THE POINTY END
The details OAK AND MONKEY PUZZLE 1333 Ballan-Daylesford Road, Spargo Creek; natashamorgan.com.au
B E LV E D E R E S O C I A L 82 Vincent Street, Daylesford; belvederesocial.com.au
ISTRA SMALLGOODS 36 Wheelers Hill Road, Musk; dmproduce.com.au/istra-smallgoods
REDBEARD HISTORIC BAKERY 38A High Street, Trentham; redbeardbakery.com.au
T H E C O T T A G E AT B O L O B E K 370 Mount Macedon Road, Mount Macedon; bolobek.com.au
“The region has become a magnet for creative people“ Lunch takes place in a converted shipping container in the shade of the tall trees and follows the seasonal ethos of the whole venture. Spargo Creek is right outside of Daylesford, an area best known as spa country, a place for a romantic getaway or couples weekend, but the region has also become a magnet for people who are looking for a place to create, whether it's flower arranging, curing meats or reviving a century-old oven to make bread to an ancient recipe. After a coffee with Natasha, I am heading to lunch at Redbeard Historic Bakery, but I have time for a quick detour to Istra Smallgoods. Down a tree-lined driveway lies a nondescript white building that contains some of the best cured meats in the country, let alone the region. You will find them on menus all over Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges and I stock up on some salami and plump chorizo.
58
ti g e ra ir.co m . a u
Then it’s a short drive to the town of Trentham, home to Redbeard Historic Bakery down a small side lane off the main street. Inside this modest corrugated iron shed owner John Reid has revived a wood-fired Scotch oven first used in 1891. From the oven he cranks out cracking sourdough, traditional bread made with a wild yeast leaven. The café itself is simply dressed with a 100-year-old baker’s trough as the main feature made by the same engineers behind the historic oven. In the café the bread is the star ingredient dressed with local cheeses and some of the Istra Smallgoods I now have in my car – I opt for a doorstop-sized Ruben with pastrami, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. ê
A R U N D E L F A R M E S T AT E 321 Arundel Road, Keilor; arundelfarmestate.com.au
THE GARDEN AT BOLOBEK IS FULL OF SURPRISES, LIKE SECLUDED BIRD HOUSES