The bookshops and cafes of the Central Coast Peninsula have a strong sense of community about them. On the footpath outside the Ettalong Beach Hut is a bowl of water for passing dogs. This is not uncommon on the coast, where there are many beach and bayside walks to take – with or without the hound.
The Ettalong Beach Hut is not a fancy eating place. The food is not haute cuisine and the plating would not pass muster on Masterchef, but the food is simple, well cooked, and cheap. My eggs benedict with salmon was only $11. It was a good balance of crisp spinach, fresh eggs, creamy salmon and sauce, without the unwanted wateriness that often accompanies eggs benedict. Also, I was relieved to see good old thin buttered toast on my plate instead of a carb-heavy slab of bread.
My companion Kemlo ordered a cup of tea, and was delighted to receive a pot of leaf tea. Much better than hot water and a lonely teabag.
Whilst we sat outside, a group of women were inside working on their beading project. The cafe seems to be a place where locals and visitors alike feel welcomed. Next door is Cooking the Books, a tardis-like second-hand bookshop which is definitely bigger on the inside. It has plenty of bestsellers, and a good children’s section. They also have a wide range of the old VHS tapes, and a ton of romances and westerns.
Next stop – around the corner to Umina Beach and Rubys Cafe and Bookshop. The coffee was very good, and the books were interesting. There were some antiquarian books, lots of vinyl records, and other collectables.
Rubys Cafe had a tempting array of baked goods – tarts of every flavour, chocolate in many forms, frittatas and filled turkish rolls.
Across the street was the fabulous Book Bazaar, an old-fashioned bookshop selling brand new books. They had geeky stuff – Walking Dead comics, a Game of Thrones graphic novel, an original series Star Trek sticker book, a huge range of books new and old, and a brilliant selection of picture books. It was such a pleasure being able to touch and leaf through the books – you don’t have that tactile experience when shopping on Amazon.
A constant stream of people came into the shop to enquire about particular titles they wanted, and there was a vibe of community and good service which seems to be the secret of the continued existence of this independent carbon-based bookshop.
We enjoyed our morning of browsing, eating, drinking and book buying; savouring the feeling that you get when books, coffee and good food rub up against each other.
Edge of the Purple Plain 