Words by Richard Cornish Images Supplied
It’s Snowtime, and Richard Cornish explores this season’s places to eat and drink.
A tongue of cold air pushing up from Antarctica cloaked the nation’s south with freezing weather and one of the most generous seasonal foundations of snow we have seen in decades. The return to the slopes after a few winters locked down sees a handful of new places to eat and drink along with the thankful return of some old favourites.
KasaBar
If you’re heading to Falls Creek, consider then consider KasaBar. This is a little taste of the Japanese snow fields in the resort’s Village Bowl in Falls Creek. KasaBar has the look and feel of Japanese snow resort izakaya with walls papered in family-friendly manga and Japanese hip hop pumping from the Sonos. Order an ice-cold Sapporo fresh from the keg or try a local beer from Bright Brewery, Bridge Road Brewers or its hot or cold sake to wash down the hot, crunchy karage. Other hot Japanese treats include fries with Japanese spice togarashi or a nourishing bowl of thick, delicious ramen with pork belly, vegetables, and nori. Step outside, and it’s a short hop Eagle Chair, and soon you’re at the summit. Details here.
Harry Burns
Up at Mt Buller, the Asian theme continues off Bourke Street with Harry Burns, a snug, warm dining room with padded banquettes, cowhide, and wooden antlers on the walls. The bar is lined with cool granite, and here you can order the house special: a punchy lemon cheesecake cocktail. The pan Asian menu lists delicious little fish dishes such as soft prawn rolls and Thai-style kingfish sashimi at night. Look out for spicy, grilled snapper fillet, classic poached Hainanese chicken with rice, and spicy ginger and spring onion sauce. Come for the big breakfast after a morning on the slopes or a hot roast pork roll or Vietnamese salad for lunch. Also, there is sister restaurant Bob Sugar at Falls Creek.
The Villager
Also in Buller is The Villager. This beautifully blonde, rustic dining room, next to the Kooroora Hotel, has a brand new menu focusing on the French roots of co-owner Romaric Senelas. It focuses on crowd-pleasing French comfort food, perfect for cold climate dining. Start with French onion soup with a rich Gruyere crust, duck rillettes with suitable accoutrements, snails slathered in herb and garlic butter or a pork and pistachio terrine. For mains think cassoulet, steak frites, duck confit and coq au fin. The wine list has a compact collection of value local wines by the glass complemented with a larger extent of fine Australian and French bottles.
Abom
A new menu at Buller stalwart Abom reflects the skills and passion of Executive Chef Ross O’Meara. The former SBS Gourmet Farmer and avid fan of wild game serves venison ragu casarecce pasta and forest fungus gnocchi in the dining room at the mountain icon. Downstairs is the speak-easy feel Moosehead Whiskey & Blues Bar downstairs for fireside late-night drinks and seriously good Melbourne musos.
Also, check out these venues in Falls Creek.
Astra
This little resort within a resort offers accommodation, day spa, and great modern Australian produce-driven food in this beautiful wood-line lodge-like dining room.
Summit Ridge
This popular lodge with a stone fireplace featured in the restaurant dining room. The menu offers bistro classics like beef tartare and ricotta gnocchi.
Milch
Casual café, bar, restaurant on Schuss St looking out onto the Australian Alps. Come for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Then over in Buller, you have these options.
Black Cockatoo
Modern, chic, architect design room with a Josper grill at the heart of the kitchen. Modern menu starring steak, wallaby, miso kingfish. Also, try the casual diner Bird Cage next door.
Kaptan’s Restaurant
Carved wooden German-style chairs and schnitzel on the menu are a nod to the founder’s, Hans Grimus, Tyrolean background. It is a popular and well-known venue and famous for its Salzburger Nockerl – a massive choc chip hazelnut souffle with hot chocolate sauce.
The Whitt
Casual, old-school dining room for the Victorian Ski Club, open to the public via bookings for lunch or dinner. Soup and Gruyere toastie for lunch. Gnocchi for dinner with affordable wines on the compact list.
Then if you’re heading to Hotham, give these venues a whirl.
Miss Mary’s
In the heart of Hotham, with a great view across the alps, this is a haven of relative quiet, offering Asian classics, all paired up beautifully with amazing cocktails. Lunch through to dinner.
Joyce Brock Off Hut
This isolated cabin, built-in 1949 by the Australian Women’s Ski Club, is only accessible by ski or snowboard. Here you’ll find an extended deck housing a BBQ smoker so expect slow-cooked lamb in ciabatta, bbq chicken wings and baked potatoes. Worth the effort.
Alphuette Wine Bar & Restaurant
At nearby Dinner Plain, you will find the best wine list on the mountain and great easy eats like cheese croquettes, slow-cooked shoulder of lamb, pizza and the dessert classic of sticky date pudding.
We wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.
