Erskineville, Enmore & Newtown Tapas Trail

Spurred on by the initial success of an Australian first, tapas trailblazers, husband and wife team Gina Monaco and Glenn Smith, are re-launching the Erskineville, Enmore & Newtown Tapas Trail to finish the year with a bang! It's a concept inspired by a holiday in Spain and a wish to promote a more food-centric culture back to their beloved inner-city bars and pubs. 

Sixteen venues are on board and can be seen featured on the new map and passport. Both these navigational guides can be downloaded from their website, newtowntapastrail.com. The online menu should be enough to inspire the food adventurous to leap right on board. 

Over two consecutive nights (Friday 27 and Saturday 28 Nov) food and drink are lovingly matched and priced between $10-$15. Both nights are rightfully finished with two of Newtown's favourite party bands — Spurs For Jesus and Shaggin' Wagon — rockin' out at the Union Hotel. So grab some friends, plan your trail and get out there. Here's a small taste of what the trail has to offer...

The Hive Bar 

Kate at the Hive kitchen has created a brilliant bar snack: a trio of Edamame Bites — edamame, peas and spices served with hommus, perfectly matched with wine or beer. The Hive has thrilled the locals of Erskineville for almost seven years with its locally sourced, produce-driven food, extensive beer and wine list and delicious cocktails.

Kingston Public Bar & Kitchen

Dynn, Laura and Anna run a neighbourhood style bar with an innovative and ever-changing beer, wine and food menu that keeps regulars coming back for more. It's the sort of friendly place where you're likely to make new friends and eat and drink something surprising and new. The kitchen has created a Bocadillo — a Spanish-style sandwich on homemade bread with morcilla, caramelised onion, radicchio and chipotle mayo; or the vego version with mushroom, haloumi, radicchio and saffron mayo. Served with half a pint of Rocks Brewing Hangman pale ale or a glass of wine. 

Carlisle Castle Hotel 

Steve has been head chef at this friendly, neighbourhood pub for close to two years — long enough to impress locals with an adventurous menu, balanced by creative signature dishes and good ol' pub classics. The tasty morsels he has created is Sweet Corn Fritters and Haloumi Fritters With Garlic Aioli matched with a middy of Young Henrys.

Erskine Villa 

Three months in and Erskine Villa has been embraced by the local community as it collaborates with diners and creative-types on their "A taste of things to come" concept. Pop-up dinners, art shows and collaborative events have enabled Ken and staff to develop a menu, directed by friendship with local diners — a wonderful, personal touch. Their signature dish for the trail is the Croquettes with manchego cheese, piquillo pepper and fennel, matched by Sauvignon Blanc De Bortoli Sacred Hill Semillon.

Bloodwood

The tapas trail is thrilled to announce a collaboration between Bloodwood and Young Henrys at the brewery, matching gluten-free Chickpea Pancakes — in vegan, vegetarian or spicy chicken variations — with a middy of fresh Young Henrys beer. Chef/owners Mitch and Claire are well known for their inventive food and drink menu. Bloodwood were one of the first venues to perfect the casual, share food that the greater Newtown area has become famous for.