12:00a.m. 12th May 2008

| By Julie Gatehouse

Fascinating chats with international tourists is a side benefit for Sarah Castaldi as the new owner of the Mary Cairncross Kiosk, high on the mountain at Maleny.

The magnificent views are another – the kiosk sits in the scenic reserve and diners look out at the Glasshouse Mountains.

Sarah took over the council lease on February 25 after working for the previous owners for 15 months in what she thought would be a part-time job.

“Rob (Tucker) encouraged me to take it on after he gave it away so I spoke to the council and I have a year’s lease,” she said.

Sarah has been in hospitality for more than 20 years, going from making coffee to a self-taught cook to starting her own business called The Stuffed Olive when she first moved to Maleny eight years ago.

Two of her four children now work at the kiosk. “Tom and Moni love it and they’re a great support to me,” she said.

Trained chef Zeb now does the bulk of the cooking while Sarah takes over on weekends.

The 10 staff are busiest on Sundays in the spacious venue which seats up to 80 people for breakfast, devonshire teas and lunch six days a week.

Sarah has grand plans to upscale it into a restaurant but is making changes in increments.

“People have noticed the menu is changing. We have cajun chicken burgers and butternut pumpkin soup with garlic bread,” she said.

Their most popular cake is gluten-free Wicked Chocolate Cake with dates and figs and a meringuey, creamy touch.

Sarah was particularly happy with complimentary feedback from an English couple about their beef and Guinness pie.

“We make all the food ourselves, like the previous owners, so I’m following that but trying to make it a little healthier and more organic.”

Sarah said the Fair Trade coffee was popular but some went for the Why Do You Bother? coffee.

“It’s such a classic, it’s a cap’ mug, weak, decaf, soy with no sprinkles!” she laughs.

Sarah will introduce live acoustic music on weekends for an extra drawcard as people warm to the soups, curries and hotpots near the fireplace this winter.

“It’s a great job. I’m meeting people from all over the world because it’s a beautiful tourist park – and we’ve even got a snake that says hello.”

Sarah intends to reopen on Mondays as soon as she gets a herb garden planted and finishes some maintenance work.

“I want to eventually grow our own food here. It goes with the rainforest.”

Hours: 9am-4.30pm midweek and 8.30am-4.30pm weekends. For information, call 5494 2287.

Share this