We had our esky and ice bricks in the car and were planning to take as many snags back to Sydney as we could manage (and afford). I was so excited about our impending purchase that I was out of the car before The Boy had even parked properly. Needless to say that I was beyond devastated when the butcher tells me that they don't have any Cheese and Vegemite snags this weekend.
The Boy could hear me wailing from outside the shop and he enters just as I begin my bargaining phase with the butchers.
"I've driven all the way from Sydney".
"It's my birthday".
"I love them and must have them".
"Pleeeaaaaassseeeeeeeeeeee".
"If you have some in the freezer I don't mind taking frozen sausages".
"If you make then today I'll come back tomorrow to collect them...honest I will".
Surprisingly none of my pleading results in any Cheese and Vegemite Sausages being produced. O.M.G.
We leave the butcher's shell shocked, with our feet dragging behind us and a sad face that not even Droopy Dog could compete with. There's only one thing that might ease the pain a little bit...food.
We head across the road to the Butcher Shop Cafe in seek of solace and it's solace that we find. The cafe, although not housing any Cheese and Vegemite Sausages, has a blackboard menu that takes up an entire wall.
The cafe is actually not in an old butcher's shop, but takes its name from its sister restaurant located in Mudgee which is. The cafe is bright, spacious and has a lovely rustic vibe to it - it feels a little bit like an old style milk bar. There are some eclectic pieces of furniture and an old butchers sign that hangs above the coffee machine that help accentuate that "country feel".
We take a seat at the big wooden communal table and after perusing the menu for all but a second we both decide that we need big meaty burgers to fill the hole that Gulgong Butchers has left in our sausage-less tummies.
I go for the Steak Sandwich with Caramelised Onions ($10.00) and it is nearly as big as the plate with big, thick slices of white bread. The onions are beautifully sweet, and the steak is tender and cooked to perfection. The salad greens just emphasise the fact that a steak sanger this tasty must be good for me.
The Boy orders the Butcher Burger ($10.00) that comes with cheese and bacon. It is just as huge as my sandwich and looks delicious. We both fall silent as we munch through our lunch, our thoughts temporarily diverted from our Sausage Sadness.
We also order some drinks. The Boy goes for a Caramel Milkshake ($3.50) and as I drank half of it I can tell you it was pretty amazing. I love that it came served in the metal glass...just like milkshakes of yesteryear. I ordered a Ginger Beer ($3.50) which was lovely and refreshing.
After lunch we head back over to the butcher's just to double check that no Cheese and Vegemite Sausages have materialised in our absence. Nope. They do give me their phone number though so I can call ahead next time and order some to avoid disappointment. Now why didn't I think of that earlier?
The Butcher Shop Cafe is at 113 Mayne St, Gulgong. They are open daily for breakfast and lunch.
