When I was Growing Up

In reflecting on the events of the past weeks, I am reminded of everyday health practices that I used growing up in a large family. We lived a modest life, living within our means. Both my parents were born during WW2, and my grandparents were born soon after WW1 and lived through the Depression. We ate…

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Wine online (or over the phone)

Athletes of Wine. athletesofwine.com.au Bindi Wines. https://bindiwines.com.au e: michael@bindiwines.com.au Botanica Estate. botanica-estate.com.au e: info@botanica-estate.com.au t: 0413 889 866 Chanters Ridge. chantersridge.myshopify.com/ Cloud 9 Farm. cloud9farm.com.au e: info@cloud9farm.com.au t: 0422 362 861 Cobaw Ridge. cobawridge.com.au/orderform.php e: cobawridge@bigpond.com t: 03 5423 5227 Curly Flat. curlyflat.com/buy-online e: office@curlyflat.com t: 03 5429 1956 Double Oaks Estate. doubleoaks.com.au/winery.html e: sales@doubleoaks.com.au t: 0433 762 629 Gisborne Peak. gisbornepeakwines.com.au/wine-store t: 03 5428 2228 or…

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Mushroom Mayhem

Foraging for edible mushrooms is gaining popularity in Australia. With their earthy fragrances of wet forest, mushrooms truly capture the essence of the cooler months. However, those who fancy collecting a few mushies for dinner should take heed. Dangerously poisonous species lurk among the edibles that could land you in hospital or even in the…

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Download your Daylesford Macedon region Zoom background

Working from home has its advantages, but also presents us with lots of challenges. One of these challenges can be displaying your home space to the world while engaging in zoom meetings. So, hide the clutter and raise the bar with your virtual meetings, with a beautiful background image from our region. Scroll down to…

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Open for Business

Businesses that have staff and have relied on a steady flow through their door, which has now dwindled into a shadow of its former self. Great news though, you can still support many of these places that you love. You may not be able to visit but can give them a big virtual online hug…

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Same same but very different

Nothing should stop a local raffle from raising money for a needy community cause. Farmers Arms Hotel, in Daylesford, has taken their popular Friday night raffle live. Purchase your tickets in advance, and on Friday night watch as the excitement unfolds via their Facebook page. Our much-loved Bistro Terroir draws many visitors to our region.…

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Curiosity the antidote to anxiety

Positive Psychology researcher Todd Kashdan, PhD, teaches that we can consciously decide to be curious. That focus lessens our sense of anxiety, and Carol Dweck calls this curious mindset a ‘growth mindset’ – a state of mind that allows us to see new possibilities. In times like these with the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and the…

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Starting with sourdough

Around 6000 years ago, the Egyptians discovered how to make bread rise using natural fermentation. Ever since, bakers have kept a brew of fermenting flour and water called a leaven, or baker’s ‘wort’. Around two decades ago, RedBeard created wort from wild yeast and lactose bacteria harvested from potato skins, which is a traditional Scottish…

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Virtual Spudfest

Our region’s rich, brown soil is ideal for growing potatoes; in fact, families have been growing them here since the gold rush days. Dotted around the region, you can see spud huts, the historic movable home used by potato diggers for many decades, and early in the year, bright green fields of potatoes colour the…

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Top 10 Picnic Spots

Spice up your summer with a picture-worthy picnic matched to your personality. Use this guide to create the perfect country picnic just a hop, skip and jump from Melbourne. The Lavender Lovers’ Picnic Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm, Shepherds Flat Picnic among acres of sprawling gardens, fields of lavender and shady trees. Check out the 1850’s stone…

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Wheelie Fun Summer

Summertime is almost here, and that means the best of the food truck scene will heat up in the Daylesford and Macedon Ranges region. The scene has never been more vibrant, boasting a diverse range to satisfy all different tastes and offerings, popping up at markets, community, corporate and private events. It is so exciting…

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Views to Dine For

Summer dining is made even more delicious by the destination. The Daylesford and Macedon Ranges region invites you out of the baking-hot city streets this summer, to experience some of the most breathtaking food experiences in Victoria. Let’s face it, food always tastes better with a view, and we’ve created a list of some of…

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Good Food Guide Awards 2020: Full list of hats

Australia’s restaurant elite have been recognised at the Good Food Guide 2020 Awards in Brisbane. The 2020 Good Food Awards have been announced! It is a fabulous achievement to be awarded a hat, and we’re thrilled to have three restaurants to experience in our region. Lake House Daylesford has continued their tradition of excellence and…

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COOL COUNTRY

There is something very earthy and natural about the Macedon Ranges; it’s kind of untouched, yet so accessible. It’s possibly one of Melbourne’s best-kept secrets, and in a way, this bleeds through to the artisan ways of the winemakers of the region. A road less travelled, yet there are still 40 wineries with over 18…

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CATCH THE GIN BUG

Move over winery tours, gin distillery hopping is the latest trend to hit Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges with craft distillers making waves across the globe with their award-winning gins. Whether you’re looking to sip an aromatic gin on the rocks or linger with a gin-inspired cocktail, here’s a guide to some of the best…

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delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards 2019 winners revealed

The winners of the 2019 delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards, the country’s most prestigious food industry event, were announced overnight at a gala ceremony at the State Theatre in Sydney. Some of Australia’s most renowned chefs and food industry leaders joined the delicious. team and finalists at the annual awards ceremony. Now in its 14th…

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Discover Holgate Brewhouse Woodend

The explosion in popularity of craft beers over the last few years has been phenomenal, and has come about as we search for an alternative to the generic, mainstream, multi-national offerings that were usually on offer.  Holgate Brewhouse in the Macedon Ranges Shire has been a trail-blazer in the craft beer industry for almost 20 years now. Paul and…

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Six top restaurants Daylesford, Vic

Written by: Ellie Schneider, The Weekender Image: @jookelly_photographer Renowned for its sophisticated, farm-to-table fare, Daylesford is a gourmand’s delight. Perfect for a weekend getaway, there’s stunning accommodation, fresh country air and natural spring waters. Don’t forget to book ahead if you want to eat at any of these 6 incredible spots. Sault (above) Set in a beautiful…

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Happy Hens

Imagine a landscape filled with lush, green hills. A shaggy, white Maremma sheepdog dozes in the sunshine, surrounded by a few hundred fluffy, brown hens. Nearby sits their house, offering shade, shelter and a safe place to lay eggs. In the Daylesford Macedon region we’re lucky that we don’t have to dream up such idyllic…

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A New Way To Experience The Garden Of St Erth

Written by: Georgina Reid, The Design Files The Garden of St Erth is a rambling delight located in Blackwood, Victoria. A charming country garden lovingly cultivated by The Diggers Club since 1996, this oasis now offers glamping stays, so its beauty can be enjoyed from dusk to dawn! We ventured just over one-hour north-east of Melbourne’s…

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Grass Fed & Free-Range

On the mineral rich volcanic pastures of Blampied, you will find one of the oldest rare breeds of cattle, the British White, contently grazing the chemical free pastures of Brooklands Free Range Farms. Their pure white coats with distinctive black ears, nose and hooves stand starkly against the backdrop of the ancient volcano Mt Kooroocheang. Their…

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Holgate Brewhouse expansion

Written by: Megan Sahli, Brews News Pioneering Victorian brewery Holgate Brewhouse, is on the verge of opening its greatest expansion yet. Holgate was founded by owners Paul and Natasha Holgate in 1999, in the little country town of Woodend. The brewery has helped shape the area as a mainstay for visitors to the Macedon region. Holgate’s…

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2018 DELICIOUS. PRODUCE AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The winners of the 2018 delicious. Produce Awards, the country’s most prestigious food industry awards, were announced overnight at a gala event at QT Sydney Some of Australia’s most renowned chefs and food industry leaders joined the delicious. team and finalists at the annual ceremony. The delicious. Produce Awards are designed to celebrate the country’s…

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ALLA WOLF-TASKER: LAKEHOUSE LEGEND

Along with her loving family, Alla Wolf-Tasker transformed a downtrodden country town into a thriving culinary community. Alla Wolf-Tasker’s Lake House story is the stuff of legend and has been told many times. And while the Lake House is recognised around the world as one of this country’s great restaurants, the impact Alla, and the…

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Daylesford Spa Country Railway to open new platform in Musk

4A new train platform is set to be unveiled in Musk in a few weeks time. Daylesford Spa Country Railway president Stuart Smithwick said the concept of building a platform at the doorstep to Passing Clouds Winery had been talked about for several years before it finally came to fruition. The platform has been built by…

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Three Decades On: Lake House and Daylesford

Article By: One Hour Out Some of Australia’s top restaurants are now located in regional areas, and Lake House is one of the best – being ranked by the National Good Food Guide as one of the top 12 restaurants in the country. It was also one of the first. From humble beginnings in the…

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Replenish, eat and repeat at Daylesford

Image credit: Sharyn Cairns So lovely that it’s been attracting holidaymakers since the 1800s, and with contemporary twists to suit every taste, Daylesford is the town with it all when it comes to a country escape. When we arrive in Daylesford, it’s already been spring for a couple of months, but the town seems unconcerned…

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DELICIOUS. PRODUCE AWARDS 2018 STATE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

See who made the cut for 2018’s list of state winners. The full list of 2018 delicious. Produce Awards State Winners was revealed today with 120 producers receiving state awards across Dairy, Paddock, Sea and Earth categories. The delicious. Produce Awards in association in with Miele are a celebration of Australia’s magnificent bounty of ethical,…

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INSTITUTE OF GASTRONOMY ON THE MENU FOR DAYLESFORD

An Institute of Gastronomy could be established in Daylesford benefiting farmers, fine food producers, and accommodation and hospitality operators thanks to Victorian government funding to assess the proposal in full. Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas today announced a $100,000 Food Source Victoria grant and a $20,000 contribution from Regional Development Australia for Ms Wolf-Tasker AM…

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2017 DELICIOUS. PRODUCE AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The delicious. Produce Awards, in partnership with Miele, are a celebration of Australia’s magnificent bounty of ethical, sustainable and innovative ingredients, and the passionate, talented people behind them. Read on for our 2017 winners. It’s called a lazy susan, but the rotating tray at the centre of the delicious. Produce Awards was spinning at a…

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Gourmet Traveller WINE’s Best Cellar Doors for 2017

Gourmet Traveller WINE’s Best Cellar Doors for 2017 Macedon Ranges/Sunbury Curly Flat STAR CELLAR DOOR Phillip Moraghan’s hungry wine brain demands constant feeding. He keeps stats and figures, charts and photos detailing every aspect of his grape growing and winemaking going way back to the start in 1989. He even takes photos of wine bugs…

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Cleveland Winery Underground Cellar Door to open in Macedon Ranges

The First Underground Cellar Door & Wine Tasting Hub Winery to open in Macedon Ranges Cleveland Winery is excited to share that it has recently opened its door to their new Underground Cellar and Wine Hub. The underground cellar was initially used for riddling of the Estate grown sparkling wine with its perfect climate controlled…

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Alla Wolf-Tasker: The woman who made regional cuisine fashionable

Article by: SARAH HUDSON, The Weekly Times Photo credit: Chloe Smith ALLA Wolf-Tasker first truly fell in love with food in France. “In Provence it was all about local farmers bringing their produce through the restaurant door,” says Alla, the co-owner and culinary director of Daylesford’s Lake House. “Working in France is where I fell…

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Six Reasons to Visit Lancefield

The Grange Cleveland Winery featured in the 6 reasons to visit Lancefield: Article by: Richard Cornish, The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. Megafauna Festival In the 1840s, the fossilised bones of extinct giant kangaroos and massive wombats were found in a wetland on the site that is now Lancefield Recreation Reserve. This is now home to the second…

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Bringing Heritage Back onto our Plates

“Hence a Classic Italian menu couldn’t have been more befitting for the restaurant.” Bellinzona had recently launched a new menu featuring a Classic Italian cuisine that truly reflects its roots. The menu includes simple dishes such as Fettuccini Marinara, Pasta Primavera and even the most staple of dishes Spaghetti Bolognese. What makes the difference is…

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The Age Good Food Guide 2017 awards

The Age Good Food Guide 2017: full list of hatted restaurants FULL ARTICLE & ALL WINNERS LISTED HERE ARTICLE BY: ROSLYN GRUNDY Regional restaurateurs were the grinners at The Age Good Food Guide 2017 Awards. Carrying off some of the big gongs were Birregurra’s Brae, winning Restaurant of the Year, and newcomer Igni in Geelong,…

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2016 DELICIOUS. PRODUCE AWARDS WINNERS REVEALED

FULL ARTICLE & ALL NATIONAL WINNERS LISTED ON HERE DELICIOUS. ARTICLE BY: delicious. team Find out who made the list in this year’s prestigious awards. The winners of the 2016 delicious. Produce Awards in partnership with Miele were announced last night at a VIP event at Pier One Sydney Harbour Hotel. Some of Australia’s most…

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Fast Food

“Fast car, autumnal countryside? There’s no time for sitting in restaurants over endless degustation menus. But that doesn’t mean you should go hungry on a spirited trip in the country, says John Lethlean.” Photo credit: Chrisian Brunelli Travelling in style, John Lethlean takes you on a journey through the region in search of fast food…

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2016 DELICIOUS. PRODUCE AWARDS STATE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

FULL ARTICLE & ALL WINNERS LISTED ON HERE DELICIOUS. We looked at the best of the best. See who made it on this year’s list. The full list of 2016 delicious. Produce Awards State Winners 2016 were today revealed and will appear in the September issue of delicious. on sale Thursday August 11, 2016.The 2016 delicious. Produce Awards in partnership with…

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Celebrate Christmas in July (Reindeer Jumpers Optional)

“It’s our chance to enjoy all the good things about winter: warm fires, comfort food, cosy nights with friends and family”- ALEX GREIG, Qantas Travel Insider Australians have an odd adherence to Northern Hemisphere Christmas traditions – a touch of FOMO perhaps? Surely, then, the best time for this festive spirit is in July. Here’s where…

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KATE HITS THE ROAD TO: THE MACEDON RANGES

“Motobean is just off the main street of Malmsbury, directly opposite the Botanic Gardens, with beautiful big picture windows and views.” – Kate Stevenson, 3AW I’ve long claimed to hold the title of Regional Queen here at 3AW, when it comes to traipsing all over regional Victoria I think I’ve shown dedication to the cause. But…

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Milk by Name, Chicken by Nature

“So determined to ensure she is showcasing the best of the region, Rachel knows all of the local growers and producers, purchasing directly from them.” Located in the foothills of Victoria’s Great Dividing Range, within the Shire of Hepburn, stands the beautiful town of Daylesford. Known as one of Australia’s premier spa towns, it is…

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The Treasure of Trout Farming

“The experience of fishing and eating at the farm is so honest and stripped back, it can make every other meal you eat that week seem a disconnected jumble of complication and ambiguity” – Linsey Rendell, Broadsheet From pond to pan in 10 minutes, trout-farm fishing offers one of the freshest dining experiences around. In partnership…

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Sher Wagyu takes paddock to plate up a level

“The Shers operate by a philosophy of commitment, loyalty and communication in all customer relationships and say the best orders are not the first one but the second and repeats.”- Shan Goodwin, The Land THE most successful paddock to plate stories seem to evolve from a willingness to step outside comfort zones and react quickly to…

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Out of Towners: Daylesford

“Many menus have vegetarian and gluten-free options, and there’s plenty of local wine to test your palate.”- Linsey Rendell, Broadsheet Need a change of pace? With natural mineral springs and excellent farm-to-table fare, Daylesford has plenty to offer those looking to spend a weekend in low gear. Once you’ve dipped your toe in the waters of…

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Franklin, Rosa’s Kitchen, Indulge Cafe, Gowings: chasing producers

“Happy chooks laying good eggs often can mean higher cost and Mitchell is fine with that.” – Hilary McNevin, The Australian Rosa Mitchell, chef and co-owner of Rosa’s Kitchen and Rosa’s Canteen, Melbourne, and Paul Righetti, Real Eggs, Yandoit Rosa Mitchell and her husband, Colin, own a property in Yandoit in Victoria’s northwest and are neighbours…

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At home with the lady of Lake House, Alla Wolf-Tasker

“From her kitchen window Alla can see the gabled roof of the old cottage and the now towering pines she planted with her mother.” – Sarah Harris, The Weekly Review Photo credit: Michael Rayner The lady of Lake House, Alla Wolf-Tasker, rarely has time to reflect upon its still, wide waters from her eyrie in the…

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Moto Bean wins SILVER in this year’s Australian International Coffee Awards

“Seasonal Espresso House Blend brings it home again!” RASV – Australian International Coffee Awards 2016 (AICA) Category: Cappuccino, Milk (blend) – SILVER WINNER Following the success of last years BRONZE win (Milk Blend category, AICA 2015), owner-roaster Lachy Evans, has worked hard to perfect this already super tasty blend winning SILVER in this year’s Australian…

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Broadsheet: Lake House Restaurant

“Alla, the head chef, is particularly supportive of local producers. She founded Daylesford Macedon Produce, a collective of likeminded farmers, producers and restaurateurs. ” Photo credit: Lindsey Rendell After acquiring some prime real estate skirting Daylesford’s tranquil lake in 1979, Alla and Allan Wolf-Tasker set about clearing the swampy surrounds to build their restaurant. Now…

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Festival-goers on cloud nine

“Wine and Food producers impressed Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas, who visited Cloud 9 Farm to share their hospitality on Saturday.” Photo credit: Kylie McDonald On a perfect weekend for the Macedon Ranges Wine and Food Festival, visitors turned out in great numbers to visit the winegrowers and producers of the region. With many new visitors…

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Retreating to luxury at Lake House, Daylesford

“The Retreat was opened in 2011 and is linked by pathways to Lake House proper but also has a separate street-front entrance and is nicely screened with brush fences and abundant greenery. ” – Susan Kurosawa, The Australian Five-star hotels have long had top-tier accommodation that sits loftily above the average guestroom inventory. Frequently, these multi-roomed chambers…

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Daylesford & Hepburn Mineral Springs Co. Finalists in 2015 Premier’s Sustainability Awards

Congratulations to the Daylesford and Hepburn Mineral Springs Company for being a finalist in the 2015 Premier’s Sustainability Awards in the category of Innovative Products or Services for their Mineral Water Eco-Keg:  “An innovative locally manufactured product, reduces the use and disposal of packaging, bringing sustainability to the Melbourne hospitality culture”. View the full list of finalists here.…

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Mt. Franklin Organics now open at Daylesford Sunday Market

We’re very excited to announce we now have a weekly stall at every Daylesford Sunday Market 8am to 1pm (very sad to say good bye to the monthly regional farmers markets who have been wonderful over the past 7 years)… and we’ll be collaborating with other local organic growers along the way ensuring our trestles…

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delicious. Produce Awards 2015

Article by: taste.com.au Pull out the party hats and light the birthday candles – it’s time to celebrate ten years of the delicious. Produce Awards! It’s been a decade of unearthing some of Australia’s most innovative produce and celebrating the growers, farmers, chefs, farmers’ markets and food stores that all play their part in bringing it…

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Chook and cheese as early-birds run with a delicious success

“The awards — the pinnacle event for Australia’s small-scale and artisan food producers — have never had a winner in its first year of business.” – John Lethlean As records go, it’s no biggie. But when management consultants-turned-chook-farmers Bruce and Roz Burton last night claimed a prestigious delicious magazine Produce Award, it was a record-breaking…

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Daylesford weekend getaway: where to eat and drink

“But you can eat and drink well in those fertile plains, never more so than now.” – Gemima Cody, Good Food From pub counter food to two-hatted fare, Daylesford adds up to a delicious stay. The Daylesford area has always had great pull power thanks to its burbling, fizzing, healing mineral waters which may be pumped…

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delicious. Produce Awards 2015 – Finalists revealed

“While innovation plays an important role in the evolution of our food culture, it’s the high-quality ingredients, ethically and sustainably produced, that lay the foundation, and it’s all of these that we celebrate in the delicious.” Single-origin sourdough, farmed seaweed, Australian quinoa, raw milk cheese… this is not a futuristic food fantasy, this is Australia,…

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Cholesterol aside, eggs are the ultimate homemade miracle food

“Paolo is a “beyond organics” disciple of American farmer and author Joel Salatin’s theories and practices.” – John Lethlean, The Australia First, the bad news. For me, anyway. Cholesterol. It’s quite up. Even on statins, which have been a yummy part of the daily diet for years. Cholesterol medicine is the stuff of Big Pharma nirvana…

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The locavore food movement trumps organic for some, but not all

“And while demand for organic produce is still increasing – even some fast-food chains use it these days – the new badge of authenticity seems to be ‘local’.” – Andrew Masterson, The Age Photo credit: Simon O’Dwyer At the Daylesford Farmers’ Market a couple of weeks back, fruit and vegetable grower Florian Hofinger stood behind a…

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Classy Annie Smithers Bistrot makes a name for itself

“Foster takes the hero produce you expect to find at a place like this — free-range old-breed pork belly; aged Sidonia Hills beef — and shows it off. ” – Necia Wilden, The Australian THE name is — as yet — unchanged but Annie Smithers Bistrot in Keyneton, regional Victoria, is leaving the past behind. The…

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Is this Australia’s most expensive chicken?

“Bruce Burton, farmer, wants us all to get a little nostalgic. He wants us to recall a time when roast chicken was … special.” – John Lethlean, The Australian BRUCE Burton, farmer, wants us all to get a little nostalgic. He wants us to recall a time when roast chicken was … special. He doesn’t need…

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Holy Goat on a path to finding Holy Grail

Holy Goat Cheese is participating in a groundbreaking trial with Australian Specialist Cheesemakers’ Association (ASCA) and Dairy Innovation Australia Limited (DIAL) to harvest the natural microbes from milk used to make artisan cheese. The trial will capture the naturally occurring microbes in the raw milk used by artisan cheesemakers and turn those microbes into a…

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Boathouse rises from the ashes

“The building was restored in the early 1990s and has become a Daylesford institution ever since.” – EMMA-JAYNE SCHENK, The Advocate THE restored Lake Daylesford Boathouse Cafe will open its doors in two weeks after it was gutted by fire in 2012. All that remained after the blaze were the stumps in the ground, but after months…

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Spare a thought for the workers on Christmas Day

“Never, is this a truer observation than working a Christmas lunch service in a restaurant.” Photo credit: William Meppem Never, is this a truer observation than working a Christmas lunch service in a restaurant. I am lucky enough not to have worked too many Christmas days, through a mixture of both good fortune and choice,…

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Annie Smithers’ Christmas Dinner Auction

“The response has been extraordinary” said an emotional Annie today, “I think the momentum will continue to build” Renowned chef, cook, gardener and DMP member, Annie Smithers has auctioned herself of to the highest bidder to raise funds for The Florey Institute to help them continue their research into Parkinsons Disease. Congratulations to Amanda Minns…

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2014 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards

The Royal Melbourne Wine Awards (RMWA), conducted by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV), is Australia’s premier wine awards event. It celebrates excellence in Australian winemaking, showcasing the industry’s diversity and quality, giving Australian wine producers the opportunity to promote their fine wines to both industry and consumers. The RMWA is an essential benchmarking…

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Argus and Mineral Spa sweep the awards pool

The Argus Dining Room located at Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel in Hepburn Springs and owned by Wayne Cross and Chris Malden, have been recognised for their excellence in recent awards taking home gongs on both an international stage and at home. Golden Plate Awards 2014 The Argus Dining Room took out top honours at the…

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Bread that takes the cake

“If the sine qua non of a food ­destination is quality bread, then Kyneton, a thriving little town in central Victoria, has hit the big time.” FOUR of Australia’s best bakeries – from Bondi to Subiaco. 2. Piper Street Food Co, Kyneton, Victoria. If the sine qua non of a food ­destination is quality bread,…

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Interview RubaDub + Nats + Jono

“Each animal has a story, each is loved and each has a purpose and a place. ” – Danielle White, The Countryphiles Overwhelmed by the soul-enriching passion behind this week’s wonderful story, it’s hard to know where to start. So, the beginning will just have to do. A few weeks back, I was blessed to share…

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The Boy from Ballarat

“With two main wine labels under his management, Eastern Peake and Appellation Ballarat, Owen is a busy man.” – Kate Christensen, the wine project Photo credit: James Broadway I perch at a large wooden share table in the middle of the room, pick at some Holy Goat soft cheese, sip a local red and chat with…

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Stars, Hats and the Joys of the Awards Season

Late winter is a busy time for media generated awards and as usual DMP members have been prominent in what might be called ‘awards season’.  It starts in with the delicious Produce Awards which, apart from being a great guide for consumers to excellence in Australia’s small scale agricultural and artisan product development, it is…

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Meet The Milking Yard Farm

“The Milking Yard’s ethos is to offer produce “the way nature intended”, but clearly Bruce uses all the modern methods of research and breeding and some forms of intervention to reach that goal.” – Kirsty Simpson, Eat In Photo credit: Angela Miller You couldn’t ask for better luck. The sheep that Bruce Burton had kept to…

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du Fermier Restaurant Review – Good Food

“Du Fermier takes quite a risk running such a pared back non-menu, but it doesn’t falter. It’s the added extras that help – the warm plates, the warm staff – but it’s the palpable connection with the kitchen that makes dinner here so memorable” – Larissa Dubecki, Good Food Photo credit: Simon Schluter It was a…

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Boathouse revamp

“We want to make it a place where people are proud and happy to actually come” Photo credit: Julie Hough Go to the article LOCAL business operators Chris Malden and Wayne Cross are the new lessees of the Boat House Cafe on the shore of Lake Daylesford. Hepburn Shire Council granted Mr Cross and Mr…

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Entertaining tips from multi-award-winning chef Annie Smithers

“The food I serve now is coming much more from the home and the heart. ” Photo credit: Sharyn Cairns When Annie Smithers sold her multi-award-winning restaurant Bistrot in Kyneton, Victoria last year, an idea was fermenting regarding her next move. She’d already opened Du Fermier, a French-inspired cafe in Trentham, about half an hour’s…

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Delicious Produce Awards 2014

Warialda Wins. We’re guessing there might be one or two sore heads amongst our DMP members this morning after attending the ABC delicious. Produce Awards 2014 Awards in Sydney last night. Warialda Belted Galloway, Sher Wagyu, McIvor Pork, as well as our Chair Alla Wolf Tasker, celebrated with some of Australia’s most renowned chefs and…

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Warialda Beef building a brand from the ashes

“Moving from growers to marketers has been hard work, says Lizette Snaith, who now sells nearly 800kg of prime beef direct to consumers and chefs each week, but the rewards are slowly coming for this unique beef and its dedicated producers.” Go to the article GROWING up in Melbourne, Allen Snaith always wanted to be…

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The Zielinski family are selling the sizzle

“And it is the aroma of slow-cooked pork roll with sweetcorn slaw, and the Saddleback sausages with caramelised onion, that lures customers to Marnie and Nick Zielinski’s Zed and Co stall at farmers’ markets.” Go to the article AS ANY foodie will tell you, it’s the nose that knows. And it is the aroma of…

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Real good, unless it’s not real at all

“About 70 of us showed up on an ordinary sort of June day to Jonai Farm, Eganstown, home to local evangelists for ethical animal husbandry and preservation of rare breeds for the purpose of producing trustworthy food, Tammi and Stuart Jonas.” Go to the article SO, we went to the farm. We saw the pigs.…

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Autumn’s feast for the senses

“Local wags reckon there are three seasons in central Victoria: February, March and Winter…” So begins Gaye Leago’s funny, touching account of the trials and tribulations of veggie growing here in the Daylesford Macedon region, Growing Concerns, our winner of the #dmpharvest The Lake House Food Writing Award 2014. Gaye’s story was picked from a…

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Grange Bellinzona doors open for dining

FIRSTLY, Grange Bellinzona in Hepburn Springs is open for Friday and Saturday night dinner. Secondly, it’s fantastic. I mention the first part because, so far, everyone I have talked to has no idea the lovely Heritage Restaurant is open to the public. Everyone seems to have assumed it’s all about weddings and conferences. Including me.…

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