CJ'S Good Food Restaurant, Lithgow, Australia

As has become the tradition, every time I visit Australia I am treated by my wonderful family to a gastronomical event on my last day in the country. Last year, it was a degustation lunch at a vineyard in the Hunter Valley. This year it was a mystery road trip west of Sydney...very west!

Taking a right turn off the Great Western Highway, I found myself being driven down the main street of beautiful Lithgow, a small city on the western edge of the Blue Mountains, about 2 hours drive from Sydney. Our lunch destination was CJ's Good Food Restaurant located on the main street of Lithgow. I must admit, I was slightly curious as to what Lithgow could possibly offer that would entice someone to drive 2 hours for lunch. It must be good, really really good. In the interest of full disclosure, all became clear when I walked through the restaurant to find Mr Chris Warren (a family friend and chef extraordinaire) at the helm. I was in for a treat!

Chris and his wife Cheryl who run CJ's are Lithgow locals. I had the pleasure of first meeting them on the central coast of NSW and have spent many afternoons with them talking food, eating food and drinking much fine wine. I had high expectations for lunch, and I certainly was not disappointed!

For entree, we were served a seafood tasting plate that left us begging for more! It was a beautifully presented sampler of the sea with a large spoonful of creamy prawn risotto, perfectly crunchy tempura prawns and strips of calamari that simply melted in your mouth. A small intermission allowed us to sip on our wine, sit back and watch the foot traffic along the main street of Lithgow before the main course arrived.

If the entree was good, then the two main courses we shared were fantastic! The first dish was Mr Dang's Salad - a warm Thai style salad with lightly spiced chicken, toasted cashews, vibrant fresh fruits and salad greens and leaves. The second dish was the lamb extravaganza with roast lamb and the most delicate filo pastry pockets filled with  deliciously seasoned lamb. This was served over a bed of creamy pumpkin mash and with crisp steamed vegies.

The two mains were completely different, yet somehow managed to complement each other perfectly. They represented fresh and creative cooking that combined simple ingredients in an uncomplicated way to produce amazing flavours without the fuss and fanfare that so often accompanies restaurant cuisine today.

When the utensils were put down, there was not a morsel left on either plate and I was shamefully tempted to lick the plate to capture every last drop of the sauces. While the dessert menu was incredibly tempting (and I have it on good authority that the chocolate pudding is to die for) my stomach and taste buds were in a good place and I simply could not eat any more. Next time perhaps.

While my sneaky travel companion jumped on the bill before I could write down the cost of the meal, I can report that the meals at CJ's are incredibly reasonable with lunch mains ranging between US$15 - $18 and dinners are around the same mark. The deserts are consistently priced at $12 and they have an extensive wine list which is available by the bottle or glass.

RECOMMENDED

I know it is a long way for sydneysiders to trek, but I can absolutely recommend CJ's for great food, friendly hosts and a wonderful day out. Check out their website for directions and their menu.