Grotta Capri returns

The Grotta Capri, the well known Italian and seafood restaurant on Anzac Parade, Kensington, has finally made a come back due to its Mother’s Day special.

The restaurant, which first opened in 1955, became famous for its resemblance to an underwater cave. The façade is covered in real oyster and shellfish shells and inside the under-the-sea theme continues with fish tanks and fake seaweed and starfish. Historically, it was one of the most prominent and recognisable restaurants in Sydney.

Having been shut down last year, Pietro Aidala reopened the restaurant 7 months ago, but so far, business has been slow.

However, Pietro and his wife, Sonia are expecting a busy Mother’s Day. They say that this is because the clients who used to dine at the Grotta are now mothers and, for tradition sake, their children are taking them back to the restaurant.

Internet advertising and mail outs to past customers highlighting their special also helped to create awareness of the restaurant’s restoration.

“I think once people know that we have reopened, we will get much busier,” says the owner and head chef.

The Mother’s Day Menu is $70 for adults and $20 for children and sports a smorgasbord of seafood and Italian delights including Lobster Mornay, veal king prawns and, of course, oysters. Where else would they get the shells to cover the whole restaurant?!?

Delirious DVD finally here

Most popular movies have, by now, been converted from original VHS videos to DVDs. However, comedian Eddie Murphy’s stand-up movie, Delirious, has only just hit the shelves this month as a new release DVD at Kensington Top Video Store.

The 70-minute show, released on video in 1983, was the video rental favourite of the 1980’s. So much so that, according to Video Ezy and Top Video, customers would often not return the movie back after having rented it. Apparently, these people would rather pay the fines than hand the video back over. As a result of this continuous theft, many video stores did not continue to stock Delirious.

“People would always come in and ask if we had it in. I've never as many requests for any other movie,” says Kensington Top Video Store owner Jane Murray.

The popularity of this ‘strictly adults only’ film can be owed to Eddie Murphy’s audacity and the outrageously rude and racy content. According to the movie reviews, Murphy uses the word f#@k 230 times.

Eddie Murphy’s second film, Raw, was released on DVD in 2004 and like it’s predecessor, it was a huge success. However, this movie is generally available for renting.

Now, at Kensington Top Video, there are 5 overnight copies available. Nevertheless, says store employee Matthew Wilkins, “You’ve got to get in quick. They’re basically reserved for the next two weeks.”

Study at Hillsong

Hillsong Church is a breakaway Pentecostal sector of the Christian religion. The Church, a recent hit in Sydney, has attracted a lot of media attention due to its phenomenal annual revenue and its musical pop chart success. What a lot of people don’t know, however, is that Hillsong is also a university college campus.

Called, The Bible Leadership College, it offers the Bachelor of Theology - specialising in Pastoral Theory. Within the course a student can opt to complete a diploma, advanced diploma, certificate or, if you study for 4 years, the Bachelor. The third year is dedicated to an internship within the church.

Hillsong are known for their secrecy and it’s not hard to see why after reading all the bad press about them. The HR department were very sceptical about giving out any figures or information about the college. However, they did reveal that the combined number of full and part-time students – Baulkam Hills and Alexandria campuses – is roughly 1700. It has a staff of almost 200, including 70 pastors.

Carston Woodhouse, who is now a pastor for the Church, studied at the ministry college. He says the decision to study at Hillsong was, “more of a heart thing rather than an educational thing. People who I didn’t know (from the Church) actually gave me money for the fees I couldn’t afford. I was pretty sure that was what God wanted me to do.”

Even though fulltime students who study at Hillsong are expected to attend 15 hours a week of classes, serve in two services over the weekend and participate weekly in a chosen ministry, they are still spiritually obliged to give 10% of what they earn to the Church. This Hillsong principal is called tithing and, according to the annual report, is responsible for 45% of the Church’s annual revenue. Naomi Deluga, a second year student who has two part-time jobs to support herself, says she tithes, “to make sure that God is her main priority and not money.”

Wind-powered boat puts birds at risk

Pond-life at Centennial Park

Centennial Park is a unique part of Sydney’s city. Not five kilometres away from the CBD, the park is a favourite site for joggers, walkers, cyclists and roller-bladers… but not for boaters as Bill Major found out a fortnight ago.

Bill, (53) who is a manager of an antique and architectural elements shop in the eastern suburbs, has always loved to play with remote controlled boats. “I find it so relaxing,” he says. “It’s always been a hobby of mine.” However, having only just placed his toy sailing boat upon one of the ponds in the park, he was approached by one of the parklands rangers and asked to stop immediately.

Apparently, Bill’s boat was placing the natural wild life, who call the pond home, at risk. One of the distinctive features of Centennial Park is its diverse flora and fauna but Bill says, “If I thought I was putting the swans and birds in any danger, I wouldn’t be doing it.” That is, because his boat is powered by the wind; the remote control only steers it. “Swallows were perching on the mast!” Bill scoffs. Nevertheless, Bill was sent away with his boat.

“My father used to take me to this exact pond and his father used to take him,” says Bill. He is disappointed that the tradition has to stop because of this new rule.

Centennial Parklands Ranger, Brian Page says, “Any sort of remote control boat is not allowed on any of the ponds in the park. We provide a sanctuary for the birds and wildlife here and it’s our job to protect them.”

Happy Birthday Danks Street Depot

Tonight, Danks Street Depot, celebrates its fifth birthday. The popular café, situated amidst Waterloo’s warehouses and galleries, is holding a party for regular customers, staff and media personal.

The birthday party is coinciding with the launch of Jared Ingersoll’s, head chef and owner, second recipe book, Sharing Plates.

Cocktails and canapés, which feature in his new book, will be served at the function. This will include pear martinis and rhubarb mojitos and BBQ cuttlefish, hasslebacks with Charleston Brie and doughnuts with hot chocolate.

This year Jared is embarking upon a new philosophy. Instead of importing ingredients from overseas he will, where possible, only use local produce that is generated using environmental and sustainable friendly practices. “Why look elsewhere when Australia grows beautiful, quality produce,” Jared says. “I think it’s important to support our farmers, especially at this difficult time of drought.”

Since the opening of Danks Street Depot, Jared has extended the restaurant to seat 80 people. Tonight it will hold 200-300 non-sitting guests. Jared will give a speech detailing his philosophy and, for this reason, the changes to the regular food and wine menu.

Jared is still amazed at the success of his business because of its odd location. The restaurant backs onto the public housing apartments of Redfern, neighbours a retirement home and sits directly opposite Hillsong Church. He owes it to, “the fact that there was obviously a market for a place that serves good food in this area. If it’s good, people will come."

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