Roast Lamb Sandwiches in the Blue Mountains

limbing up Bell Bird Hill from Richmond on the Hawkesbury River with the windows down, the loud tinkling of the little bellbirds from the undergrowth is interrupted only by a huge crack through the air from a whip bird getting in on the act.

As we arrive at Gerhard’s in Kurrajong Heights, the rains came, and thank God they went, allowing the visitors to traipse down through the soggy green grass around the dams, and through the gardens of Gerhard’s Blue Mountains property..

In the mists of the rain - too wet for the planned lunch in the gazebo on the edge of dam #1

All the while, the big leg of lamb that he had put in the oven on low heat earlier this morning is cooking to a tender loveliness. And the addition of tomato and onion to the rosemary garnish adds such great flavour to the juices that I’m soaking the slices of meat in before putting on the sandwiches.

Slow-roasted leg of lamb

Visitor Bill from Northern Ireland and Andrew

'New Dawn' pink rose on trellis outside Gerhard's dining room

Yes, hot roast lamb – on a sandwich, but not an ordinary sandwich. Warmed, crusty soft bialys from my favourite Langkelly Place diner, Wilbur’s, and lashings of Agnes Stuart’s ‘Royal Show’ chutney, make for a most delicious repast – with a fresh salad, lettuce from the garden, of course.

On the way home, we take tourist Bill to see the Francis Greenway Anglican Church in the small early settlement town of Windsor. In the churchyard, it’s even more interesting to see a grave of one of the convicts who arrived in Australia on a ship of the First Fleet.

CLICK HERE to view photos of this outing in the Blue Mountains