There’s plenty more punch to one of Mullumbimby’s most popular venues. After a mighty renovation Punch & Daisy is ready to welcome people more often and in more ways than ever before.
Ever since Dania Karmile and Georg Martin took over Punch & Daisy in Stuart Street, four years ago, they’ve been keen to expand.
“Previously we could seat just 20 people and have been preparing all our food in a very restricted space,” explains Dania. “Demand from our customers has grown over time, and now, finally, we are able to meet it!”
The space has been redecorated as well as expanded. A bold new colour palette includes a painted burnt orange and sky-blue menu on the back wall and drop lighting with groovy globes throughout. And there is seating for up to 55 guests after expanding into the premises next door, with lots of clever funky booths and private alcoves. The revamped rear outdoor seating area now has a tropical garden, and huge shade umbrellas next to cool cactus in large terracotta pots.
There’s another bonus of the increased space. Not only is there more room, there’ll be more hours in the day. Punch & Daisy are changing from being a daytime café to a fully licensed restaurant and is now opening in the evening.
“Our vision is to offer an amazing experience during the day and then open in the evenings, with tap beers and cocktails and an ever-changing food line up,” Dania says. And with a brand-new commercial kitchen the venue will more than step up to the plate. Co-owner, Georg, learned his chef craft in Berlin and Dania will bring her heritage from Lebanon and Syria into the new menu.
Dinners feature share plates, and main and entrées, with plenty of options for everyone to find something they will love at Punch & Daisy.
The evening dinner options are exciting in another way. “There is a limited number of places open in the evenings in Mullumbimby, and we saw a need to offer great food through some exciting collaborations” explains Dania.
Welcome to Pop Up Mondays, where a guest chef will produce a custom menu from the kitchen on alternating Monday nights. And with the new surfaced courtyard, Punch has been busy organising events with local food and drink businesses.
There is now beer on tap, featuring Grifter’s Lager and Pale Ale. And cocktails like the incredible Spaeghett with pale ale, lemon, aperol, already the towns favourite!
Sourcing great food locally has always been part of Punch & Daisy’s food philosophy.
“We are part of our local economy, and especially in recent times, many suppliers have been doing it tough. We are committed to supplying the best local produce available to locals and visitors alike,” says Dania.
Expect to see Dan from local organic meat supplier Farm Gate Providore helping unpack the latest delivery. And boxes of free range organic eggs from Oliver’s Hens from The Farm stacked in the kitchen.
Dania says the local economy extends to a Neighbourhood Exchange initiative for those who live in and around Mullumbimby. “The locals bring in parsley, mint, rocket - whatever is in seasonal excess - and we exchange their wonderful homegrown goodies for a voucher,” she says. Connecting with patrons in ways like this makes Punch & Daisy one of the central places in Mullumbimby to meet and connect with friends. It’s the very definition of community.
Punch is justifiably famous for its breakfast menu, especially their range of savoury filled croissants, a favourite being the ocean trout and egg with a caper remoulade and fried onions. Or, for some of those amazing organic free range Oliver’s eggs, try them poached on Bread Social sourdough with salsa verde, watercress salad, dill with chilli and parmesan.
The Brunch menu still features the hugely popular wild caught swimmer crab and fish cakes. A new addition is the Steak Sanga. “We serve a medium rare organic beef flank on a baguette with a green tomato relish, granny smith apple slices and grilled onion,” says Dania with a grin. “This is the best goddam steak sanga you are ever going to find!”
There are delightful touches in the renovation, such as the delicately stitched leather seats on the bar stools at the open front service window. The individual picked out bricks on the painted rear courtyard wall, painted white, are arranged in a wonderfully random pattern. It’s a designer’s delight.
Artworks change bi-monthly with a rotating Artist in Residence program allowing local visual artists to showcase their work.
Families are welcome with plenty of highchairs and toys available for kids’ play. Disability parking is now available out back, adjacent to the courtyard, with access from the rear lane.
And, of course, Byron Moonshine Coffee is available every day, prepared on the latest release La Marzocco GB5 S paired with Peak Mahlkonig E80 and PUQ press. With skilled baristas, you are sure of a brilliant Moonshine brew. “Byron Moonshine Coffee has been our coffee partner from the outset,” says Dania. “Their coffee comes from the heart and their family-run business shares our values of passion, great service and community.”
Punch and Daisy restaurant hours:
Wednesday - Sunday 7am - 3pm
Thursday - Saturday 5pm - 9pm
Visit punchanddaisy.com for evening dinner bookings or phone 02 6684 6564
Enquires at hello@punchanddaisy.com
Follow @punch_and_daisy
