Episode 4: Regional restaurants
If you love food and love to travel, today’s episode of Postcards has the perfect recipes to satisfy your culinary craving. From Mildura to Daylesford, the Mornington Peninsula to Beechworth, the team definitely indulges to bulge at the best regional restaurants.
Montalto
Located in rustic Red Hill, just an hour's drive from Melbourne on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula, Montalto is a place that can mean many things to many people. To start with, it's a vineyard, but it's also an olive grove, and you never quite know what you might find lurking in the paddocks. The annual Montalto Sculpture Prize is open to all artists working in any medium. You can stop by and enjoy a pizza in the piazza, but the fine dining restaurant is what makes this place worth the detour. Each day chef Barry Davis visits the Estate's fruit, veggie and herb gardens to harvest the best of the bunch for use in the restaurant. He changes the menu daily depending on what he can find. Barry's been doing this since 2003 and every year since then he's won a chef's hat in The Age Good Food Guide.
Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove
33 Shoreham Road, Red Hill South
Ph: 03 5989 8412
www.montalto.com.au
Provenance Beechworth
The beautiful town of Beechworth sits right at the base of the Victorian Alps and recently it's had chins wagging with the arrival of chef Michael Ryan to Provenance restaurant. As the previous owner of two chefs hat-winning Range in Myrtleford, Michael brings with him a reputation for serving up regional contemporary food, using only the freshest local and seasonal produce. Once you've tried the food, the three-hour drive seems well worth it and by the end of the meal you'll be planning a return trip. If you want to stick around you can settle in for a night at the Provenance luxury suites. Housed in what was once the old stables and carriage house, the four suites have recently been renovated. Each has its own double rain shower, spa, king-size bed with Egyptian cotton sheets and L'Occitane bathroom products.
Provenance
86 Ford Street, Beechworth
Ph: 03 5728 1786
www.theprovenance.com.au
Deco at Peppers
Hepburn Springs has Australia's highest concentration of natural mineral springs, and it's where beautiful accommodation, indulgent spas and delicious food all come together. A good place to start is at the lavish Villa Parma. Built in 1864 by an early Swiss settler, this meticulously restored, heritage-listed building is one of only a few remaining original Hepburn Spring homes. Villa Parma is right next door to the Peppers Springs Retreat and Spa, so you can easily pop in for a dip in one of the three open-air mineral pools. Or you can take a stroll through the gorgeous gardens, which feature aromatic bay trees, rose and herb gardens, topiaries and a parterre garden that provides an enchanting reminder of the villa's bygone glory. Come night time, you've got to go to Deco. The art deco-style of the 1930s lives again at Deco, where a spirit of richness and luxury permeates the décor. The modern Australian menu features dishes with Middle Eastern, Asian and Mediterranean flavours.
Villa Parma
124 Main Road, Hepburn Springs
Ph: 03 5348 2202
www.villaparma.com.au
Deco Restaurant
124 Main Road, Hepburn Springs
Ph: 03 5348 2202
www.peppers.com.au/springs
Merrijig Inn, Port Fairy
When you're looking for a place to tuck yourself in for the night in Port Fairy, the four-bedroom Whispers house may be just right. Architecturally designed, this home is so huge you'll seriously lose yourself. With prices ranging from $450 to $750 a night you may have to dig deep into your pockets, but the views of the Southern Ocean from every level of the immaculate retreat make Whispers worth every cent.
When it comes to food it seems regional gems are battling it out with the boys from the city. That is certainly the case at Merrijig Inn, already earning itself two chefs hats from The Age Good Food Guide. Ryan Sessions and his partner Kirstyn took charge of this 19th century country inn just over two-and-a-half years ago. With dieticians telling us to eat more fish, this seafaring couple have stepped up to the mark.
Merrijig Inn
1 Campbell Street, Port Fairy
Ph: 03 5568 2324
www.merrijiginn.com
Port Fairy Accommodation Centre
Ph: 03 5568 3150
www.portfairyaccom.com.au
Mildura with Stefano
When you think of food in Mildura, you no doubt think of celebrity chef Stefano De Pieri. There's his café and bakery, along with his namesake restaurant, Stefano's. The renowned eatery is located in the cellar of the Grand Hotel and if you fly with Qantaslink, it will take you about an hour and 20 minutes from Melbourne.
Suzie's joined Stefano on a culinary tour of the area. First stop was Thurla Farms on the outskirts of town, where they grow grapes and farm a very famous local fish. From there it was time to get some yabbies. Once all the produce was located it was back to Stefano's, where he began preparing culinary delights for all to enjoy. His restaurant was awarded two chefs hats recently by The Age Good Food Guide.
Stefano's
Ph: 03 5023 0511
www.stefano.com.au
Mildura
Ph: 1800 039 043
www.visitmildura.com.au
Qantaslink
Ph: 13 13 13
www.qantas.com
What's on
Cultural Diversity Week
Victoria celebrates its rich multicultural spirit with a series of lively events for Cultural Diversity Week from March 17 to 23.
Where: Across Victoria
When: 17 - 23 March
More: Visit www.culturaldiversity.vic.gov.au
Harvest to Table Festival
Until next Sunday, discover everything that's delectable about the Mornington Peninsula during this year's annual Harvest to Table Festival.
Where: Mornington Peninsula
When: Until 22 March
More: Visit www.visitmorningtonpeninsula.org
Apollo Bay Music Festival
This year's Apollo Bay Music Festival starts on 27 March. Grab yourself some tickets and head down the Great Ocean Road.
Where: Apollo Bay
When: 27 - 29 March
More: Visit www.apollobaymusicfestival.com
