Episode 20: French special
Bonjour and welcome to another picturesque Postcards, where the team sample the finest flavours of France and stay in divine French provincial accommodation in Victoria. From Beechworth to Prahran to Kyneton, there's a touch of Europe a short drive from home.
Black Springs Bakery
With the nearby vines and surrounding mountains, the scenery could be mistaken for the French countryside, but the Black Springs Bakery is only a three-hour drive from Melbourne, near Beechworth. You can stay in the cottage that was built in 1875 and is on the Victorian Heritage Register. Inside has low-slung ceilings and bare rustic walls and is elegantly decorated. The double doors from the kitchen lead you to a charming courtyard where you can relax in the gardens or discover the small maze, the quince tress and the olive grove. Black Springs Bakery also have a shop in Beechworth, about five kilometres.
To complete your French-style day, Frances and Pilley is also in Beechworth and specialises in home wares like imported furniture, ceramics, beauty products and stationery.
Black Springs Bakery
464 Beechworth–Wangaratta Road, Beechworth
Frances and Pilley
33 Ford Street, Beechworth
Ph 03 5728 2550
The French Brasserie and France-Soir
French Brasserie is in Malthouse Lane in the city and a must for those looking for a passionate French meal. Here the philosophy is about taking your time and enjoying some of life's simple pleasures. Their magnificent dishes include scallops, slow braised rabbit civet in red wine, their famous charcuterie French platter and don't miss the mouth-watering desserts. Whether you're popping in for their Monday to Friday express lunch or a full on degustation, you know you're in for a treat.
If you love classic French food, head to France Soir in South Yarra. There's no secret to its long popularity, with French cuisine made from the finest ingredients available like oysters, marinated salmon, escargot, stake tartar, canar orange and creme brulee, and host Jean-Paul Prunetti understands what people want.
The French Brasserie
2 Malthouse Lane, Melbourne
Ph 03 9662 1632
www.thefrenchbrasserie.com.au
France Soir
11 Toorak Road, South Yarra
Ph 03 9866 8569
www.france-soir.com.au
Circa 1860 and Monsieur Pierre
There are so many shops, restaurants and great places to stay in the little town of Kyneton, especially if you're looking for a taste of France a short drive west from the city. Book a stay at Circa 1860, an elegant Pied a Terre above the Kyneton Street shops with a showpiece bedroom and fabulous French antiques, wooden floors and fireplaces. The downstairs library doubles as a lounge with huge TV, comfy sofa and a gas fire; upstairs there's a dining room and bar big enough for a dinner party; and the kitchenette has an assortment of breakfast provisions, a wine fridge and a little oven.
If you love the flowers at Circa 1860, go downstairs to Prunella, a gothic chic florist shop that wouldn't be out of place in Paris. And for food there's Monsieur Pierre in Mollison Street, where Simon and Rebecca Fenwick have transformed an old butchers shop into a French style provedore and a terrific cafe.
Circa 1860
68 Piper Street, Kyneton
Ph 03 5422 1211
www.circa1860.com.au
Prunella
68 Piper Street, Kyneton
Ph 03 5410 8835
Monsieur Pierre
143 Mollison Street, Kyneton
Ph 03 5422 1136
www.whoispierre.com.au
Prahran Market and The Essential Ingredient
For a local French market experience, classically trained French chef Daniel Southern from Comme restaurant takes us to the Prahran Market.
Start at Pino's Fresh Produce, which has been at this market since 1958. It's now a multi-generational business with Pino's children and grandchildren working and the children and grandchildren of original customers shopping there. Then to John Cester's Poultry and Game in the meat hall, where they source and process all their own fantastically fresh poultry. Daniel then heads to Delicatess for the best bacon for his French style lentils, and the last stop is The Essential Ingredient, where the cooking school offers a hands-on experience that turn any amateur cook into a master chef, and they have all the ingredients to make magnifique dinner.
Prahran Market
163 Commercial Road, South Yarra
Ph 03 8290 8220
www.prahranmarket.com.au
The Essential Ingredient
Elizabeth Street, South Yarra
Ph 03 9827 9047
www.essentialingredient.com.au
Labassa, Koko Lane and La Belle Miette
French-inspired Labassa in Manor Grove in Caulfield North has to be one of Victoria's most lavishly decorated 19th century houses. The mansion started life as a smaller family home in the 1860s and was re-modelled to grander proportions in 1890. After a morning visit to the mansion, your next stop is the gorgeous Koko Lane, a French-inspired home ware and furniture store in Church Street, Richmond where you can find unique items to add a touch of Paris to your home. Finally, there's time for a macaroon at the beautiful patisserie La Belle Miette in Hardware Lane in the city. Here, Paris-trained pastry chef Maylynn Tsoi and her partner Hugh Morley were inspired to sell a "small but visually beautiful product in a small space".
Labassa
2 Manor Grove, Caulfield North
Ph 03 9527 6295
nattrust.com.au
Koko Lane
507–509 Church Street, Richmond
Ph 03 9428 7121
La Belle Miette
30 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Ph 03 9024 4528
labellemiette.com.au
Postcards diary
Christmas in July
Celebrate a traditional July Christmas dinner and seasonal cheer on Puffing Billy.
Where: Belgrave
When: 1–2 and 8–9 July 2011
More: puffingbilly.com.au
Fun4Kids Festival
Head down to Warrnambool with the kids for fun activities for everyone to enjoy.
Where: Warrnambool
When: 3–10 July 2011
More: www.fun4kids.com.au
Otway Fly -Zip Line Tours
Experience the new Otway Fly Zip Line Tour with 50% off ticket prices for Postcards viewers in July (conditions apply).
Where: Weeaproinah
When: July 2011
More: otwayfly.com.au