- Liane Morris
Rusty Jacks: Fireside Café Brings Outdoors In
If you’re hankering after the great outdoors with some time around the fire pit, the kids running free, sipping the perfect coffee and munching on a delicious smoked brisket pie, there’s no need to go camping – just pop into Rusty Jacks on Wine Country Drive at Rothbury for a unique café experience like no other.
Serving freshly baked pies and expertly brewed coffee, this country-style café is open seven days a week from 6am to 2pm on weekdays and 7am to 3pm on weekends. It’s simple, wholesome and popular with tourists and locals who gather around the fire pit, which is lit from 6am to 11am every day.
Owner Corrie Van Graan was born in South Africa but has lived in Australia for 25 years, running several businesses, including nine cafes in Sydney, before moving to the Hunter Valley two years ago to contemplate semi-retirement from his home on Wine Country Drive. Corrie could see the opportunity that his well-situated property afforded him in terms of attracting business and believes that Rusty Jacks is the first of its kind.
“The fire pit makes it unique, and we get all sorts here – tourists on the weekends and locals during the week,” said Corrie.
“People sit around the fire pit to have a natter and make friends. They bring their dogs and their kids; they kick a ball around – it’s got a real family-friendly outdoors ambience to it.”
The menu features high-quality, freshly brewed coffee made from imported beans with no-nonsense names such as ‘frothy coffee’ for cappuccinos, ‘choccy coffee’ for mochas, and ‘not coffee’ for tea!
The pies have been sourced locally from Full Throttle Smoky Brisket Pies, and every pie is a smoky brisket pie with choices including smoky brisket with cheese, with curry, with cheese and Jalapeño and with gravy. There are also smoky brisket sausage rolls.
“I believe in supporting local businesses and providing the highest quality produce,” said Corrie.
“I eat two of our pies every single day, and they’re the best you
can get.”
Look out for the Rusty Jacks signpost and the old rusty ute in the paddock at 1470 Wine Country Drive Rothbury, or visit
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