New beers, a mystery cake, and schnitzel with a story
September is here, bringing longer days and Tassie's classic mixed bag of weather — sunny one moment, chilly the next. It's that time of year where we start recruiting for our busy season, say goodbye to some team members and welcome new ones, and look forward to local events like the Junction Arts Festival and of course the AFL Grand Final. We're also experimenting with local produce, marrying it with Greek flavours, and keeping an eye out for new Tasmanian and imported wines and beers.
Thank you to everyone who supported us through the winter months, and welcome back to those lucky enough to have escaped the Tassie chill. There's a fair bit to read today, so I'll leave you to it — see you around soon.
Ritsa & Perry
Pork Loin Schnitsel, Greek Slaw, Chips with Fetta & Oregano
So what's schnitsel doing on a Greek menu?
Good question and one we will get asked a lot. Schnitzel (or "snitsel" as it's spelled and pronounced in Greece) isn't originally a Greek dish at all. Back in the 1800s, Bavarian influence brought a wave of German dishes into Greek cuisine and schnitzel was one of them. It stuck. These days you'll find it on menus in tavernas and restaurants across Greece and the Greek diaspora and yes, every Greek mum (including mine) has her own version at home.
So if you ever wonder why it made it's way onto the Elaia specials board, it's because it earned its place at the Greek table more than a century ago and now it's got a spot at ours too. Food knows no borders, and when something's this good, you stick with it.
Our version comes with a Greek slaw of white cabbage, carrot and a yoghurt-mustard dressing, plus chips finished with fetta and oregano.
Wash it down with a 500ml bottle of Kechribari Retsina — seriously, taverna food right here in Launceston.
This Week's Cake Special. Greek Coconut Charlotte Cake
This week's cake goes by many names, but by any name, it's a good one.
It's made with lady finger biscuits (savoiardi, the same ones we use in our Tiramisu), soaked in milk. The base is a layer of those milk soaked biscuits, sprinkled with coconut, then a layer of crème patisserie. Repeat - biscuits, coconut, crème patisserie — and it's all finished off with a coconut frosting.
Perry stumbled across this Greek coconut cake recipe and when we went looking for its proper name, we discovered it's actually called a Charlotte Cake. This is our take on it.
When we gave the team a taste, the verdict was, it's basically a white Ferrero Rocher in cake form.
Whatever you want to call it — if you love coconut and crème patisserie, this one's for you.
Beer Menu Upgrade. Local Tassie Craft and Imports.
Our beer menu has had a major upgrade, now proudly featuring craft breweries from right here in Tasmania. Like our wine pourers, this lineup will rotate regularly as there are so many great Tassie breweries out there, we want to work our way through all of them!
This week's lineup:
Mythos Hellenic Lager (Greece)
Little Rivers Dorset Lager (Tas)
Corona (Mexico)
Albert Brewery Blue Mid Strength (Tas)
Plenty Hazy Apple Cider (Tas)
Heaps Normal XPA (Non-Alcoholic)
Come in and find your new favourite, before we swap the lineup again.
We're Hiring — Summer Season Front of House
It's that time of year again, recruitment for our summer season has officially kicked off. My, doesn't it come around quickly!
We're looking for experienced Front of House staff, whether you're after long-term or seasonal work, or just want to top up your hours.
If that's you, or you know someone who'd be a great fit, we'd love to hear from you. Click the link below to apply.
Save The Date For A Community-Wide Day Of Hope - Wednesday, 23 September
Together in 2025 during the Clifford Craig Health Foundation's inaugural LGH Giving Day, the community raised close to $80,000 for wish list patient care projects at the hospital! Construction has commenced already on the Takila Nayri Healing Room on the Maternity Ward - a facility most regional hospitals have for infant loss families to grieve and receive timely care. After 11 years of advocating, Northern Tasmanian families will have access to a fit-for-purpose private space on the Maternity Ward at a time when they are navigating life altering loss.
This year, in 2026, we are asking the community to support the LGH Giving Day again to grant more patient care wish list projects at our regional hospital. Together, we can shape the hospital we want to see for current and future generations.
Elaia is pleased to be supporting the LGH Giving Day once again with $1 from every coffee sold on 23 September going towards the donations tally – with every donation doubled only on Giving Day!
