Mockingbird Cafe Hunter Valley • Casual dining in Lovedale

Tatler Wines
477 Lovedale Road Lovedale
Open Thursday – Monday
Breakfast 8am – 11.30am,
Lunch 12pm – 4pm
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday

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Why Mockingbird?

Anyone who’s ever had to name a child will know the struggle of selecting a name! We wanted a name to represent our local community, the bringing together of people and our passion to excite the senses. Aside from being in the title of our favourite book, Mockingbirds are known for being able to mimic the songs or calls of other birds calls, amphibians and insects. The most commonly known Northern Mockingbird is Mimus polyglottos – Mimus meaning Mimic, & Polyglottos meaning multiple languages. To us this made for a perfect fit – for Food is our language and one we can all understand. Food allows us to communicate without the need for words, heightening our senses through visual beauty, delicious smells and intriguing textures. The ultimate language, creating memories and crossing paths from all walks of life.

Food is a language we can all understand allowing us all to come together and enjoy!

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Mockingbird Café is the lovechild of husband-and-wife team James & Tess Borg – the creators of the multi award winning catering company Fennel & Co. Catering. Their passion for delicious food and incredible service have earned them a reputation throughout the wedding industry as the best caterers in Newcastle and The Hunter Valley.

James is a qualified chef who began his career in his home town of Sydney, learning under Italian and French Chefs. As his career progressed, he found himself coming back to the flavours and cuisines he was surrounded by growing up in South-Western Sydney. His take on Modern-Australian cuisine sees South-East Asian and Middle-Eastern flavours weaved throughout Fennel & Co. Catering menus.

Tess is a front of house superstar; she found her place in hospitality and quickly rose through the ranks into management roles. This dynamic duo creates the ultimate catering package as Tess not only manages all of the front of house staff and operations but assists with all event planning processes as well. Creating relationships with her clients is extremely important to Tess, knowing exactly who she is working with and how she can create a unique and memorable event through food and service.

The success of their Fennel & Co. Catering eventually led them back to their initial dream of owning their own café/restaurant – and in early 2018 Mockingbird Café Newcastle was hatched! Tess & James aimed to create a café that was warm and welcoming, with creative menus and attentive service. Their cosy nest quickly became a favourite among locals and tourists. As good news travels, the reputation of Mockingbird made its way out to the Hunter Valley to the family run business that is Tatler Wines. The idea was hatched between the two families and this little birdy spread her wings and flew to Lovedale to build her second cosy nest in the heart of wine country.

Mockingbird Café Hunter Valley at Tatler Wines brings together two family run businesses with a reputation of excellence behind them. This pairing of incredible food, wine and service is not to be missed on your next visit to the Hunter Valley.