Billabong Retreat Sydney

Another sweet hit for a Monday.
This time Chef Simon has spoiled us with his recipe for caramelised pear and almond cake. This one is a winter warmer with rosemary and other winter spices.
If (when) you bake it, make sure you tell us how delicious it was...!
... https://bit.ly/2vIcZMy
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Really interesting video about having a morning routine. In Ayurveda, this is referred to as Dinacharya and is considered more of a ritual than a routine.
We asked our gorgeous team about their morning ritual and the most common answers are: 1) Set intentions for the day 2) Tongue scraping ... 3) Abhyanga (oil massage) 4) A warm drink of spices (things like turmeric, ginger, lemon, cayenne and apple cider vinegar) 5) Yoga, meditation and pranayama (breathing) 6) Eat a nourishing breakfast
What is your morning routine? Do you think of it as a habit or a ritual?
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“You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows that they might do because of it, because of your words.” Erin Morgenstern
There have been many stories shared around this fireplace. We love to provide a space where people can relax, chat, read... and of course, stay warm!
... Thank you to one of our guests Tracie for sharing this lovely photo 🙏
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We consider ourselves eco-warriors and hate food waste (or waste of any kind) so local lady Shelley comes a few times a week to collect all of our food scraps. She then feeds them to her 10 pet pigs (including six gorgeous piglets).
Did you know that pigs are extremely intelligent and social animals? 🐷

Cure Monday-itis with this sweet creation by Chef Si.
We dare you to stop after one piece!
Which cake recipes should we ask Simon for next?

Kitchen Tips from Chef Simon: Roast your whole onions over an open flame until they are soft then leave them to cool before peeling them. They will be sweet in flavour, soft in texture, and have a beautiful smoky aroma. Perfect to use sliced in salads.

It is so good to see more and more men coming to visit us here at Billabong. Wellness is for everyone!
This week we had Phil come to stay and he shared with us what he loved about Mindfulness Essentials:
"What I really loved about Billabong Retreat was the blend between spirituality and science and having the opportunity to relax and enjoy the yoga and meditations while also learning about the scientific side of how mindfulness works."

Hot tip from our Chef Simon: Keep your coriander roots, they are best to use in curry bases, pesto or added to soups.

Supported Bridge Pose. A lovely way to open up your back and chest without effort. By having the block underneath the sacrum you can let your hips relax. Here yoga teacher Basia Nowacki shows 3 variations to choose from. If you are new to the practice starting with the block on the lowest setting is recommended. @ Billabong Retreat Sydney

Sprouting is one of the greatest ways to begin bringing living, enzyme-rich foods into your diet. Be sure to keep an eye out for our sprouting guide in the near future😊

We’re about to sprout! By sprouting your legumes you remove hard to digest phytates & activate the enzymes.

Quinces are in season!! These are amazing for stewing with cinnamon and vanilla, roasting with loads of spices and gently cooking on a low heat for many hours to create the famous pink quince paste that we have all seen and grown to love.

"I often hear as a yoga teacher that students comment they can’t comfortably sit on the floor - their hips are too tight and their knees are super high when sitting cross legged, well unfortunately there’s no quick solution to this, but if you begin to introduce asanas like this in your everyday life, slowly with time your hips will begin to open up. So next time you have to sit to do something try sitting like this. And while your there why not take a couple of deep breaths :)”- Yoga Teacher Basia Nowacki | demonstrating some variations for you to explore. @ Billabong Retreat Sydney

Straight from the oven this morning! Baked eggs with green beans, fennel herbal and toasted sesame. Yum!

Native Lemon Myrtle has a potent medicinal leaf that's full of essential oils and therapeutic aromatics. It’s been used to aid in digestion, fight colds & sore throats, support healthy sleeping patterns, support the immune system and much more.

Today’s organic rainbow buffet starts with a roquette, game and toasted almonds salad in sweet balsamic, Golden cauliflower/rice pilaf, raw zucchini noodles with spicy olive caponata, Basil cashew sauce & toasted almond Parmesan.

Today’s we’re having raw zucchini noodles with a spicy caponata, basil and almond sauce and a vegan almond Parmesan “Almesan”

Simon is preparing for his wholefood medicine workshop. The abundance of natural medicine on this tray alone is amazing!

Biodynamic pears are coming in by the box load as we move into the cooler months. Our chef Si loves to stew them in vanilla, berries and spices to serve alongside our muesli bar on these brisk mornings.

Amazing place with lovely staff. Fantastic workshops and the food was delicious and healthy.

Amazing place with lovely staff. Fantastic workshops and the food was delicious and healthy.

Amazing place with lovely staff. Fantastic workshops and the food was delicious and healthy.

Amazing place with lovely staff. Fantastic workshops and the food was delicious and healthy.