The Stanley Pub reopens with high-end, Asian-inspired menu

Words by Richard Cornish
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Up in Victoria’s North East, in the historic gold mining town of Stanley, is an old pub with ancient wisteria vines clinging to the veranda. The Stanley Pub has been serving locals and visitors since she first opened her doors in 1854.

During the late 1990s, this gold rush era boozer became a gastronomic destination, where food tourists would book a room and a table and make a weekend of it.

The news that restaurant impresario Peter Bartholomew, the man behind MoVida and Lee Ho Fook had bought the pub along with Beechworth chef Michael Ryan sure had tongues talking.

This week, after months of renovations and rejuvenation, the Stanley is open for business once more.

The new licensee is local chef Sally Wright. She is an accomplished chef who started her career in pubs running the kitchen in the halcyon days of the Argot and Alexandra hotels in South Yarra.

Recently she has been wowing locals with her catering company Taste Trekkers, and for the last months has been working up a menu for the Stanley.

The old pub retains its ochre yellow exterior but inside, it is a wonderland of antiques with a warm gothic bohemian feel.

The wine has been put together by local consultant Stephanie Eyles and consists of 40% local wines, 30% Australian, and the remainder wines of the world.

The menu is a joyful expression of Sally’s love of Asian food. The karage chicken is served with burdock, contract grown for her by a local co-operative of vegetable growers. There could be the classic Indonesian snack of ikan bilis – crunchy hot anchovies with peanuts mixed up with pork crackling.

In what is set to become a signature dish is a soft, white bread sandwich filled with slowly braised smoked pork hock that has been formed into a flat croquette, crumbed, and fried until crisp and golden.

There are red and green curries, tempura fried fish with yuzu, and miso tartare.

Sally is not re-booting the accommodation, instead focusing on the new produce and wine store opening in spring and the sprawling garden that will be ready for summer.

THE DETAILS:

WHAT: Top-end Asian-inspired gastro pub food
WHERE: Stanley Pub, 6-12 Myrtleford-Stanley Rd, Stanley
WHEN: From August 18

We wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

The Continental launches stunning new accommodation options

Built by 1800s businessman and comic performer George Coppin, the four-story building was hewn from local rock and has been a local institution for locals and visitors for generations.

The latest addition to the multimillion dollar makeover of ‘The Continental’ is a Victorian era inspired seaside resort from architecture studio Woods Bagot.

The accommodation options include an array of luxuriously appointed rooms or one-and-two-bedroom suites, located either in the original 1875 limestone building or within the recently added wing. High-end penthouses will be made available by the end of 2022.

Guests will have access to the Mediterranean-style poolside deck, replete with cabanas, poolside chaises and a view across Port Phillip Bay. For those with a little more energy, there is a fully-fitted gym with 24-hour access.

Chef Scott Pickett and his team are looking after food and beverage across the different bars, restaurants, and room service. Spend the day at the beach, fishing or exploring Point Nepean then head to the public bar in your board shorts for a beer. Or you could dress up and head upstairs to Audrey.

This is a beautiful upmarket restaurant with velvet banquettes, bespoke hand-woven carpets and exquisite commissioned still-life floral photographs by a Japanese photographer. The room looks out over the palm trees, the Sorrento ferry jetty and across the azure blue waters of Port Phillip.

The set menu is seafood focused with little dishes of spanner crab in rich pastry tartlets, a crumpet topped with creamy whipped cod roe, oysters, yellowfin tuna, and local line-caught squid. The brand new rooms offer five-star luxury including top-of-the-range two-level penthouse suites offering a private rooftop terrace, private plunge pool, and separate lounge and dining area.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula
WHEN: Open Now
WHERE: 23 Constitution Hill Road, Sorrento
MORE INFO: Accommodation bookings.

We wish to acknowledge the Bunurong people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

World-class centre celebrates rare and forgotten trades

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According to the Global Footprint Network, if the world lived and consumed resources the same way Australians did, the years’ worth of resources on the planet would be used up by March 12.

But what if we all started to harness our inner artisan, embracing the capacity within to make and create ourselves instead of buying and tossing and leading an ultra consumerist path comprised of low-quality items, cheap plastics and products of low value.

Therein lies the premise behind the all-new Sovereign Hill Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades. Set to open up in September, the highly-anticipated facility will offer budding artisans the chance to dabble in a series of crafts they never knew existed.

An Australian first, the world-class space has been built from a love of heritage and a desire to create things that last.

The educational facility will provide an opportunity for traditional trades, crafts and skills to be explored in a bid to preserve knowledge, encourage innovation and sustainability, and create an environment that champions traditional arts and trades.

Through a series of regular workshops and masterclasses, participants will be offered advanced training in specialist trades including silversmithing, locksmithing, cane rod making, knifemaking, and longbow making, as well as Indigenous crafts such as traditional Wadawurrung weaving.

The Centre’s first workshop will launch in mid-September with local silversmith Rachel Grose where participants will be able to fashion their very own ring to take home.

Over the next few months, artisans including the likes of globally-accredited SAORI weaver Prue Simmons, Wadawurrung weaver Tammy Gilson, armourer and blacksmith Sam Bloomfield, edged tool maker Peter Trott, leather plaiter Bill Webb and bowyer Robert Geddes will take to the stage – showcasing their craft for the benefit of all.

Informed by the past, the Centre for Rare Arts has been imagined as “a world where contemporary practice and future innovation is supported by our dedication to expertise and skill sharing”.

And as it further states on the website: “We think value and worth is defined by more than just price, and that working with expert tradespeople, everyone has the potential to create and contribute to the enduring legacy of human skill.”

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Sovereign Hill Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades
WHEN: Spring 2022
FIND OUT MORE: raretradescentre.com.au

We wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Bright glows with the reopening of Elm Dining and The Yard

Words by Tehya Nicholas
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What do you get when you combine a Japanese trained chef, a world-class sommelier and a seasoned High-Country proprietor working across two venues… one sleek, sophisticated restaurant and the other a cosy, fun-loving diner? Delicious, never-want-to-leave brilliance, that’s what.

We’re talking, of course, about the freshly minted Elm Dining restaurant and adjacent kick-back hangout spot The Yard, which after lengthy refurbishments and extensions, both swung open their doors on October 29th. And it’s safe to say that Bright is truly glowing with the new additions.

Under the guidance of Rosy Seaton (who is behind the award-winning Astra in Falls Creek, and the revitalised Boat Shed at Lake Hume), Elm Dining + The Yard are focused on delivering world-class sophistication and delicious local fare with a healthy dose of good old-fashioned hospitality.

Elm Dining is pitched to attract locals and travellers looking to indulge in some of the regions finest produce, served with international flair. Getting them there is Head Chef Kaurie Watkin, who cut his teeth at one of Japan’s finest restaurants and has been making mouths water at Astra in Falls Creek over the last year. His passion for local produce and seasonally inspired cooking means the menu features some familiar favourites but always with an exciting twist.

To complement the meals, sommelier Matt Cridge has scoured the world and his backyard for some of the best wines you can drink. His recent years spent in the Yarra Valley working alongside the highly regarded winemaker Mac Forbes, has made him one of Victoria’s most up-and-coming sommeliers – so be prepared to go on a journey of some of the region’s finest wines, beers and spirits.

For a more low-key dining experience, right outside of Elm is the humble, delightful The Yard. Ready for cocktails, finger-licking food and fun by the fire, it’s the perfect spot for an after-work yarn with a friend or weekend hangout. Between the two venues, Bright will never be short of an awesome spot to share a meal and enjoy some of the best produce the region has to offer.

THE DETAILS
WHAT: Elm Dining and The Yard
WHERE: 98 Gavan Street, Bright
WHEN: Open Tuesday – Saturday
MORE INFO: Elm Dining

We wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Hit reset at the Fire and Spice Wellness Retreat

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If lockdown 4.0 hit you hard, the itch for a vacation is turning into a rash, and you’re scrolling through the explore feed on Instagram, you’re probably in need of a little reset. We’ve done some digging for antidotes and discovered the Fire and Spice Wellness Retreat – your ultimate weekend getaway to zen out and hit that reset button.

Hosted by Masterchef alumni Dani Venn, the wellness retreat is inspired by fire and spice and designed to get you totally blissed out on good food, good vibes and good company – all within the luxurious Lon Retreat and Spa in Point Lonsdale on the Bellarine Peninsula.

The three-day retreat will see you learn the art of cooking with spices in a Masterclass run by Dani herself, soak the winter out of your bones in the warm mineral springs, stretch out on the mat in a few yoga classes, and have your fill of local gin or wine by the fire at night.

In keeping with the spirit of ‘me-time’, guests have the opportunity to take part in each activity or take things at their own pace. With two nights accommodation at the exclusive venue surrounded by stunning farmland and ocean, relaxation is guaranteed.

Dani, who is best known for lighting up our screens on Masterchef in 2011, 2012 and 2020, will join guests in activities and share her encyclopaedic knowledge of spices and cooking delicious meals along the way.

“After running wellness retreats in Bali and Sri Lanka, I am thrilled to bring my one-of-a-kind retreat closer to home at one of the most relaxing places on earth. I cannot wait to cook for you, laugh with you and create unforgettable memories you will hold onto for a lifetime,” says Dani.

Tickets are selling fast, so head to the website soon before they’re gone.

THE DETAILS
WHAT: Fire and Spice Wellness Retreat
WHEN: Friday 25 to Sunday 27 June, 2021
WHERE: Lon Retreat & Spa, 25 Gill Road, Point Lonsdale
MORE INFO: Dani Venn

An intimate French bistro about to open on Geelong’s waterfront? Bien sur!

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Geelong may seem like an odd place for a modern French bistro, but not for chef Matt Podbury and his team. The city’s bustling waterfront is about to welcome the intimate La Cachette (which translates as hideaway) to its cache of restaurants.

You may have caught some of Matt’s cooking at Captain Moonlite (Anglesea) in pre-Covid times, or at the Michelin-starred Lyle’s in London if lucky enough to travel. Whatever the case, La Cachette will blend the chef’s impressive kitchen skills with fabulous local produce to create an approachable and ever-evolving menu.

We have the privilege of working with smaller farms and producers and taking smaller quantities of stuff; when it’s gone it’s gone – we move onto the next thing.

The fixed-price approach ($85 or $105 a head) presents a tight, cohesive menu of locally sourced, highly seasonal options with the flexibility to cater to dietary preferences. For a chef that clearly subscribes to the philosophy that food is not just about what we put in our mouths, the wine list also lays bare Matt’s passion for artisan producers.

‘It’s leaning towards mostly French and Victorian with a few splashes of other pieces in there. We’re trying to tell the story of winemakers we’ve met over the years, especially in France. You would probably say the wine list is natural wine learning. We’ve got a lot of accessible stuff by the glass – some really expressive, unconventional wines to challenge and some to offer new experiences. There’s something for everyone I hope.’

You won’t be surprised to discover the attention to detail extends to the finest French steak knives as well as sustainably sourced timber for the bar and table tops. Opening on Friday, June 11^th, just in time for Queen’s Birthday long weekend, it can’t come soon enough.

THE DETAILS:

WHAT: La Cachette Bistro
WHERE: Steam Packet Pl, Geelong
WHEN: Lunch from 12pm Friday – Monday
Dinner from 5:30pm Thursday – Sunday
MORE INFO: La Cachette

The Trawool Estate

It takes some serious imagination and no small amount of bravery to look at a property between two small-ish regional centres in an albeit idyllic valley, and transform it into a food destination. It seems to be that when you apply imagination and bravery, along with no small amounts of skill and doggedness, that no amount of hither-to unknown-ness of a location will impede the success of a venture. Apply this to the small valley between Yea and Seymour, and you have The Trawool Estate.

Transforming this property between Yea and Seymour on the Goulburn Valley Highway was no small task. All the accommodation was gutted and refitted along with three restaurants added. The business is entirely renewed. Wild Water serves Australian contemporary cuisine and Turbine, the recent winner of Best Regional Hotel Restaurant at the AHA awards, serves elevated asian with Australian ingredients. Herb Garden Pizzeria is the place for wood-fire pizza and beers when the sun is shining. The kitchens commitment to regional comes from understanding where the property sits – squarely in one of the most productive and beautiful parts of regional Victoria.

Details are everything, or so the old saying alludes. These are not lost on the folks at The Trawool Estate. The little pre-mixed cocktails that kept those in-the-know satiated during lockdown are now served in those very same single serve bottles to guests in the rooms. The cocktail list is as extensive as the wine list is considered, and again local producers are to the fore. Speaking of cocktails, if you’re up for it, don’t miss the master-classes – definitely a stay-over event.

Make sure you follow the social media pages – The Trawool Estate runs some fairly astonishing events, with many planned ahead.

A fleet of airstreams rolls into Mitchelton

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There’ll be more than just Prosecco sparkling at Mitchelton this summer. The Nagambie winery has expanded its accommodation offering, with a fleet of seven Airstream RVs.

Seven of the vintage-style American caravans, known for their distinctive rounded shape and polished aluminium finish, have rolled into Mitchelton to adorn the Estate and offer a unique, year-round accommodation option for guests.

Continuing with the caravanning theme, the Airstreams each have their own deck area with a barbecue so you can whip up some bacon and eggs to have alongside a bottle of Mitchelton sparkling for a DIY proseccie-breakie. Each morning you’ll find a premium breakfast hamper delivered to your door and if you’re in need of a snack, the dry minibar is included.

Mitchelton’s Airstreams are just a short walk from the winery’s existing accommodation, the Mitchelton Hotel, and Airstream guests will also have access to the rest of the facilities including the pool, gym, day spa and Australia’s largest commercial gallery dedicated to Indigenous art.

When it comes to dinner options, you won’t have to go far, with the on-site restaurant, The Muse, offering a menu that favours local, sustainable and ethically farmed ingredients, to be enjoyed alongside a glass or two of wine from Mitchelton’s awarded cellar.

Martin Garrett, Mitchelton Hotel General Manager, said, “Mitchelton isn’t just a winery – we have an incredible Estate in the heart of the Nagambie region which is ripe for exploring. The Mitchelton Airstream Hotel can help do just that – take our guests into the heart of nature for an experience like no other.

THE DETAILS
WHAT: Mitchelton Airstream Hotel
WHERE: 470 Mitchellstown Rd, Nagambie
WHEN: Coming soon
MORE INFO: Mitchelton Airstream Hotel

Full steam ahead as Puffing Billy reopens

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One of Victoria’s most beloved icons, Puffing Billy will be back on the tracks from November 28th for the first time since closing back in March due to COVID.

Australia’s favourite steam train service will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for now, but once the summer holidays hit Puffing Billy will be open daily with three services operating from Belgrave to Lakeside Station, and an additional service operating from Menzies Creek.

“We’re excited to welcome back all guests to Puffing Billy and have been truly humbled by the outpouring of support received during our temporary closure,” said Steve O’Brien, CEO of Puffing Billy.

The team has been preparing for the reopening by servicing the century-old locomotives and clearing the 24km railway track in preparation for the reopening.

The original mountain track still carries the steam train through the Dandenong Ranges and across the historic trestle bridges, with guests able to enjoy the fern gullies and bush surrounds from the open-air carriages.

Steve O’Brien said “We have been working carefully behind-the-scenes to minimise the number of contact points between customers, staff and volunteers and preparing our COVIDSafe Plan. This time of temporary closure has also given us the opportunity to introduce new COVIDSafe experiences that we now look forward to sharing with the community.”

With reduced capacity, a part of Puffing Billy’s COVIDSafe Plan, make sure you book your tickets in advance. Everyone travelling, including babies, will need a ticket to get onboard – or better yet, if you have a group of up to 10 you can reserve an entire carriage for yourselves!

THE DETAILS:
WHAT: Puffing Billy reopens
WHERE: 1 Old Monbulk Rd, Belgrave
WHEN: From November 28 2020
MORE INFO: Puffing Billy

Attica is coming to the Yarra Valley

Image via @Australia

Ben Shewry, the genius behind the three-hatted restaurant (and national treasure) Attica, is going regional. Just yesterday, the chef-extraordinaire announced a brand new outdoor restaurant settled amongst the lush vineyards of the Yarra Valley – just in time for summer.

Attica Summer Camp is set to open right before Christmas and will give Victorian’s a fresh, more low-key take on the exceptional eats Attica is famous for. Think party-friendly shaded space overlooking undulating vines, seasonal produce with a sustainability focus, and Shewry’s signature creative flair.

It’s taken several months for Shewry to find the ideal location for his latest venture, teaming up with Healesville winemaker Mac Forbes to get the local down-low. They sifted through around 10 different sites and eventually settled on the former Lillydale Estate winery in Seville, whose hexagon pavilion is the perfect spot to get creative.

Inspired by his rural upbringing in North Taranaki, New Zealand, Shewry’s goal is to create a relaxed, joy-filled restaurant; somewhat the antithesis of his Ripponlea restaurant, which is well known to host high-profile guests and its eye-watering price tag.

In contrast, Summer Camp is about festival vibes, good tunes and delicious eats for everyone during the five-month residency. Guests can expect tastefully curated fun, starting with a poppin’ playlist by Adam Briggs and the Avalanches. It’s a sure bet to wash away the isolation blues.

It’s been a long and challenging winter, especially for those in the hospitality industry. But as spring yawns towards summer and the state gets back into action, Attica Summer Camp is set to be the sweetest spot to celebrate.

THE DETAILS
WHAT: Attica Summer Camp
WHERE: 45 Davross Court, Seville, Victoria
WHEN: December 2020
MORE INFO: Attica

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