Daylesford - Part 1

It's been a busy month or so, but we have managed to get to our favourite place a fair bit lately - Daylesford.

We are very lucky to have a holiday shack in Hepburn Springs, and spending more and more time in this beautiful part of the world is the aim.

So I thought I would share some of my favourite spots - both for eating and drinking and for relaxing. Because there is so much on offer, and because Hepburn is so close to my heart, there may be several instalments in this blog!

If you have never been to the Spa centre of Australia, and explored both Daylesford and the surrounding areas then you need to go.  Daylesford is about an hour and half from Melbourne and now is the perfect time to visit.  In fact, Autumn is our favourite time of year there, with the days getting a little colder and the leaves changing colours. Just remember to pack your winter woolies as it's always a few degrees colder in Daylesford.  Alternatively, the cold weather is the perfect excuse to find an open fire and open a bottle of red.

Lake Daylesford

Lake Daylesford is probably our favourite place to walk the dog or relax and have a picnic.  The lake is situated to the left of the main road just before you arrive in town and is well sign posted.  Most people head for the main car park but if you take the left turn before the sign, there is a sneaky little car park on a much quieter park of side of the lake.  From there you can walk to the Boathouse Cafe (have not eaten there so cannot comment) or visit the Bookbarn.  In fact, the Bookbarn welcomes well behaved dogs inside the shop as well as in both seating areas outside.  The coffee is good and the cakes are delicious.

There are several walking tracks around the lake and beyond and great walking information can ben found at http://www.daylesforddelights.com/walking-trails.html

Daylesford Hotel

The Daylesford pub has undergone a transformation over the past few years.  The restoration has given new life to this beautiful pub with probably the best view of Daylesford from both the balcony and the seating out front.  We never have a trip to Hepburn without a visit to the Daylesford Hotel. With dog in tow, you will find us sitting out the front, enjoying the sunset and watching the world go by.  And each and every time we visit, the food does not disappoint - I mean never.  There is a great wine list and plenty to choose from in the beer department.  Bottles of wine can be chosen from the bottle shop with corkage applied inside.  The bottle shop has one of the best regional and overseas selections in the area.

There are the usual staples on the menu, done very well, and also seasonal options, done exceptionally well.  I truly believe you cannot have a bad meal here.
Inside, there is a more formal dining area and also a more relaxed open dining area near the bar. And don't forget the al fresco dining out the front and also the beer garden at the rear.  Oh, and did I mention the balcony!
Reservations are not required but it can get pretty busy, especially on weekends.
More information can be found at www.daylesfordhotel.com.au  including info on their accommodation options.

Little Tommy Tucker - Bentleigh

Moving west along Centre Rd from last weeks blog, is another welcome addition to the Bentleigh cafe scene - Little Tommy Tucker.

Similarly to Merchants Guild, TT offers something different to the basic cafe fare that Bentleigh-ites have been used to.  A pared back, Scandinavian style fit out also offers something different to pretty much all other cafes in the vicinity.  Peak times can be very busy and it can get a little loud inside but since we usually dine with our four legged family member, quieter street side tables are available.  I believe they take reservations too - something you don't see all that often anywhere these days!

On the morning of our visit, I chose the pesto scrambled eggs with a side of smoked salmon. Beautifully creamy eggs with just the perfect amount of pesto (this dish can so often go wrong!). Opposite in the picture is the quinoa and smoked trout salad, with feta, peas, fennel and mint.  A deliciously filling and healthy salad, finished with a light zesty lemony dressing.

Onto the coffee....... personally, we find the blends at Little Tommy Tucker to be not very strong (but that could be due to our slight coffee addiction!).  Nonetheless, great tasting coffee served just the way coffee should be (no burnt coffee or boiled milk here!).  And if you are on the go, take away coffees are always served quickly, no matter how busy the cafe is.  In fact, the service at Little Tommy Tucker is always prompt and friendly and you can see they all take great pride in serving great food and great coffee.

They don't seem to have a website but you can find them on Facebook or call them on 9576 5174
Open 7 days from 7am.

Merchants Guild - Bentleigh East

Bentleigh East or East Bentleigh?  Whichever you call it, The Merchants Guild has certainly made a good impression on postcode 3165.

Crying for something new and groovy, the Merchants Guild answered the prayers of many locals looking for great coffee and something different to eggs and bacon.  In fact, there's not a "Big Breakfast" in sight but rather a menu showcasing a mix of influences, from Mexican (Short cut bacon with avocado and corn salsa with eggs and jalapeno pesto) to Mediterranean (Eggs panzanella with jamon, basil and dehydrated cherry tomatoes) and many cultures in between.

I have tried other dishes at Merchants Guild - all fabulous - but I do keep returning to the Sweet Pea and Feta smash on dark rye with Spanish Sardines.  Perfect portion size, perfectly poached egg and perfectly cooked sardines.  The combination of ingredients is, well, perfect.  The sardines, for those that only know the tinned variety, are subtle yet plump and flavoursome.  Sprinkle with lemon and this, for me, is the stand out dish at Merchants Guild.
* Dish in the background is the Smoked Tasmania Trout with Sorrel, Kipfler potatoes, pickled Beetroot and green goddess creme fraiche

So - how's the coffee I hear you ask?  There's a rotating menu of blends/roasters so ask the wait staff for what's on offer on the day.  Whatever the offer though, the coffee is consistently good. Served in smaller cups, this is the way coffee is meant to be.
Apparently Merchants Guild are also known for their teas, and get great reviews for their passion in delivering the perfect brew.

The relatively recent addition of a back courtyard has alleviated the wait time somewhat, but weekends can be pretty busy at this popular cafe.  Be prepared to wait, but they do have a wait system in place and things move pretty quickly.  There's dog friendly dining out the front too.

For more info go to http://themerchantsguild.com/

I'm Back! Cerberus Beach House - Black Rock

After another lengthy hiatus - it's time to get this blog rolling again.  It's not like I haven't been doing anything, seeing anyone or going anywhere - life and new ventures just unfortunately get in the way sometimes.

So to kick things off again, it was a visit to the Cerberus Beach House at Half Moon Bay Black Rock that brought back the inspiration to write about all things good South of the Yarra.

A visit to Half Moon Bay on a sunny day is just heaven.  To sit upstairs at the Cerberus Beach House, with the windows open and the bay glistening is even closer to heaven.  Add great food and wine and really, I should just stop writing now.

But I suppose we should talk about the food.......  I have visited the Cerberus Beach House on many occasions over the years and have not been disappointed.  Seafood is obviously the mainstay but there are other options if this is not your thing.  A toasted cob bread started things off, served with chive butter and two oil options (chilli and dukkah style).  Fish and Chips were the flavour of the day for my two dining companions (flake was on offer), crispy batter and crunchy chips, with a light side salad of radish, cucumber and greens. And by the look of the empty plates at the end, quite clearly delicious.  I chose the Calamari and Prawn green mango salad with vermicelli noodles and fresh asian herbs.  Beautiful fresh flavours, with perfectly cooked seafood.  A very generous serve, too big for me, but rather that than be left hungry.

Although I was not partaking in alcohol on this occasion, there is a good wine list.  The coffee is solid and a perfect end to a perfect lunch as we whiled away some more time watching people drift away from the shore in their boats.

I would highly recommend visiting for lunch during the week if you can - it's a lot quieter and there's no hurry to leave.  You can sip on your wine and watch the world go by.

And if you're up for a more casual meal, or taking your fish and chips and parking it on the beach, there's a take away kiosk downstairs offering the same great fish and chips and a great range of burgers and other Aussie staples like dim sims and potato cakes.  They even have a brekkie range of egg and bacon rolls and muffins served from 10am (9am on weekends).


For more info go to www.cerberusbeachhouse.com.au     

** Parking requires a ticket so don't forget your loose change!

Goldilocks - Hawthorn East

Goldilocks cafe - Hawthorn East

Those of you that follow Instagram will appreciate how addictive it can be.  Thus, the blog has again suffered with me trying to channel my inner creative side!  You know, and all those words you need to write when a picture can tell a pretty good story.  What the picture can't describe though is how good the coffee is, how delicious that meal was and whether the service was good or not.  So would you like to know what the pictures cannot tell about this new addition to the cafe scene in Hawthorn East?

The cafe is a bit hard to find, and really, if I hadn't been told about it, Goldilocks could still be just a fairytale about a girl and three bears.  But that's what we love about Melbourne isn't it?  Those hard to find places and hidden gems.

Goldilocks is in Stanley place, an alley way running off Camberwell rd alongside Dan Murphy's in Hawthorn East.  It forms part of the Firechief restaurant which fronts the main road but each place has a distinct menu.  So it's woodfired pizza and main fare at the front in Firechief, and breakfast/lunch at Goldilocks cafe right the way to the back (entry via side alley advised).  The interior is urban industrial, with wooden tables and an open, breezy communal feel. The coffee is standout, full and rich in flavour.  Their takeaway cups are on the smaller size, just the way I like it (not too much milk!) but I thought a little pricey at $4.  

There is a nice selection of sandwiches of which I ordered the chicken with mayonnaise, lettuce and dill cucumbers.  The bread has a crisp crust and soft doughy centre.  The sandwich also came with rocket lightly tossed in olive oil.  There is a nice selection of Italian sodas as well as your standard list of drinks.  I noticed there was a daily specials board too with a couple of soups on offer.

Contrary to some other reviews I have read about Goldilocks, I found the service to be good.  I don't really know why people bother posting a bad review.  Rest assured, if you make it to my blog, it must be good!


www.goldilockscafe.com.au

Follow me on Instagram #southoftheyarra

Leo's fine food - Hartwell

As Melbourne delves further and further into winter, so too have I delved further and further into the warm comforts of home.  Although we have seen the shortest day, and really we are on the way up to Spring, the winter weather still has a long way to go.  As the rain falls and the temperature barely gets to double figures, my mind turns to the favourite winter warmers we love to cook in our home.

A recent trip to Leo's fine foods in Hartwell (near Glen Iris)  saw us stock up on many "essentials" including a favourite Rick Stein ingredient, Spanish pimenton.  Unlike the sweet Hungarian paprika and the heat of the hot chilli paprika, Spanish pimenton has a smoky quality and not a lot of heat.  It is added to almost all Spanish dishes, the most famous being paella.  Rick Stein talks of it being reminiscent of the red in the Spanish flag, the yellow coming from saffron which is also added to most Spanish dishes.

With it's smoky richness this authentic Spanish paprika was well worth the $7 price tag.  It has been utilised several times this week including a successful first attempt seafood paella and a wonderful chorizo pasta.  Having not used this type of paprika in our cooking before, we have been quite impressed with the richness and depth it adds to both Spanish and Italian style dishes.  And I think Rick would have been proud of our efforts too.






Leo's is a foodies heaven.  From the regular to the hard to find ingredients, Leo's is the type of place that could really hurt your hip pocket if you're not careful.  So many yummy things at every turn!  The fromagerie is a highlight, with the ever present expert on hand to offer advice on cheese selections for your next special dinner, or any night of the week really! There is also a liquor department which completes the one stop foodie shop.  A must visit for any dedicated foodie who loves to cook.


Check out their website for location and opening hours (there are also 2 other stores at Kew and Heidelberg).

www.lemaxgroup.com.au

Winter time south of the Yarra - Mr.Burch - again!

I know it has been an extremely long time since my last post, but a lot of water has passed under the bridge in the last 12 months.  I used to laugh when my mum would say "time goes faster as you get older" but now I get it!
So, before any more fast moving time goes by, it's back to the blog.  And what better time to restart than during the deep of winter.  With the Ugg boots on, the heater cranked and the footy on the TV (we are in Melbourne remember) here's what's been happening South of the Yarra this week...........

As the last of the autumn leaves fall and the sky turns grey my mind turns to the warm comfort food of winter.  And for consistently good food and coffee in a cosy environment it comes no better than at  Mr.Burch in McKinnon.  I know, I know, I have reviewed this cafe in McKinnon road before but I just can't go past its ever changing specials board and awesome coffee.  They source their ingredients locally, cook on premises and endeavour to be a sustainable business by recycling and composting.  And for these reasons, I drive across suburbs to reach this cafe.   This week I sampled the baked potato, served with home made baked beans, sour cream and bacon and partnered perfectly with a glass of El Nino Shiraz from the Victorian Pyrenees.  Warming to the soul.
Since my last posting on Mr.Burch they have converted the upstairs area to another dinning room with a fireplace which is great as this cafe continues to become more and more popular.  And be sure to check our their website as they often exhibit artworks by local artists.  All details, including opening hours, menus and current events can be found at (www.mrburch.com.au).