Nu Nu - Palm Cove
I always knew I was going to Nu Nu. Even before I knew I was going to Palm Cove I was going to Nu Nu. So as soon as I was checked into the resort, I checked out Nu Nu. My partner was convinced I was way over excited. But I’d read the reviews and checked out the website and I knew my eagerness wasn’t unwarranted.
It had been around 9 years since I’d lived in the resort town and I was keen to take a stroll along memory lane, aka Williams Esplanade. Some things had changed while some remained the same. Architect Leigh Ratcliffe has ensured that Palm Cove remain as charming as it was to him when he arrived in the early 80’s, as it is today, to the thousands of tourists constantly seduced by the nature of Palm Cove’s village atmosphere. We have him to thank for the meandering cobblestone esplanade and the 4 storey height restriction on buildings, guaranteeing that palms and melaleuca’s take prominence over man made structures.
There were a number of eateries I wanted to check out during our four night stop over, so some kind of a plan needed to be implemented. My partner suggested leaving Nu Nu till the last night, a grand finale. I suggested she was crazy, and informed her we’d be eating there tonight as well. “I’m off to make the booking, and by the way its 3 o’clock, you can stay and unpack if you want, but I’m going for mojito’s”.
Nick Holloway had his kitchen brigade absolutely humming as I cruised along the frontage of The Beach Club. It was about 3.30pm, a couple of tables were finishing up from lunch and the tempo coming from the kitchen was incredible. Nick is larger than life in his arena, he zips around a prep bench; cargo shorts under his chefs’ apron and sporting the latest in nonslip boat shoes, very befitting of the Palm Cove ambience. His big eyes gleam as he leads his brigade with an infectious passion, and everyone’s all about getting on with prep for the night ahead. Fresh food is being freshly prepared by passionate professionals. You just know you’re in for a great ride.
So I was having one of those moments as I stared into the Holloway kitchen, like when you’re in a deep sleep and someone’s trying to wake you up. You hear a distant voice and you don’t know why it’s there, it gets louder and clearer then suddenly snaps you back into a state of consciousness. “Can I help you sir”, a Nu Nu waiter is standing next to me, wondering if I’m some kind of stalker who’s had one too many Mai Tai’s. As I make my enquiry for a dinner reservation he senses a fellow hospitality professional in his midst. I accept his guidance on an appropriate time and he slots in my booking. I’m not surprised when we return for dinner that we’re seated in his section.
It’s at times like these I’m a Campari with a splash of soda man. My partner is always distracted by the cocktail list, so I guide her toward champagne in the hope that the drinks might arrive faster. She is however her own woman and stares at me maliciously whilst ordering a Nu Nu cocktail. Pre dinner drinks arrive timely enough and I gulp down a mouthful of Campari as I try to restore some calmness to my giddy anticipation of the night ahead.
Nu Nu front of house mastermind Jason Rowbottom is a seasoned professional. His career in Melbourne spaning some 20 odd years has seen him tame many a diner and restaurant critic alike. Jason knows how to set up and manage service after service. He has the dining space looking fantastic and his team well drilled. They are focused on their customers as well as keeping their sections in good order. Any food arriving at the table is explained beautifully and there’s plenty of knowledge circulating the room when it comes to the wine and cocktails. The wine list is a triumph; it’s not a massive bible of wines of the world but a poignant list of domestics and internationals expressively suited to the flavours of Nu Nu and the tropical climate of Palm Cove.
As you sit in Nu Nu you know for sure there’s absolutely only one place in the world you can be - Williams Esplanade, Palm Cove with melaleuca’s, palms and the Coral Sea. If you’re in town when there’s a full moon it becomes all the more spectacular, a rising moon has the sea a glimmer and the palms silhouetted, so that before you even start to read the menu your breath has been taken away.
On our visit the menu contained a small supplement featuring black truffles, of which I am constantly a sucker for. This causes a temporary problem, for as you read through the menu, you salivate at the suggestion of every dish. I guess that’s why Nu Nu offers an eight course tasting menu. Shortly after dispatching the waiter to the kitchen with our order a fluffy pillow of bread arrives, thinly sliced wheels of lemon are baked onto it and it’s finished with a drizzle of olive oil, yummy, and so it begins. Emptied pre dinner glassware is swept away and wine glasses arrive. Some brilliant guidance is offered on wines and we feel totally at ease with the professionalism of the Nu Nu team.
As plates come and go a love affair with the Holloway cuisine begins. Freshness and flavour combinations of the tropics are outstanding, technique is impeccable and presentation is sensual. Wines match superbly and for me this is where it’s at. I love consuming food and wine, flavours working harmoniously as they tango around your taste buds, and I never want it to end, I could go on eating and drinking all night long. While some wines interweave perfectly into a dish, others ignite different flavours on your palate as hidden spices wait for the wine to arrive before announcing themselves. It’s a wonderful performance and everything is working melodiously to the surrounds of the tropical north.
Nu Nu delivers with massive impact; you’re seated in a stylish dining space that has encapsulated a lovely old melaleuca. The Coral Sea lapping at the sandy beach only meters away and a warm tropical breeze regulates the temperature beautifully. As I slide the bill across the table to our waiter he can see we are both completely satisfied. I tell him we’re here for three more nights and on the last we’ll be back for an encore. “Same table around eight?” he suggests, I give a single nod and it’s done. We stumble across Williams Esplanade and kick off our shoes and as we stroll arm in arm along a moonlit beach I’m already wondering what pleasures I’ll be encountering in three nights time.
Nu Nu is open 7 days, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, check out the Nu Nu website for details.
WaitersFriend loves Nu Nu and would dine there anytime they visit Palm Cove.
