the song says ‘things can only get better’

Cost – $3.50 for a regular cup.

Coffee Supplier – Lavazza Coffee 

Fair Trade – No.

Venue Suitable for:

• Quiet Chat – Depends on the number of other people there – but unlikely as today’s patronage was strong – but you could always buy a coffee, and then walk the beach in quiet conversation.
• Deep and Meaningful – again, Yes – see above.
• Study and Reflection – If you can really concentrate – I managed it today, but I am sure I read the same paragraph from Smile’s Commentary at least four times.

So I wonder two things (a) were they just having a really bad coffee making day?  You know, like you would be reluctant to buy a car made on a Friday or a Monday, perhaps it could the same thing here? and (b) whether my taste in coffee has matured?  I used to think Lavazza Coffee was great, but looking back over my reviews, it has been a while since I desired a Lavazza…

Coffee with Henri Nouwen

Whilst sitting in my favourite “within walking distance to my office” café, sipping a wonderful example of a café latte, in the shade – yet admiring the delightful morning sunlight that had taken our quiet coastal town from its winter slumber, to a pre-summer bedlam, mild infusion of tourists…….in the shade because I spent a bit too long in the sun yesterday at a ‘Minsters’ Appreciation BBQ’ and with my skin colour and lack of hair…but I digress.

Whilst sitting in my favourite….blah, blah, blah…I was spending some quiet time reflecting on the issue of how the traditional Christian Church relates too (both does and is perceived too) and exists within this post-post [insert as posts as you like here] modern [if you go with that idea], post-Christendom [hard to debate that one] culture, and reading from one of my favourite Christian books of all time – it sits right up there with ‘Left Behind’ [joke] – ‘The Wounded Healer’ by Henri J.M. Nouwen.

I also had going through my mind a conversation that was shared at our small group the other night about the current thinking in Kids Ministry, which separates the stories of the bible (from both Hebrew Bible and Christian New Testament) from the moral teachings that exists within them – and the importance of knowing the context of biblical stories, and their places within the meta-narrative of God’s story and revelation to creation…that my head exploded [no – it didn’t, but the potential was certainly there]…but I came across the following two quotes in my reading – and that are really speaking to me at present.

“When we wonder why the language of traditional Christianity had lost its liberating power for those who live in the modern age, we have to realise that most Christian preaching is still based on the presupposition that we see ourselves as meaningfully integrated with a history in which God came to us in the past, is living under us in the present, and will come to liberate us in the future.  But when our historical consciousness is broken, the whole Christian message seems like a lecture about the great pioneers to someone on an acid trip.”  p13

“Jesus was a revolutionary who did not become an extremist, since he did not offer an ideology, but himself.  He was also a mystic, who did not use his intimate relationship with God to avoid the social evils of his time, but shocked his milieu to the point of being executed as a rebel.  In this sense he also remains for modern humanity the way to liberation and freedom.” p25

Food for thought, to compliment a good latte

 

Flying Fish Café – Port Elliot, SA

No. 1 The Foreshore, Horseshoe Bay, Port Elliot, SA, 5212

The Flying Fish Café has got to have one of the best locations of any café anywhere in the world – within metres of the beautiful Horseshoe Bay, Port Elliot -on South Australia’s South Coast.  Locally, the only place that comes close would have to be Bombora@Goolwa Beach – for for sheer ambiance, and good sea air – you just can’t go past ‘The Flying Fish Café.’  This place again came at a recommendation of a friend and colleague, who always visits this place for a quiet coffee and some reflection, whenever he is the neighbourhood – but I will have to admit, that my first experience was not wonderful.  The location is beautiful, but the sound of the waves gently caressing the shore, was almost entirely drowned out by the stereophonic rubbish of a local FM station allegedly playing ‘Today’s Hits…..’ and while the website states that the place is open for coffee until 5pm, when I was there it was just before 4pm and they were turning out the lights, stacking the chairs and trying to pray me out – while not actually asking me to leave…but those things aside – to the all important coffee review.

Latte Quality – Good – aroma, flavour, colour – were all there – there was just an abnormally large amount of foam in the small cup.

Cost – $3.00 – which is good, but the latte glass is smaller that others available in the area.

Coffee Supplier – Jasper

Fair Trade –  No – well at least not to my knowledge.  I actually had to ask about who the coffee suppliers were, as there was no indication anywhere in the store.  Jasper’s are pro-Fairtrade, so the coffee here could be…

Venue Suitable for:

• Meeting – with the music being the dominant sound, a low-key meeting could be achieved.
• Quiet Chat, Study/Reflection – probably in the cooler months when things are less busy – and probably best served if you can get a table outside, away from the wind.

The Flying Fish Café is also a well known restaurant – however this was closed during the reviewers visit.