Episode 36: 6 November
This week, Giaan Rooney and the team share some wonderful summer and festive season tips. You can head to Daylesford, or find the best coffee in town and the hottest new pubs in St Kilda, or what about a Christmas pudding lesson and a visit to Myer to take a look at this year's famous Christmas windows.
Cliffy's, Wombat Hill and Avignon
Daylesford is about a 90-minute drive from Melbourne and if you step off the main road to Raglan Street, you'll take a magical step back in time to an old style general store. Cliffy's Emporium is small, cluttered and kind of crazy. And it's also home to Daylesford's best selection of fresh and preserved produce.
Take some time to explore the town and you'll find Wombat Hill Nursery and Florist. From the freshest freesias to the most tantalising tulips, the flowers here are always so fresh that it's almost impossible to walk out without buying a bunch. And if you want to add to your own garden, it's also a well-established nursery.
If you're staying for a day or so, book your escape at Avignon Country House, a rustic mud brick cottage in Kingston, a short drive from Daylesford. It's like a touch of Provence in this beautiful part of Victoria. Furnished in the French style, there's a lounge with a wood fired heater, a separate dining room, a fully equipped kitchen, three bedrooms that sleep up to six people and a bathroom with a claw foot bath.
Cliffy's Emporium
30 Raglan Street, Daylesford
Ph 03 5348 3279
www.cliffys.com.au
Wombat Hill Nursery and Florist
28 Raglan Street, Daylesford
Ph 03 348 1439
www.wombathill.com.au
Avignon Country House
145 Allendale-Kingston Road, Kingston
Ph 0402 893 804
www.avignoncountryhouse.com.au
New Market Hotel and Dandelion
Thanks to Melbourne's love affair with fine dining, it seems like everywhere you look some of our well-known chefs are setting up in an inner-city suburb near you. This week, we head to St Kilda and our first stop is the Newmarket Hotel on Inkerman Street. This old pub's had a serious makeover but if you look closely you'll see that the old wallpaper, which was discovered during the renovation, adorns the dining room and that the large chef's table is made of timber from the old Princess Pier, and it sits beneath a veggie chandelier made from chillis, garlic and artichokes.
Or not far away is Dandelion on Ormond Road, Elwood. After many successful years making Pearl in Richmond one of Melbourne most popular restaurants, Geoff Lindsay has headed to the seaside. Dandelion has already picked up a stack of awards, including a chef's hat from The Age Good Food Guide, making Elwood home to one of Melbourne's newest most loved restaurants.
Newmarket Hotel
34 Inkerman Street St Kilda
PH: 9537 1777
www.newmarketstkilda.com.au
Dandelion
133 Ormond Road Elwood
PH: 9531 4900
www.dandelion.ws
Riversdale Retreat and Pud for all Seasons
Riversdale Retreat is a fine example of how good things come in small packages, so good it was nominated for the World Architecture Awards. In the quiet bushlands of Chewton, a 90-minute drive from the city, this innovative, eco-friendly house sleeps three in its two bedrooms. There's a smart stainless steel gallery style kitchen and you can lounge on bean bags in the fantastic tatami area, with a timber sliding screen to let in the sun and the bush land views.
It's easy to spend days exploring the acres of secluded walking tracks, but leave some time to head to the big smoke of Castlemaine to stock up on festive food at Puds For All Seasons. Making puds since 2004, the treats are still based on Grandma's secret recipe, but have developed into an all-year range with seasonal specials.
Riversdale Retreat
Ph 03 9510 6822
www.riversdaleretreat.com.au
Pud for all Seasons
1 Halford Street, Castlemaine
Ph 03 5470 6128
www.pudforallseasons.com.au
Myer Christmas
Each festive season, over a million people make the pilgrimage to Myer Melbourne to see the Christmas windows with their families. The legendary display spans six windows with a new nativity scene in the seventh.
While you're there, you'll have to go shopping, and Myer promises you'll find treasures that make the perfect Christmas gift. A fragrance is always a popular or for that someone special who seems to have everything, there are quirky ideas in the basement giftware department, where you can also choose your tinsel and tree decorations.
Myer Melbourne
Bourke Street Mall
Ph 03 9661 1111
myer.com.au
The butcher, the baker, the best coffee makers
Coin Laundry was once a suburban laundromat, but now it's a sophisticated place for coffee, breakfast and lunch in Armadale.
Jonathan's butcher in Fitzroy has been open for 35 years and boasts customers from all over Melbourne.
Loafer Bread in Fitzroy North opened ten years ago when they specialised in bread. These days, they also make pastry and everything is made on the premises.
First Pour in Abbotsford is a hard-core coffee house that offers a choice of brewing methods and a variety of blends; made under the guidance of Erin Sampson who was recently placed second at the Australian Barista Championships and came third in a world wide competition for her latte art.
Coin Laundry Cafe
61a Armadale Street, Armadale
Ph 03 9500 1888
Jonathan's
122 Smith Street, Collingwood
Ph 03 9419 4339
jonathans.com.au
Loafer Bread
146 Scotchmer Street, Fitzroy North
Ph 03 9489 0766
First Pour
26 Bond Street, Abbotsford
Ph 03 9421 5585
www.venezianocoffee.com.au/first-pour
Postcards diary
Macedon Ranges Budburst Wine and Food Festival
The annual Macedon Ranges Wine Region celebration begins next weekend.
Where: Macedon Ranges
When: 12–13 November 2011
More: www.budburst.com
La Dolce Vita
And the weekend after, there's the King Valley's springtime celebration of the sweet life.
Where: King Valley
When: 19–20 November 2011
More: www.winesofthekingvalley.com.au
Santaland
Santa has taken up residence in Myer Melbourne in his special Christmas village where you can have a photo with Santa, ride the Santaland train and post your Christmas wish list to the North Pole.
Where: Myer Melbourne
When: from 4 November 2011
More: myer.com.au