In times when Carbon Footprint and Food Miles are hot topics for people who claim stake to the title ‘Foodie’ in their social media intro, the idea of burning fuel to get to food far flung might seem a bit capitalist. I say if you earned it, relish it. And not just me, as a recent trip Down Under took me destination dining. With a country as large as a continent and a population no larger than a modest-sized colony in India, the idea of covering a few hundred kilometres for a meal seemed less daunting.
Destination dining is about serving food and also providing an overnight stay. You may go for the food, but if you’ve driven in from far, stay overnight and make a quick getaway out of a meal. Not only will the drive to the place heighten the anticipation of the awaited gourmet experience but how delightful to enjoy a hot post-prandial soak in the bath with a nightcap to ease us into slumber… the ultimate climax to any dinner, ever. Which is precisely what I did on one of my meals. So picturesque was the quaint town of Beechworth that I went for a run the next morning along their gorgeous gorge to compensate for the night before. So if you happen to be planning Victoria as a plausible vacay spot, here are a few restaurants that are worthy of your attention.
Provenance, Beechworth: Chef Michael Ryan, Chef of the Year 2013, Age Good Food Guide, has created something of a Mecca for fine dining lovers in Beechworth. Japanese-influenced modern Australian with an exhaustive wine list that showcases plenty of local options. Equally luxurious on all your senses are the four adjoining suites where you can retire after your meal or get into your own personal jacuzzi. If you think getting a table here is tough, try booking a room to go with it.
Brae, Birregurra: One of the two Oz entries on the World’s Fifty Best places to eat puts Brae in the limelight and the small town of Birregurra on the map. The 30-acre property houses the restaurant, farms and orchards, and six suites that put the most talked-about of resorts to shame. Dan Hunter has many accolades to his credit—Chef of the year 2016, Age Good Food Guide and Top Chef in Australia’s top Chef Awards 2016.
Lake House, Daylesford: This spa town is famous for its mineral-rich source water, not to forget that picturesque lake, a 90-minute drive out of Melbourne downtown. The property has studios, suites and lodges to accommodate large families or groups. The restaurant is highly acclaimed with two Chef Hats (Australia’s Age Good Food guide’s rating system with three Chef Hats being the highest) and a wine list to match. They even have packages that entail a massage before a delectable meal. The grounds are massive and suited to host large wedding receptions and corporate functions.
Eleanore’s Restaurant, Chateau Yering Hotel: Situated in the postcard-perfect Yarra Valley, this is a boutique hotel with a fine dining restaurant. The property holds historic significance, linked as it is to the birth of the Yarra valley wine region and now with a luxury on-site hotel, which occupies the same space and building as the original edifices. A treat of a getaway.
The writer is a sommelier.
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