NEWS DESK
Meals, wine back on menu after fire THE award-winning winery and restaurant Ten Minutes by Tractor is back in business since being forced to close by a fire 19 months ago. Some of the firefighters who fought the blaze were among the first to be welcomed by owners Martin and Karen Spedding at the Main Ridge restaurant’s re-opening on Saturday 9 November. The fire in February 2018, swept through sheds and a storage area, leading to the evacuation of diners and the loss of vintage wines and old tractors (“Wine, tractors lost in fire” The News 27/2/18). The Speddings say rebuilding the restaurant, with an extra 30 seats, has enabled them to “re-imagine” the original restaurant, which operated from within an existing cottage on the former apple orchard. The restaurant building has a new kitchen, chef’s table, private dining room and outdoor terrace. A new cellar door and “wine gallery” is also due to open in early December. The fit out includes vertical timber, stone, olive suede banquets, hints of brass, a black spiral staircase to the new wine cellar, and a solid oak dining table in the private dining room. “The restaurant is built within the original apple orchard cottage on the property, established by Italian settlers in the 1930s, and although the orchard has long gone, the cottage, an old falling down tractor shed, and a lone ancient quince tree is all that remains,” Martin Spedding said. Executive chef Adam Sanderson is also promising to “bring a fresh
New sculptures TWO new sculptures are being unveiled to “celebrate” the second birthday of Pt Leo’s Estate’s annual sculpture park open weekend. The sculptures are by New Zealand artist Phil Price (Ipomoea) and the late British artist Lynn Chadwick (Jubilee IV). Entry over the weekend will be free, and visitors can walk around the park where there will be live music and acts, face painting and activities for children. The sculpture park at Pt Leo Estate, 3649 Frankston-Flinders Rd, Merricks, will open 11am5pm Saturday, 30 November and Sunday, 1 December.
Koalas the topic
Welcome back: Some of the firefighters who battled the February 2018 blaze that forced the closure of Ten Minutes by Tractor at Main Ridge were among the first to eat at the new restaurant. From left are Red Hill CFA captain Darrel Setter, Rosebud CFA commander Sean Kerr, owners Karen and Martin Spedding, Glenn Fleet (Red Hill CFA) and Ian Troutbeck and Graeme Flockart (Main Ridge CFA). Picture: Gary Sissons
approach to the five and eight course degustation, and à la carte menus, drawing inspiration from produce that is grown and found on the Mornington Peninsula”. “Our kitchen team forage and gather
from the coastline, the rolling hills, and our kitchen garden in Main Ridge, which gives us the opportunity to discuss and generate ideas for dishes and continually evolve our menu,” he said. The wine gallery in the new cellar
door will be home to a collection of historical objects and documents detailing Australia’s “wine journey” and the establishment of a wine industry on the peninsula. Keith Platt
A SAUSAGE sizzle and nature walk will be held by Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation Group at Balnarring Beach foreshore rotunda, 11.30am, Sunday 1 December. The 2.5km walk will include information about koalas and their habitat, as well as other indigenous animals and plants. The rotunda is at 1A Foreshore Road, Balnarring Beach. All ages are welcome. The walk takes about an hour. Wear good footwear and weather appropriate clothing. The group size is limited to ensure everyone can enjoy the event. Register via Facebook at Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation or email MPkoalatreeplanting@outlook.com Call 0422 522 622 or 0424 664 463.
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Southern Peninsula News
20 November 2019
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