Weekend in Beechworth
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Gastrology recently spent the weekend in Victoria’s High Country (Beechworth, Yackandandah and Rutherglen), home to some of Australia’s finest gourmet producers, most acclaimed restaurants and internationally renowned winemakers.
Beechworth
We started our weekend in Beechworth, one of Australia's best preserved gold rush era towns. Its fascinating history, beautiful streetscape, quality shops and boutiques coupled with hatted restaurants, wineries, brewery and cafes, make Beechworth one of Victoria's best loved towns.
Staying at the Linaker Nurses Quarters
Located within 20 hectares of heritage gardens at Mayday Hills Village, Linaker Nurses Quarters is part of the George Kerferd Hotel and is a stone's throw from the centre of Beechworth.
The hotel is located in the grounds of a historic Asylum which makes it a drawcard for guests interested in Australian history and is set amongst hectors of rare and exotic tree species. A wonderfully peaceful place to be taken back to the 1930s and experience the art deco style of the period.
Originally built as the nurses’ quarters, the building has undergone major renovation and refurbishment to now feature a variety of spacious and luxurious suites. Central lounges are available on each floor for guests to enjoy and are surrounded by a collection of quirky art deco furnishings.
The hotel also has various facilities such as a pool, sauna, tennis court and beautiful gardens.
We thoroughly enjoyed staying in the Hotel's Deluxe Queen Suite. Boasting views of the amazing garden, the room was incredibly spacious with a private lounge, plush queen bedroom, ensuite and two televisions (one in the lounge and one in the bedroom!) along with a spa bath.
Location: Mayday Hills Village, Beechworth
Phone: 03 5728 2618
Link: www.gkhotel.com.au
Breakfast at Peddlar
During your stay in Beechworth, we recommend starting your day with a visit to Peddlar. Brimming with charm, Peddlar is a welcoming café that exudes an air of tranquillity. The menu lovingly incorporates locally sourced products such as eggs from Star Lane Eggs, Wooragee, free range bacon from Gamze Smokehouse, Wangaratta, freshly roasted coffee from Blynzz Beechworth and fresh baked bread from Silver Creek Bakery.
Their pancakes are a showstopper. A simple breakfast favourite that amalgamates the best things in life (such as ice cream). The pancakes we sampled were fluffy and moist and embellished with wonderfully caramelised bacon and maple syrup. Yum!
Location: 40 Ford Street, Beechworth
Phone: 03 5728 1843
Link: www.instagram.com/peddlars
Beechworth’s Historic Precinct in Ford St
A visit to Beechworth would not be complete without a look around Beechworth’s Historic Precinct in Ford St. Built during the gold rush of the 1850s the National Trust collection of historic buildings include the Sub-Treasury which houses the fantastic Ned Kelly Vault, Historic Courthouse and the Burke Museum.
We recommend getting your hands on a Golden Ticket which is valid for 4 consecutive days and includes entry to the Court House, Telegraph Station, Burke Museum, Kelly Vault, Powder Magazine and 2 Guided Walking Tours (Adult $25, Concession/ Student $15, Family (2 Adults, 3 Children) $50).
Location: 100 Ford St Beechworth, Beechworth
Phone: 03 5728 8065; 1300 366 321
Link: www.victoriashighcountry.com.au/townsvillages/beechworth
Guided tour, beer tasting and lunch at Bridge Road Brewers
Conceived by Ben Kraus in his dad’s back shed in 2005, Bridge Road Brewers has grown to become one of Australia’s best craft breweries. The beers are created from scratch using their own production equipment, on site.
Located in the heart of picturesque Beechworth, the brewery is housed within the 150 year old Coach House and stables. The laneway entrance, leads into the brewery’s large beer garden and children's play area.
We loved tasting our way through Bridge Road Brewers' unique hand crafted beers. Consistently on offer are at least eight different ales for tasting, with at least one of those with an international beer award to its name. Bridge Road Brewers also offer Brewery Tours every Saturday at 11:00am which provides an insider's view into the workings of the brewery where you can truly be immersed in the craft of brewing, and get behind the scenes to see for yourself what it takes to run a brewery. The tour also includes a step by step tasting with your guide of beers from their range.
After the tour, we recommend finding a nice spot outside in the courtyard or next to the fireplace and indulging in their understandably famous selection of pizzas whilst sipping on your favourite Bridge Road Brewers' beer.
Location: Old Coach House 50 Ford St, Beechworth
Phone: 03 5728 2703
Link: www.bridgeroadbrewers.com.au
Beechworth Honey Discovery
Mention Beechworth and their simply sensational honey comes to mind. If you are interested in finding out more, the Beechworth Honey Discovery is the perfect place to go behind the scenes.
We loved being taken on a journey to explore the fascinating link between bees, pollination and our food future.
Beechworth Honey Discovery offers a range of family friendly experiences - eat delicious food from the unique Bee Inspired Menu and sip on Beechworth Honey Mead in the historic cellar door or wander through the Bee Garden featuring a honeybee colony, native bee hotels and kitchen garden. While ids are being entertained, adults can indulge in their refreshing range of meads which now includes a Spicy Mulled Beechworth Honey Mead, perfect for the cold months!
After visiting take a walk up the street to Beechworth Honey's second centre Beechworth Honey Experience to taste different varieties of beautiful 100 per cent Australian honeys and enjoy the free self-guided tour to discover the story behind Beechworth Honey.
Location: 87 Ford St (opposite Post Office)
Phone: 03 57 281 433
Link: www.victoriashighcountry.com.au/restaurants/beechworthhoneydiscover
Wine o'clock at Project Forty Nine
Project Forty Nine is the perfect place to imbibe in wine and delicious cheese (all of which are especially stunning when served with some local Beechworth honey). The eatery houses a great selection of local and imported wine varieties to suit most so you can ensure you find the right drop for you.
Project Forty Nine (the Beechworth deli/café and wine label) is owned by entrepreneurial husband and wife team Rocco Esposito and Lisa Pidutti who formerly owned Wardens of Beechworth, a Chef’s Hatted restaurant. Rocco was also the former Wine Director at Vue de Monde. In the horizon, the pair have an exciting new venture in Collingwood, Urban Wine Bar which will be opening!
Location: 46 Ford St, Beechworth
Link: www.projectfortynine.com.au/
Email: info@drinkwine.com.au
Dinner at The Press Room
The Press Room Wine Bar turns heads with a seasonal menu that is full of vibrancy, character and the flavours of Spain.
Owners Mike and Heather Allen have created a welcoming environment where people feel that they have been to dinner with friends when dining at their restaurant through an emphasis on community and local businesses supplying much of the kitchen’s produce.
Set in the historic printery, The Press Room Wine Bar makes the most of its historic setting with rustic timber and exposed brick being infused throughout the venue. The open fire in the Twisted Chimney Lounge makes for a cosy pre-dinner drink (or perhaps a muscat and coffee after dinner) while the dining room is warm and reminiscent of an intimate Spanish street bar.
The menu is Spanish-inspired and changes with the seasons to present a fresh and vibrant offering. The wine list is made up of equal parts local Beechworth and Spanish wines.
We commenced with a couple of tapas and medianos. The Mushrooms in garlic butter, oloroso sherry with jamon crisp were a delight, boasting a wonderful depth of flavour. The Chickpeas, Roasted Carrot and Caraway seeds with fetta cheese were vegetarian comfort food which has been carefully and intelligently composed to combine texture and flavour in exciting ways.
Moving on to the raciones, the marinated and chargrilled lamb rump was outstanding. The rump was tender and delicious, with caramel undertones, a marriage of heaven with the melt in your mouth eggplant and luxurious white bean puree. It was a lovely amalgamation of flavours which produced a hearty comforting dish.
Desserts at The Press Room are fabulous. The cherry and almond pie was simple, yet seductive. The clever addition of house made salted honey ice cream was a masterstroke which added a wonderfully addictive salty/sweet balance to the dish.
For something a little different (and equally as delicious), the chocolate mousse served with house made black sambuca ice-cream and anise biscuit crumble is absolutely scrumptious. It turns your teeth momentarily black though (PS: totally worth it) so you might reconsider if you're on a first date.
The Press Room brings Spanish flair to Beechworth with its outstanding offerings. Expect flavoursome dishes and friendly service with Spanish twists along the way.
Location: 37 Camp St, Beechworth
Phone: 03 57 282 360
Link: thepressroomwinebar.com.au
