I had lunch here with my cousin a few months ago when she was visiting the Central Coast. We sat on the pavement, hounded by a small swarm of blowflies. The cafe was fairly busy at the time, with an oldish crowd. I ordered fried eggs and a large caffe mocha, while my cousin got a vegetarian option and green tea. It wasn't too bad, although the flies were annoying.

Approximate cost: $10

Long Jetty is catching on to the green wave, and this store sells all things related to hemp: clothes, homeware, body and hair care products, and even herbal medicine. I bought 2 bars of hemp oil soap on a recent visit, and they cost me $7 each. Next time I go there I want to get some hemp seeds or hemp oil, which is considered a superfood. The store is involved in developing the hemp industry in Australia, and has a mobile van which tours the country.

Approximate cost: $14

This facility comprises a meditation hall, gift shop and a café set inside a beautiful "Zen garden" in the centre of Long Jetty. It seems to be a hangout for the local yoga community, and hosts regular lectures and events. I came here with my cousin and her Schnoodle Poppy in March 2019, and found the place to be dog-friendly. You enter through a gift shop selling organic products like kombucha and green tea, herbal supplements, as well as Tibetan prayer flags and yantras. We walked down a corridor past the meditation hall to the Zen Garden, decorated with bamboo trees and a giant Buddha. Here I ordered a vegetarian curry, which was on special, and tasted good. Poppy got a bowl of water, and was doted over by several of the diners here.

Approximate cost: $15

Tired of the rowdy atmosphere at some other local pubs, I dropped in here one evening for a more upmarket experience. This is said to be the oldest pub at The Entrance, with nearly 100 years of history. Apart from the façade, however, there is not much of the original charm left, and the hotel has something of a Disneyfied feel. The wine menu features Aussie favourites like Sauvignon blanc, Merlot and Shiraz. I drank VB instead, my tipple of choice, costing about $6 a schooner. The night I visited, Tomahawk steaks were on special, but I ordered salt and pepper Sichuan squid, which was okay, but nothing special. Nonetheless, it was nice to sit out in the beer garden, which is right on the waterfront, in the heart of the action.

Approximate cost: $20

Situated opposite Coles at The Entrance, the Chi Cong Bakery sells among other things Vietnamese Banh Mi rolls (baguettes stuffed with vegetables and various meats). I bought a standard pork roll for $6.50 one hot afternoon and ate it out on the street. It was okay, but not spicy enough for me. As well as the typical Vietnamese filings, they also sell a barbecue pork one, which I guess is more of a Chinese thing.

Approximate cost: $6

Long Jetty is fast becoming the alternative heart of the Central Coast, and the Glass Onion Society Café as one of its prominent landmarks. I visited here at lunchtime recently and found the café crowded with a young and stylish clientele. I ordered the "Avolanche" (basically Avocado Toast with tomatoes and cheese) from the all-day breakfast and a chocolate milkshake. Neither was particularly sensational. The staff were friendly though, and it looks like a good place to hang out.

Approximate cost: $17

Staying at The Entrance, I saw a sign advertising this restaurant near the channel and famous bridge, and decided to investigate. The restaurant is strangely located inside a motel, the El Lago Waters Resort, and boasts a view of the swimming pool. Upon entering Spice Affair, I noticed that the owners appeared to be of South Indian appearance, and this excited me, since it is difficult to find South Indian food on the Central Coast. Sure enough, the restaurant serves roti bread instead of naan, and features plenty of vegetarian specialties such as grilled soya chops. In the end, I went North Indian/Pakistani by ordering the goat karahi. It was spicy and full of flavor, and left me drenched in sweat. This is the type of culinary adventure I crave for! I am sure I will be back for more in the future.

Approximate cost: $20

I went here for my birthday recently with my Mum and Dad, and other family. We made a booking for 8 people but there must have been a mix-up, as we were only allocated a 3-person table. Nonetheless, the friendly staff promptly found us a bigger table. It was a Friday night and the place was crowded with young hipsters. I heard that they play a lot of Reggae music but the vibe tonight was more Motown than Caribbean. I ordered a 1kg plate of spicy Jerk chicken, which is a Jamaican specialty. They have a lot of Jamaican drinks here too but I stuck to the Tecate beer from Mexico, largely because I liked the design of the cans. I was worried that the loud music might put off my parents, but I think they enjoyed themselves. I certainly enjoyed the night!

Approximate cost: $20

I ordered home delivery on Menulog from Noble Thai just before New Years Eve. I was interested in their Crying Tiger beef, but in the end I opted for the Karahi Soft Shell Crab ($22.90), vegetable curry puffs ($6.90) and Jasmine rice. The crab dish tasted good and betrayed an Indian influence, but for some reason I got a stomach ache later on. I think I might have overdosed on crustaceans over Christmas! Anyway, I noticed some other intriguing items on the menu, such as Barramundi Chili Jam for $21.90, which I might try in the future.

Approximate cost: $15

During the recent Chromefest 2018, I lunched here with some of the performers from the Sydney Swing Katz. I ordered the Brittney Loves Ben plate for $19, which comprised eggs, avocado, bacon and other pleasures. I also ordered a Mango Frosty, which provided cool relief from the heat outside. My man Garnet from the Kats was on a healthier tip, and he ate a bowl of muesli or something. I think we were all happy with the fare.

Approximate cost: $15