Word by Richard Cornish Images by Georgie James Photography
The famed food and wine destination of Beechworth has another feather in its cap with the opening last week of Vera at Glenbosch Estate.
On the road from Wangaratta to Beechworth, on the former site of Amulet Wines, is this modern cellar door and distillery. It is also now the home of Vera dining room and the new kitchen of award-winning chef Douglas Elder. After a few years cooking in France, he’s back in Victoria’s North East to open this new produce-driven diner. Elder was given his first Age Good Food Guide Hat at Villa Gusto in 2003, more at Wardens in Beechworth, and another at Brown Brothers.
The 100 seat dining room, with bare wooden tables set with good stemware and pre-loved antique crockery, overlooks Glenbosch’s vineyards and hills beyond. The room, the staff, and the menu express the joy and the love of the region embraced by business owners Tim Witherow and Sally Wright from the Good Pub Group. They have given chef Douglas Elder free rein to collect and collate the best regional produce the season offers and serve it on the retro plates, letting the produce do the talking.
After choosing a gin-based cocktail from the Glenbosch Gin cocktail list, dive into the $65 seven savoury plate set menu that changes every week. “I am starting with what comes through the kitchen door and writing the menu from what the growers are bringing in,” says Elder.
Recent dishes have included cured salmon and gin pickled cucumber, followed by Milawa chicken terrine with du puy lentils and a mustard dressing. Last week there were black figs sitting on parmesan custard drizzled with sweet and sour honey and rosemary dressing. The only thing on the menu that stays the same is the invitation from Witherow and Wright, which reads, “Our menu is a shared ‘feast style’ celebration created with the best local produce and designed to get your fingers sticky and dribble down your chin.”
Leave room for dessert. Bon appétit.
THE DETAILS
WHAT: Vera at Glenbosch Estate
WHERE: 1036 Wangaratta-Beechworth Rd, Everton
WHEN: Friday – Monday 12 pm – 3 pm
MORE INFO: Vera Restaurant
