mornington peninsula
2023
from earth to sea, abundance for all to share
ALL THINGS DELICIOUS ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA
Lancemore, Lindenderry Red Hill, photo by Naturalight Photography
EAT.DRINK . . .
enjoy
THE WINEY COW P: 71
A celebration of all things delicious Welcome to Eat.Drink 2023 – the fifth annual edition of our sensational, locally-produced book celebrating the culinary delights found on the Mornington Peninsula and Greater Frankston. Once again Lisa, Archie, and the team from Mornington Peninsula Magazine take you on a tour of the region’s best eateries, wineries, distilleries, cideries and breweries. We chat to the passionate people behind these venues. We also look at local innovators winning awards across the nation and the world. This is an opportunity to explore the new players and revisit your favourites as we take you to more than 120 foodie hot spots on a journey of deliciousness. Follow us and tag us throughout the year on social media @eatdrinkmornpen as we update you on the latest from our 2023 Eat.Drink venues. After the turmoil of the past few years it is worth reminding readers to respect and acknowledge those who choose to serve us while we chill out and enjoy the fruits of their labour. From earth to sea, there is abundance for all to share. www.eatdrinkmp.com.au
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TEN MINUTES BY TRACTOR P: 151
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It’s back to business, after ‘those’ years The Peninsula is once again the thriving food and wine community and culture that it always was. Perhaps even better and stronger. With those three disruptive and destructive years of COVID behind us, people are back enjoying life to the full. What these years showed us was the incredible tenacity of the people who work in hospitality, and the business owners. They have an innate urge to look after others. To cook for, serve, and make other people happy. The way the owners and managers found ways and means to support their staff and keep them employed was remarkable. By the same token, the way our community rose up and supported our businesses was outstanding. The speed with which the people of the Peninsula came out to buy take-home meals and dine in pop-up outdoor spaces showed significant solidarity between host and guest. We realised that the places we love to eat in and drink at are essential to our enviable way of life. They are part of the very fabric of society. We are lucky to have some of the best hospitality businesses in the nation. With the recent swathe of openings down the Heads end of the Peninsula, Sorrento was recently dubbed “the new dining capital” of regional Victoria by one influential food and wine publication. The opening of celebrity chef Scott Pickett’s Audrey’s restaurant in the multi-million-dollar refurbished The Continental Hotel was perhaps the jewel in the coastal town’s crown. We also have what is considered to be Australia’s best regional restaurant, Tedesca at Red Hill. Brigitte Hafner’s restrained cooking and farm-to-plate ethos has seen her compared to chefs such as Dan Barber from Blue Hills at Stone Barns in upstate New York. Add to these the basketful of award-winning winery restaurants and you realise that we live in a region densely populated with some of the finest dining rooms in the country. While for many these are special occasion places to dine, the towns and villages of the Mornington Peninsula leave you spoilt for choice when it comes to everyday quality eating. From perhaps the best Sri Lankan food in the state being cooked in an industrial estate on the edge of Frankston to handmade pasta made by young ‘Aussie’ brothers in McCrae, everyday dining is pure pleasure on the Peninsula. Then there is the rise of regional food trucks such as the mussel van at Flinders Pier and the pho truck in Flinders’ Cook St. Some of the best Thai can be found in Hastings, and the state’s best chips are freshly fried on a potato farm in Boneo. Add to this our exceptional farmgates where you can buy apples fresh from the tree; our award-winning butchers and bakers; and the farmers who continue to grow great lamb, beef, chickens and eggs, and you can understand why we do food and drink so well down here on the Peninsula. Now that we are running on all eight burners, with our cafes, restaurants, pubs, wineries, farmgates, distilleries and breweries open for business once again, it’s time to get out and eat and drink on the Mornington Peninsula. RICHARD CORNISH
www.eatdrinkmp.com.au
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SECTIONS our team
sections Frankston and surrounds
18-38
PUBLISHER/DESIGNER Lisa Walton
Mount Eliza Mornington Mount Martha Moorooduc
42-77
Safety Beach Dromana McCrae Martha Cove
80-95
PHOTOGRAPHERS Amber, Naturalight Photography Steve Brown (landscapes)
Rosebud Capel Sound Tootgarook Rye
WRITERS Richard Cornish, Nikki Fisher, Sarah Halfpenny, Max Allen, Raquel Neofit CLIENT RELATIONS Molly Mitchell, Anna Georgiou, Chendelle Kolasa DISTRIBUTION Archie Mitchell WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA Sinead Fay, Amber Marie ALL ENQUIRIES 9708 8222
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Blairgowrie Sorrento Portsea
106-111
St Andrews Beach to Flinders
124-125
Somers Balnarring Tyabb Bittern Hastings
128-141
Main Ridge Red Hill Merricks Shoreham Point Leo Arthurs Seat
150-163
map Mornington Peninsula Wine Map
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directories Calendar of wine events 2023 from MP Wine
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Markets
154-155
Directory
156-161
Annual Events
162
JOIN OUR TRIBE. FOLLOW & TAG eatdrinkmornpen
Published by Morn Pen Mag Pty Ltd ABN 55 621 041 512 14/1140 Nepean Highway, Mornington Victoria 3931 Phone 9708 8222 Out every November Deadline late September
acknowledgement The team at Morn Pen Map Pty Ltd acknowledges and pays respect to the Bunurong people, Elders, past and present and emerging, the traditional custodians of these lands and waters where produce in this book is made and consumed. HARRY’S MUSSELS P. 118
front cover
Photography: Amber, Naturalight Photography @itsnaturalight Food created by chef Diego Cossio of Lancemore at Lindenderry Red Hill Sashimi of Hiramasa king fish: pickled wombok, lemonade fruit purèe and fermented chilli. Fish is dressed in white soy dressing, pickled wombok stem ribbons placed on top with dots of lemonade fruit purèe. The dish is garnished with local flowers, some of them foraged by Diego and others grown by Alex from Norwood Farm. The dish is finished with a fermented chilli (yuzu TUERONG FARM kosho) snow.
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It has been a delight to include Amber from Naturalight Photography as head photographer in this edition of Eat.Drink. Having established her studio in 1997, Amber is well known on the Peninsula for her natural and unique style of capture that really brings her subjects to life. “I’ve lived on the Peninsula my whole life and it was exciting to discover places I hadn’t visited and meet people off the beaten track,” Amber says. “The beach and hinterland are picturesque, but it’s what goes on inside that had me excited. Seeing the wineries in action, meeting growers and the working animals of dairies and truffle fields was the absolute best. We are truly spoilt for choice on the Mornington Peninsula and it’s a blessing to call it home.” www.naturalightphotography.com.au eatdrinkmornpen
CONTENTS It’s back to business by Richard Cornish
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Winemakers can’t get enough of a good thing by Max Allen
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FROM VAT All hail the Chief’s Son by Richard Cornish
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Meet the chefs by Amber Marie
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THE SEASONS Peninsula surprises and delights all year round
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Pop a pearl for a burst of flavour
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FROM BEAN Not all coffee is created equal by Nikki Fisher
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Victoria’s longest-running street market a magnet for shoppers
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Kobi captures the true spirit of Italian hospitality by Richard Cornish
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A family affair by Richard Cornish
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FROM EARTH Market gardening thrives in Boneo’s ‘perfect’ soil by Richard Cornish
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Audrey’s et al by Richard Cornish
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Multiple producers pick up trophies at Peninsula Wine Show
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FROM SALTWATER The enduring enchantment of Harry’s mussels by Richard Cornish
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Flying Calamari Brothers taking seafood to new heights by Sarah Halfpenny
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FROM GRAIN Our amazing bakers rise and shine by Sarah Halfpenny
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Native edibles provide the spark for Peninsula business
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Red Hill Show celebrates our Peninsula ‘food bowl’
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FROM TREE She’ll be apples by Richard Cornish
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www.eatdrinkmp.com.au
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frankston
PHOTO: STEVE BROWN
Greater Frankston wears the tagline ‘Gateway to the Peninsula’, but this waterfront city is more than a gateway to merely pass through. In recent years Frankston has become a destination for food and wine-lovers, and with the added attraction of its vibrant arts and culture scene that hums with festivals, exhibitions, and year-round performances it has created a winning combination on Port Phillip.
Today, visitors can enjoy the full dining spectrum, from fish and chips on the beach to top-notch café eats for breakfast and lunch to pre-dinner cocktails at a bar buzzing with good times. Dinner might be a raucous affair at one of the polished pubs serving decent pub fare and award-winning Peninsula brews, or perhaps something to savour at a restaurant overlooking the water.
Frankston’s rich history as a gathering place begins with the traditional Bunurong owners, who lived in tune with each season’s edible offerings and fished Kananook and Sweetwater creeks for tens of thousands of years before European settlement. After settlement, Frankston became a fishing village, supplying Melbourne with the catch of the day and attracting holidaymakers.
The range of cuisines on offer rivals any great city, from authentic Korean to classic Italian to modern Asian packed with punchy flavours. This is a coastal suburb with an international edge. Frankston is the master of reinvention, and it just keeps evolving and getting better. Make time to stop here to eat, drink and see this former fishing village in a whole new light.
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AND SURROUNDS
18-EightyEight 28 Arancini 4 All 34 Atmosphere Indoor Outdoor 157,159 Beach Café Seaford 36 Bite Local 158 Ceylon Girl’s Café 27 Coffee for the People 35 Dainton Brewery & Taphouse 25 Eeny Meeny 37 Exclusive Appetite 156 Frankston Arts Centre 162 Frankston Brewhouse 33
Geonbae Korean BBQ Restaurant 26 Hotel Lona 30 Iron River Bar & Grill 22 Little Beauty Market 155 Little River Coffeehouse 24 One Pear Tree 38 Organic Bay Distillery 159 Peninsula Larder Flavour Pearls 39,157 Rebel Donuts 29 The Deck Est.2013 20 The Hop Shop 32 Vero Pasta + Wine 31
VERO PASTA www.eatdrinkmp.com.au
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mount eliza
MORNINGTON
PHOTO: STEVE BROWN
One of the charms of the Mornington Peninsula is that each township has its own unique character and appeal. In this neck of the woods you can experience the contrasts of Mount Eliza and Mount Martha’s upmarket villages, the rural plains of Moorooduc, and the shopping and dining destination that Mornington’s Main St has become. For those who love to wine and dine, this area has it all. Starting with the unrivalled coffee culture and moving on to award-winning fine food merchants, farmgates, cellar doors, and distilleries, the list of food and wine purveyors to visit is seemingly endless. The contrasts continue in Mornington, where you can dine with a waterfront view or head to the industrial area and soak up the vibe at Commonfolk, where
serious coffee drinkers and creative crews gather. The range of cuisines on offer means your tastebuds will never be bored. There’s Italian, Japanese, Spanish, modern Australian and more. From a fabulous burger to a lazy long lunch or a big night out, there’s a welcoming venue for every occasion. And if you love whipping up your own culinary masterpiece, or perhaps a gourmet picnic is on your wish list, then a trip to Tully’s Corner Produce Store is a must. We’re so lucky to have such variety to eat and drink here on the Mornington Peninsula and to have hospitality professionals, growers and makers who put their heart and soul into what they do. They can’t wait to meet you.
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mount martha
MOOROODUC
PHOTO: STEVE BROWN
Blackbird Café 69 Café Mercetta 65 Chief’s Son Distillery 64 Chocolat of Mornington 58 Coffee Traders 74 Commonfolk 40,72 Counting House Bar & Grill 61 Cptn Jack’s 63 Elevate Wine Tours 156 Gods Kitchen 56 Grey Ghost Brewery 158 Island Pasta Company 68 Le Feu Mornington 70 Main Street Market 154 Manhattan in Mornington 52 Mr Jackson 75
Mt Eliza Famers Market 155 Oasis Mornington 50 Paradise Bar & Bistro 73 Peninsula Beverage Co. Mornington 77 Pot au Pho 70 Pure Peninsula Honey 76 Somerville Egg Farm 59 Squires Loft Mornington 48 The Bay Hotel 67 The Good Food Bakery 66 The Winey Cow 71 Tio Tapas Y Vino 54 Tully’s Corner 44 Unrivalled Events 154 Via Battisti 60 Yo My Goodness 62
THE WINEY STORE COW TULLY’S CORNER PRODUCE www.eatdrinkmp.com.au
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Chief’s Son Distillery Whisky appreciators are a fast-growing group, as Chief’s Son Distillery – a hidden gem in Somerville – can attest. Whether you like to sip your whisky neat on a crisp winter night or on the rocks with friends in summer, it’s a drink that evokes strong memories and deep connections, giving rise to their tagline ‘Spirit of connection’.
As Naomi says: “Whisky is a slow drink; you take your time to connect over it with those you care for. It’s a love that is passed from one generation to the next.” Opening hours: tastings Monday to Friday 10am-4pm; Saturday 11am-4pm; check website for Sundays; tours Friday & Saturday 11am.
Chief’s Son was established in 2013 by husband and wife team Stuart and Naomi McIntosh, whose surname means ‘Son of the Chief’ in Gaelic. It’s Mornington Peninsula’s only single malt whisky distillery, with a sole focus on creating unashamedly big, bold and unique whiskies. Launching their first product in 2019, they’ve already taken several golds and silvers at the World Whiskies Awards. They use four different base spirits with a malt specifically made for them by their original ‘maltster’; it’s a recipe no other distillery will ever have. Visit the distillery door and have a guided tasting of their core range or specialty whiskies – also available online or at bottle shops – or take an immersive tour with the unique experience of being a ‘barrel thief’ – ‘steal’ directly from the barrel, taste it at different stages of production, learn the history of whisky, and head home with your own 100ml bottle of liquid sunshine. Chief’s Son Distillery I 25/50 Guelph St, Somerville I T: 9013 0859
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Café Mercetta Mercetta, as it’s affectionately known, is one of the originals in this beachside shopping village to offer fabulous café fare, excellent coffee, and heartfelt hospitality. The family-owned and operated venue keeps humming 15 years on.
While Mercetta prides itself on coffee that’s worth coming back for daily, it has also become a destination for Instagrammable hot chocolate. Real chocolate shavings, a chocolate powder shaker, marshmallows, Persian fairy floss, and heated milk of your choice arrive on a board ready for you to create your own hot chocolate heaven. Food-wise, everything is made from scratch with a whole lotta love. Local and seasonal ingredients are favoured, and dietary requirements are taken seriously with a dedicated fryer for gluten-free food.
It’s easy to see the team, who are like family, enjoy what they do – and they are good at it too. You’ll be welcomed and offered a seat out the front, inside, or in the back courtyard that’s a whole other world complete with festoon lights and wicker hanging chairs. By day the courtyard is the place for brunch and lunch. It’s dog-friendly too – there’s even a dog menu. And by night it becomes a fantastic event space; weddings, engagements, birthdays and office parties all come to life under the courtyard canopy. Café Mercetta I 115 Main St, Mornington
Breakfast is served all day. The breakfast stack with handmade chorizo, spinach, eggs, avocado on potato rosti with capsicum salsa is a highlight. Lunch might be herb-crumbed flathead and chips, a fresh flavour-filled salad, or a Reuben sandwich. Order a cocktail or cold-pressed juice and you’re all set. Opening hours: check website. I
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Laneway Espresso Dromana Laneway Espresso is the quirky darling of Dromana’s café scene. Spend a little time here and it’s easy to see why. There’s a whole lot of heart that goes into making this place hum the way it does. Its Its Melbourne-esque Melbourne-esque laneway laneway entrance entrance –– complete complete with with aa street street art art mural mural –– has has been been aa talking talking point point since since the the café café opened opened its its doors doors seven seven years years ago. ago. On On sunny sunny days, days, aa table table in in the the laneway laneway isis the the place place to to be. be. The The atmosphere atmosphere isis social social and and friendly. friendly. There’s There’s always always time time to to chat. chat. Whatever Whatever the the weather weather you’ll you’ll find find plenty plenty of of room room inside inside and and plenty plenty of of personality personality too. too. Laneway Laneway isn’t isn’t another another minimalist minimalist café. café. No. No. Think Think retro, retro, vintage, vintage, eclectic eclectic and and you’re you’re on on the the right right track. track. Tables Tables and and chairs chairs are are mix mix and and match match from from eras eras gone gone by, by, and and there there are are curios curios and and collectables collectables dotted dotted here here and and there there that that give give the the spacious spacious room room its its character character and and charm. charm. Some Some of of the the collectables collectables are are even even for for sale, sale, so so ifif something something catches catches your your eye eye you you might might be be able able to to make make itit yours. yours. Laneway Laneway has has its its own own merch merch too: too: top-quality top-quality T-shirts T-shirts and and hoodies hoodies bearing bearing the the Laneway Laneway name name in in cool cool colours colours and and designs designs to to make make you you part part of of the the Laneway Laneway family. family. The The coffee coffee machine machine here here gets gets aa serious serious workout workout daily. daily. Expert Expert baristas baristas pump pump out out consistently consistently excellent excellent coffee coffee made made from from beans beans by by Odyssey Odyssey Coffee Coffee Roasters. Roasters. Pick Pick up up aa bag bag of of blend blend #5 #5 so so you you can can enjoy enjoy the the flavour flavour at at home. home. Food-wise, Food-wise, brunch brunch isis where where it’s it’s at. at. From From brioche brioche french french toast toast to to corn corn fritters fritters to to waffles waffles and and every every egg egg dish dish and and side side imaginable, imaginable, there’s there’s something something to to wow wow the the most most discerning discerning brunch brunch diner. diner. Signature Signature dishes dishes –– the the club club sandwich sandwich and and the the croissant croissant burger burger –– are are in in aa league league of of their their own. own. Owner Owner Jim Jim Mavrogiannis Mavrogiannis isis aa family family man, man, so so itit makes makes sense sense that that Laneway Laneway isis family-friendly. family-friendly. Kids Kids are are looked looked after after with with their their own own menu menu and and play play area, area, and and Jim’s Jim’s dad dad Bill Bill isis responsible responsible for for the the famous famous cheesecake cheesecake that’s that’s impossible impossible to to resist. resist. Just Just don’t don’t ask ask Bill Bill for for the the recipe; recipe; it’s it’s aa closely closely guarded guarded secret. secret.
Like Like all all good good cafes cafes that that stand stand the the test test of of time, time, Laneway Laneway continues continues to to evolve. evolve. IfIf great great coffee, coffee, top-notch top-notch food food and and aa friendly friendly crew crew who who treat treat you you like like family family isn’t isn’t enough enough to to make make you you aa regular, regular, how how about about coffee coffee with with aa bird’s-eye bird’s-eye view view of of the the bay? bay? Laneway Laneway has has renovated renovated upstairs upstairs and and it’s it’s sure sure to to become become your your home home away away from from home. home. The The upstairs upstairs space space isis divided divided into into cosy cosy nooks, nooks, each each with with its its own own seating seating arrangement. arrangement. Nestle Nestle into into aa comfy comfy couch couch or, or, ifif there’s there’s aa group group of of you, you, gather gather around around the the old-school old-school family family dining dining table. table. Light Light streams streams in in through through windows windows that that span span from from one one side side of of the the room room to to the the other other and and overlook overlook the the bay. bay. It’s It’s the the perfect perfect place place to to celebrate, celebrate, book book aa private private function, function, or or bring bring your your laptop laptop and and get get some some work work done done .. .. .. ifif you you can can stop stop staring staring out out the the window. window. Just Just when when you you thought thought Laneway Laneway couldn’t couldn’t get get any any better, better, itit has. has. Opening Opening hours: hours: Monday-Friday Monday-Friday 6.15am-3.30pm; 6.15am-3.30pm; Saturday Saturday and and Sunday Sunday 6.45am-4pm, 6.45am-4pm, public public holidays holidays 7am-3.30pm. 7am-3.30pm.
Laneway Laneway Espresso Espresso Dromana Dromana II 167 167 Point Point Nepean Nepean Rd, Rd, Dromana Dromana II P: P: 5981 5981 4624 4624 II
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Crittenden Estate The Crittenden family have been growing grapes and making wine on the Mornington Peninsula for decades, with 2022 marking 40 years since Garry Crittenden first planted vines at his Dromana property. It’s still fully owned and operated by the family, with Garry’s son Rollo now at the helm and making the wines, and his sister Zoe taking care of the company’s marketing. Farming the property’s 4.5ha vineyard using sustainable practices is a priority for the siblings, and their endeavours have seen them recognised as global leaders in this field. Their property and wines consistently receive global accolades which, according to Rollo and Zoe, can be attributed to their biological and farming practices. You’ll feel welcome at The Crittenden Wine Centre whatever your level of wine knowledge, and you’ll be treated to a memorable cellar door experience. Cue another award: Mornington Peninsula’s Best Large Cellar Door in both 2021 and 2022 – Gourmet Traveller Cellar Door Awards. Seated tastings make for a relaxed, engaging experience. Crittenden’s acclaimed French, Italian and Spanish varietals are all available to try, with an expert team creating a guided wine tasting to suit each and every visitor. Respected wine critic James Halliday describes Crittenden Estate as “an outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality”, and he consistently rates them as a five red star winery. There’s a lot to raise a glass to here! Opening hours: seven days 10.30am-4.30pm Crittenden Estate I 25 Harrisons Rd, Dromana I P: 5987 3800 I www.crittendenwines.com.au
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Two Buoys Restaurant, Wine and Cocktail Bar
Great food, good times, unbeatable cocktails. Located on the beachfront at Dromana, Two Buoys has long been known for its great bayside location, easy-dining tapas, and an amazing wine list that supports local and international wineries. Add unbeatable cocktails and local live music acts and you’re in for a good time. With more than 300 wine labels in the cellar, there’s nothing better than sitting on the front deck watching the sunset. Inside, the venue features two smartly presented areas. On one side of the main room is the wine cellar and restaurant. On the other side of the room is a cocktail bar where you can enjoy premium spirits, craft beer, fantastic local wines, and carefully crafted cocktails. The menu at Two Buoys offers smaller and larger plates perfect for sharing. The focus is on quality produce and fresh seafood along with our iconic dishes like our seafood platter and Tomahawk steak. See the website and pre-order these dishes. From the moment you arrive until the night is over, the aim here is for everyone to experience great hospitality and good times. Bookings are essential and can be made online or over the phone. Mornington Peninsula residents can join the Two Buoys birthday club for free and receive a $25 birthday gift voucher. Opening hours: seven days for lunch and dinner; live acoustic music Friday-Sunday. Two Buoys Restaurant, Wine and Cocktail Bar I 209 Point Nepean Rd, Dromana I T: 5981 8488 www.twobuoys.com.au
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Bass & Flinders Distillery
As you’ll learn at Bass & Flinders Distillery, not all spirits are created equal. Head distiller Holly Klintworth creates high-quality artisanal gins, brandies and liqueurs that showcase regional character. And it all begins with handcrafted grape-based eau de vie spirit made at the distillery using traditional French methods. Holly turns Victorian shiraz grapes into gin, and Victorian chardonnay grapes into brandy.
Proudly the first distillery on the Mornington Peninsula, this family-owned and operated vine-to-bottle distillery was established in 2009 by Holly’s father, Wayne. Expect exciting innovations and uniquely Australian flavours here, such as Angry Ant gin made with hand-picked botanicals including mulla mulla, native lemongrass, native sandalwood nuts, and the starring botanical, Australian ant pheromones. To continue evolving their product and meet demand for their award-winning tipples, the end of 2022 saw Bass & Flinders upgrade from
Bass & Flinders Distillery I 40 Collins Rd, Dromana I P: 5987 3893 I www.bassandflindersdistillery.com
their original 300-litre pot still to an impressive 1700-litre still imported from Cognac, France. Enjoy a tasting at the inviting distillery door, but if you really want to immerse yourself, book in for a gin masterclass. Held on the mezzanine overlooking the distillery, you’ll learn about techniques and exotic botanicals used in gin production. The class is fun and informative, and you’ll leave with a bottle of gin made to your very own recipe. Opening hours: check the website for masterclass bookings and cellar door opening hours. BassAndFlindersDistillery
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Wine Lovers Warehouse Joseph’s dog Pearl with an assortment of Joseph’s carefully selected wines
New Hastings store
As the name suggests, Wine Lovers Warehouse is well stocked with an impressive selection of wine to appeal to all palates from novice to sophisticated. The focus here is on offering something for all wine drinkers, whether you prefer sparkling wine, red, white, or rosé, all at very competitive prices. Think $5 to $15 a bottle for Mornington Peninsula wines and regional heroes from around Australia and the world. Mornington Peninsula resident and wine expert Joseph Sofia is the owner of this family business that’s been operating for 18 years. Joseph has built relationships with wineries locally, nationally and internationally to bring customers the best deals in wine. “We don’t sell cheap wine; we sell good wine cheap,” he said. Joseph opened his first store in Dromana eight years ago and was excited to open the flagship store – all 550 square metres – in Hastings late in 2022. Go with plenty of time so you can peruse the range and chat with the team about what’s on offer. Wine tastings are all part of the shopping experience here too. Whether you’re buying wine to go with a casual midweek meal or need something special for one of life’s milestone celebrations, you’ll find it here. Opening hours: see www.winelover.com.au
Wine Lovers Warehouse I Unit 5/3 Trewhitt Court, Dromana I P: 9596 4278 I 2080 Frankston-Flinders Rd, Hastings I
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Torello Farm Shopping for farm-fresh seasonal produce and an array of other real food delights at Torello Farm is a joy of Peninsula living. Take an empty basket, leave your shopping list at home and let the season’s harvest decide what you’re cooking.
Inside the converted packing shed you’ll find a vibrant rainbow display of what’s in season. It’s so beautifully presented you’ll want one of everything. The variety is impressive, and the best part is it’s all grown by local farmers, including the Five Tales team farming on site, which means food miles are low, it’s bursting with nutrition, and you’re supporting family businesses. If you’re not used to seeing only what’s in season and don’t know a feijoa from a persimmon, or if you’ve never cooked with freshly foraged pine mushrooms, talk to the friendly staff and they’ll fill you in on all the
interesting produce. Everyday staples such as apples, potatoes, pumpkins and onions need no explanation other than they taste better because locally grown equals fresher and tastier. There’s also ethically produced meat that’s bred on the owners’ farm in Tuerong. Slow-growing heritage breeds, Dorset Down sheep and Belted Galloway cattle produce meat with magnificent flavour for you to enjoy. And if you can’t be bothered cooking, Torello’s take-home meals made in their farmhouse kitchen are a must, along with their pickles and preserves. Beef lasagne, massaman curry, beetroot relish, carrot top pesto, vegan dumplings and sausage rolls are highlights. See Torello Farm’s website for details of their on-farm workshops covering such topics as growing great tomatoes or building a watersaving wicking bed. Opening hours: daily 8am-6pm.
Torello Farm I 410 White Hill Rd, Dromana I P: 5981 0335
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rosebud
CAPEL SOUND
PHOTO: STEVE BROWN
There’s nothing pretentious about this string of eclectic seaside towns – and that’s exactly what’s great about them. Rosebud, Capel Sound, Tootgarook and Rye are good at keeping things real. This is where you’ll find families enjoying the foreshore playgrounds or cycling on the bike track through the tea-trees before stopping for ice-cream or fish and chips. Summer days are spent playing beach cricket, and summer nights are for squealing with delight on rides at the foreshore carnival. And it wouldn’t be a visit without a holiday snap in front of the brightly painted beach boxes.
Coffee is taken seriously in these parts – as it is everywhere on the Peninsula – and delicious café breakfasts are a given. When lunchtime rolls around, you might find yourself getting to know the locals at the pub, or perhaps venturing inland to a nearby winery. There are some hidden food and wine gems tucked in backstreets that are worth seeking out. Everyone’s friendly; ask around for local favourites. When the sun goes down, head to a live music venue where Mornington Peninsula wines, beers and spirits will be stealing the show. The relaxed pace and vibe of this area is what downtime is all about. Spend some time here and you’ll remember life’s simple pleasures.
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Arilla at Boneo Park 101 Best Bites 161 Escape Brewing 103 Hawkes Farm 102 Mubble Rye 108 Penni Ave Distillery 100 The Bagelry Co. 104
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STEVE BROWN
Head over to the Western Port side of the Peninsula where the pace is slower and the crowds are thinner. You can bask in the wide open spaces ranging from she-oak forests to pristine beaches. Take a deep breath; it’s time to relax and savour the moment. The offerings here are eclectic. That’s what makes the area so interesting. Each little hamlet has its own magic to enjoy. Excellent food and wine options abound, from award-winning produce to the vibrant café scene and swoon-worthy restaurants. You’ll experience hospitality with a whole lot of heart. In between sampling the finest fare on offer, you can Emu Plains Market 155 Etch Sparkling 136 Flying Calamari Brothers 122 Fontalina 128 Geonbae Korean BBQ Restaurant Hastings 129 Le Bouchon 125 Mitch & Co 131
while away some holiday hours in Tyabb perusing antiques, or in Hastings set off on the boardwalk to take in views of the southern-most mangroves in the world. Whatever the weather, Somers is all about beach walks. Fill your lungs with that energising ocean air before heading to the bustling general store. Balnarring village is the central hub for specialty gift shopping and dining. Which cuisine will win your booking: French, Italian or Japanese? From here you can easily do a tour of nearby top-rating wineries and find your new favourite drop, or revisit old favourites. Welcome to Western Port. There’s a lot to love. Orita’s 2 132 Pelikan Société 126 Phase Two 132 Quealy Winemakers 133 Toscano Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar 130 Wine Lovers Warehouse 92
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LE BOUCHON
Le Bouchon
Le Bouchon is classic French bistro, from the duck confit to the four types of French vermouth lining the gantry. The fit-out is warm and elegant, slightly sophisticated but very warm. “I wanted a space where everyone was welcome,” says owner Stephane Saleres. Comfortable banquettes line the walls and bottles of Forget-Brimont sit on ice in wine buckets on the marble bar. Fine stemware is
set at bare dark tables accompanied by dark bentwood chairs sitting on white and black hexagonal tiles. The name Stephane chose refers to les bouchons of Burgundy – casual bistros serving classic French dishes with local wines. ‘Bouchon’ also is French for a wine cork. Chef de cuisine Antoine Corre hails from Brittany. With more than 20 years’ experience honed in Paris, Nice, London and in Melbourne at Bistro Guillaume, you’ll hear him voicing
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commands to his chefs or sometimes singing to them. The quality of Antoine’s seafood dishes reflects his Brittany roots. Le Bouchon has become a local icon, attracting those who appreciate the authentic dishes such as the luscious terrine de campagne, or the French onion soup complete with a gratineed gruyere crouton on top. “We’re not reinventing the wheel. What we do here is very authentic and very approachable.” No need to travel to France – head to Balnarring.
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MARKETS EVERY WEDNESDAY Main St, Mornington: 9am-3pm between Cromwell and Albert streets.
EVERY THURSDAY High St, Hastings: 9am-1pm; over 40 stalls; everything homemade, home grown & craft. Plaza Palooza: 9am-4pm, Langwarrin Plaza, Langwarrin
EVERY SUNDAY Bittern Community: Bittern station, Frankston-Flinders Rd, Bittern. Over 70 stalls selling new and used goods, crafts, plants, fruit and vegetables. Frankston: 8am-1pm, Sherlock & Hay carpark, Young St, Frankston.
FIRST SATURDAY OF MONTH Red Hill Community Market: Runs September to May; 8am-1pm, 184 Arthurs Seat Road, Red Hill, www.craftmarkets.com.au/red-hill Rye Foreshore Rotary Market: Runs all year, opposite Rye Post Office at the end of Lyons St, 2257-2319 Point Nepean Rd, Rye, 7am-1pm. Lovely local market that benefits a great cause.
FIRST SUNDAY OF MONTH Moorooduc Station Market: Runs October to April, 460 Moorooduc Highway, Moorooduc; 60 stalls, boutique handmade makers and street food market at historic Moorooduc station; www.unrivalledevents.com. au/moorooduc-station-market Food Yard Sunday Foodies Market: Showcasing the amazing diversity of local and gourmet food and drink producers. Featuring 40 quality stalls, including fresh produce, pantry items, and beverage stalls plus kids’ lawn games & more. 63A Yuilles Rd, Mornington, 9am-1pm, www. unrivalledevents.com.au/food-yard-foodies-market
SECOND FRIDAY OF MONTH Soul Night Market: Second Friday of the month from December to March, Dromana Estate, 555 Old Moorooduc Rd, Tuerong; boutique street food and drink trucks, 60 handmade makers and live soul music; 5-9pm, www.unrivalledevents.com.au/soul-night-market-dromanaestate
SECOND SATURDAY OF MONTH Crib Point Community Market: Park Rd, Crib Point; 9am-1pm; market@ cpch.org.au Portsea Quarantine Station Point Nepean National Park 9am-2pm (seasonal and occasionally at twilight), www.craftmarkets.com.au/ portsea Rosebud Community School: Rosebud Primary School, cnr Point Nepean & Jetty roads. Somerville Community Market: excluding January, 9am-1pm; crafts, bric-a-brac, cakes, plants and vegies; 2a Eramosa Rd West, Somerville.
SECOND SUNDAY OF MONTH Mornington Racecourse Craft: Runs November until June 2023, Racecourse Rd 9am-2pm. Over 300 stalls with animal farm and face painting for the kids (occasionally at twilight), www.craftmarkets.com. au/mornington
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MARKETS THIRD SATURDAY OF MONTH Boneo Community: Cnr Boneo & Limestone Roads Emu Plains Market: 9am-2pm, Emu Plains Reserve, Balnarring Racecourse, Coolart Rd, (Seasonal and occasionally twilight) www. emuplainsmarket.com.au Pearcedale Farmers Market: 8am-1pm, Pearcedale Community Centre, Baxter-Tooradin Rd, Pearcedale
THIRD SUNDAY OF MONTH Seaford Farmers’: 8am-1pm, Broughton St Reserve, Station St, Seaford Shoreham Market: third Sunday of the month, hand grown, made and gathered and music, corner of Byrnes and Cliff Rd, 9am-1pm, www. shorehammarket.com Sunset Twilight Market Series: Runs from October to April 2023, Frankston Waterfront, Pier Promenade, Frankston, 3-8pm, excluding February and sometimes twilight, www.tpp.events
FOURTH SATURDAY OF MONTH Little Beauty Market: 5pm-10pm, Beauty Park, Frankston (Seasonal; sometimes day, sometimes twilight) www.littlebeautymarket.com.au Tootgarook Primary School: 7.30am-12.30pm
FOURTH SUNDAY OF MONTH Mt Eliza Farmers’: Mt Eliza Village Green, 9am-1pm, excluding December
MORE Some markets are seasonal so we encourage you to check our monthly Mornington Peninsula Magazine for latest details. Food Yard Night Market: Featuring up to 12 different street food and drink trucks from around the world, free entry with onsite parking, 63A Yuilles Rd, Mornington, 5-8pm, dates vary, www.unrivalledevents/foodyard Mt Martha South Beach Market: Boutique beachside market with more than 60 of Melbourne’s most creative markers, food and drink, art, beauty, fashion, homeware, pet products and much more, free entry, Mount Martha House Lawn, 466 Esplanade, Mount Martha, 9am-2pm, dates vary, www.unrivalledevents.com.au/south-beach-market
Support local, support handmade, support innovation, support love, support small business... support your local market!
EMU PLAINS MARKET, BALNARRING LITTLE BEAUTY MARKET, FRANKSTON CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITES FOR MORE DETAILS
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