Travel - Rising Food Regions

It’s a clever collective of artisans that cover the gamut of food, wine, crafts, spas, galleries and B&Bs. It encompasses areas outside of Canberra that you might otherwise miss including Hall, Murrumbateman, Gundaroo, Yass/Bowning and Bungendore/Wamboin/Lake George. Former merchant-banker-turned-Poachers-Pantry-founder, Susan Bruce, banded together these hand-picked artisan businesses to form a meandering trail for the curious. These gems are best uncovered by car as the distance between establishments can be 30 minutes or more.

Hall’s Poachers Pantry – Café and smoke house 25 mins from Canberra Awesome smoked meats and a café http://www.poacherspantry.com.au/ - personal faves are the chricen breast with lemon and tarragon – prosciutto and even lamb prosciutto

Grazing - destination restaurant in the old Royal Hotel in Gundaroo http://www.grazing.com.au/ about 30 mins from Canberra chef Kurt Neumann – think cozy fireplace hearty dinners in winter and the kitchen garden in spring summer. Fantastic meal that follos the whole local sourced produce idea so locals will often barter their home grown produce for a meal or a starter depending on the size of the bounty traded Amazing bread which is dipped in scrumptious La Barre Blood Plum Finishing Vinegar and Yass olive oil

Lambert Vineyards in Winter – serve their own truffels in the restaurant –in soufflés, on bread, in their gnocchi and even in a desert - a white chocolate and truffle ice cream – drool http://www.lambertvineyards.com.au/

And speaking of wine – one of the most celebrated Australian wines cellar door is on the trail - Murrumbateman’s Clonakilla. http://www.clonakilla.com.au/ Pulling up to cellar door, you’re likely to see a sign that reads: We are in the vineyard, please honk the horn LOUDLY! but don’t let that deter you. Tim Kirk is the family winemaker and their legendary Shiraz Viognier is an idea borne of his visit to France’s Côte Rôtie. On the 1st of September, queues form to buy a bottle of this Shiraz Viognier described as ‘ethereal’.

Just behind the Great Ocean Road. The Deans Marsh Road and do a circuit via Bambra, Birregurra, Colac, Gellibrand, Ferguson, Beech Forest and Forrest. This route is promoted as the Otway Harvest Trail. Truly is the ‘best kept secret’ category Bite off this section of Victoria over a couple of days, and you’ll sample everything from local seafood and organic farm produce, to bakery items and top-notch cheese and meats.

Sunnybrae Restaurant -run by food icon George Biron. George even holds weekly cooking classes at the restaurant. Awesome home style cooking without the fuss – one of the great cooking schools of Australia http://www.australiantraveller.com/experiences/live-a-paddock-to-plate-life-at-sunnybrae

http://sunnybraerestaurantandcookingschool.blogspot.com.au/

Wye General Store and Cafe at Wye River – LOVE this place an absolute find - the old caravan park central store turned into an awesome café Everything here – from top-quality breads to cakes – is made on the premises. (Hint: get there before the cyclists; this is their gourmet stop. The coffee is superb, too). http://wyerivergeneralstore.com.au/

A La Greque - Greek hosts Kostas and Pam Talimanidis serve up modern Greek-Australian delights (plus there’s views of the stunning Split Point Lighthouse). http://www.alagrecque.com.au/home.html

Gentle Annie Berry Gardens (opens in Nov) at Pennyroyal pick punnets of fresh berries – around nine varieties are on offer.

http://www.gentleannie.com.au/

The Ridge Organic Food Store & Café in Beech Forest. It’s the type of place where at the door you can by Joe’s tomatos, Jack’s apatatoes, Bills cucumbers and Milly’s strawberries, It si an absoutle find for food – amazing quality - seasonal and sourced locally- . Owner Sue Ladewig is such a lovely person, her burger – the tastiest in Australia, according to many – and signature goulash pie (her mother’s recipe,). Views from the veranda extend to the Grampians.

http://www.theridgecafe.com/

The Shoalhaven region has long been the summer holiday playground for nearby city dwellers, who have been coming to bask on the pristine beaches of Jervis Bay and beyond for generations. Balmy climate, lush valleys and 160 kilometres of some of the purest, whitest coastline in New South Wales, it’s surprising how long the Shoalhaven has been flying under the radar – now it’s a the burgeoning food and wine scene as well.

Berry Sourdough Café - charming heritage listed building, the buzzing café and bakery was one of the first establishments to put the region on the food map. The European-style pastries or the obvious favourite – the woodfire-baked, organic sourdough bread – will serve you well on the road. Otherwise, stay for a lunch of European countryside classics like sourdough welsh rarebit with pickled onions or a Brittany-style fish stew, depending on the season. http://berrysourdoughcafe.com.au/

Hungry Duck - David Campbell, who brings his experience from Tetsuya’s, Billy Kwong and Wokpool, is as passionate about Asian cuisine as he is dedicated to the sustainable food philosophy, with a kitchen garden that customers can stroll through to get to know their food before it reaches their plate and a menu that supports local farmers and producers. http://hungryduck.com.au/

Oyster hut of Jim Wild – Right at Greenwell Point and straight out fo some deep south movie set – tthink ramshcackle huts strwn wirth white oyster shells - there are any number of Oyetsr huts but you have to drop by Jims place – ex World Champion Shucker – and legend amongst shuckers. There amazing rock oysters do not get any tastier or fresher and it is a scene to behold. p02 4447 1498

Centred around Stanthorpe - 220km spouth west of Brissy right on the broder with NSW it is the QLD wine region – its elevated and in land so can have some pretty cool temps – its has been known to snow there.

This make s it possible to grow wine and that’s why Stanthorpe is home to more than 20 wines (and there are 40 cellar doors in the region) which they call ‘Strange Birds’ - made from alternative grape varieties like Sylvaner, Nero d’Avola and Petit Verdot.

Also great for orchids and fruit growing so pick your won picnic – apples, figs, pears, olives, berries, cherries, peaches…

Suttons Farm juice factory - cidery and distillery in cute hamlet outside Stanthorpe appropriately named Applethrope - sells huge slices of deep-dish apple pie served with apple cider ice-cream. During the season you can pick apples in the orchard outside (which is actually lots of fun, even if you’re a grown up).

http://suttonsfarm.com.au/

The Bramble Patch – in Glen Aplin pig out on all thigns berry with jams, pickles, fortified strawberry or blackcurrant wines, vinegars 0- like strawberry vinegar but most of all head to the dessertery where you get fresh berry ice cream, sorbet or in winter warm apple or blackberry pie… but the highlight is the Awesome Ice Burger, an ice-cream-and-sorbet-filled chocolate sponge dripping with berry coulis. (Order one at your peril!)etc www.bramblepatch.com.au

Ballandean hamlet which has a neat, cute little cluster of Strange Bird Wineries. Try Hidden Creek (the pretty on-site café alone is worth a visit) or Ballandean Estate, Queensland’s oldest family-run winery, which has been making wine since the early 1930s.

Tags Quentin Long Travel Dining Food