The food and drink you must try on a day trip or weekend away in regional Victoria
THERE’S nothing like getting out of the big smoke for a day trip or weekend away — and it’s even better when food and wine dictates your itinerary. Here’s our must try dishes in regional Victoria.
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THERE’S nothing like getting out of the big smoke for a weekend away or day trip — and it’s even better when you get to indulge in delicious food and wine.
Here’s our best ‘out of town’ foodie places to visit, including where to tackle a mussel pot, eat a pie Miley Cyrus raved about and score a jar of raspberry lollies worth the 117km trek from Melbourne’s CBD.
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EAT THE DUCK PIE AT CRAIG’S HOTEL
Along pristinely preserved Lydiard St in Ballarat, you’ll strike gold once again at historic Craig’s Hotel when you dine on their famous duck pie. A golden beauty of buttery, flaky pastry with forest of mushrooms and generous with duck that has a delicious garlicky orange zing, it’s truly historic.
SINK A PINT AT ALES ON RAILS
Let off steam from the working week and unwind with a beer on a steam train on the aptly named Ales on Rails experience. Think 1920s parlour carriages, taking you along the countryside from Castlemaine to Maldon, while drinking specialty beers. The experience comes with a gourmet lunch at Maldon’s Kangaroo Hotel.
BUY FRESH FRUIT AND VEGIES AT TALBOT FARMERS’ MARKET
Get in the car and head to the tiny town of Talbot, about an hour south of Bendigo, for its famed farmers’ market, held on the third Sunday of the month. Fresh produce is king, with 80 stalls of seasonal and organic fruits and vegetables, bread, cheese and meets and local wines. The next markets are on July 15 and August 19.
TACKLE A MUSSEL POT AT THE PORTARLINGTON MUSSEL FESTIVAL
Celebrate the Bellarine Peninsula’s community event with good food, wine and entertainment. More than one tonne of mussels are sold at the festival each year (it’s on January 12 in 2019), with 100 food and drink stalls, local musicians and cooking demonstrations. portmusselfestival.com
DINE AT IGNI, VICTORIA’S NO. 1 RESTAURANT IN THE DELICIOUS. 100
It’s only been open two years, but Aaron Turner’s Geelong fine diner Igni is making impressions in the foodie world. Igni was crowned Victoria’s No. 1 restaurant in the delicious 100 list, beating favourites Brae and Attica to the title. Must-eat dishes include potato, yolk, pipi — silky strands of potato noodles, twirled over a smoked pipi and topped with a glorious sunshiny yolk.
HOP ON A BIKE FOR A CULINARY TOUR OF THE HIGH COUNTRY
Foodie cyclists rejoice — Pedal to Produce allows you to visit local suppliers by bike to find your own bounty of goodies. Pick from six different routes, stopping at farm gates to collect your own box of berries, cheeses, chestnuts, jams, sauces and wines.
EAT THE MAC AND CHEESE PIE MILEY CYRUS RAVED ABOUT
This humble meat pie, topped with macaroni and cheese, went global after pop star Miley Cyrus raved about her experience on US television. The singer was in town with her actor boyfriend Liam Hemsworth when she downed the famous pie at the Dr Food cafe in 2010. Eight years later, you can find the creation at the renamed Burnt Toast.
BUY A JAR OF RASPBERRY DROPS AT SOVEREIGN HILL
There’s a lot more to Ballarat than the Sovereign Hill open-air gold rush museum, and a lot more to Sovereign Hill than what you saw on that school excursion many moons ago. You can still pan for gold and see the sound and light show. Don’t leave without a jar of raspberry drops.
GO TO SUNDAE SCHOOL AT TIMBOON
You’re guaranteed to pay attention in this class. Learn and churn at Timboon Fine Ice Cream’s Sundae School, complete with tastings. They even do kids’ birthday parties. Timboon is 15 minutes north of Port Campbell and the Great Ocean Road, or 2½ hours from Melbourne. timboonfineicecream.com.au
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