Lovely Lismore. It never fails to impress me. Nestled around the banks of Wilson's River and surrounded by the incredibly lush, northern New South Wales hinterland, this regional city has a whole lot of heart.
Lismore boasts a beautiful, tree-lined streetscape with heritage buildings intact, cared for and respectfully repurposed - and a CBD that's humming with energy. A university can make a town. And Lismore, home to Southern Cross University, and a centre for the creative and performing arts, is a-buzz with music shops, bookshops, craft shops, galleries, cafes ... Not to mention enough vintage outlets to clothe the entire student population in funky, sartorial splendour.
Yes, Lismore offers a photo opportunity on almost every corner. But from my last visit I bring you neither classic architecture, nor hip urban culture. I bring you something rather more prosaic: the iconic, and deservedly famous, Lismore Pie Cart:
Take a look at that bad boy. There he sits, smack bang in the middle of town, with his glossy, bottle green duco, big muscly mudguards and toothsome grill. And every day the locals flock in like hungry gulls, to have their rumbling bellies soothed by his trailer load of freshly-baked, sweet and savoury pies. Some swoop past for a quick takeaway. Others dine al fresco under the dappled shade of Lismore's leafy canopy of street trees.
What a scrummy selection! You know you're on to a winner when you see a mushy peas and gravy option on the menu. And while I'm not about to vouch for the absence of cholesterol in the pastry, I'm more than happy to vouch for the freshness and flavour. These top quality pies - together with the retro ambience, and super-efficient-yet-friendly service - turn a fast food fix into one first class dining experience.
I had to wait until well after the lunch rush hour to get this shot. Apart from one last peckish tradie, the crowds had finally parted, but those wonder women behind the counter were still hard at it: serving, prepping, cleaning up. They run a tight ship.
Bye-bye Lismore Pie Cart. See you next time, cause: "Nothing is finer than eating in your diner" - isn't that right Seinfeld?