Country Goodness @ Hepburn Springs

On Friday I got a dressing down from a client at work because I was wearing casual (on casual Friday) because, as he said, casual Fridays were an insult to country-folk.  Why?  Because what you wear on Friday is what you would wear to the country on the way to your weekend retreat, and therefore wearing casual on Friday presumes that you dress down to go to the country.  Therein lies the insult.  Follow the logic? Me neither! 

We were in our casual clothes on our way to the country a few days after new years.  Hepburn Springs has a warm spot in my heart - as I have written previously here.  It's easy to get comfortable when you go up there so this time, we thought we'd try and experience a few new places, which produced some incredible results.  Here is the lowdown of some of the highlights:
1.  Breakfast at Breakfast & Beer
You know on those lazy holidays days when you wake up late, and finally get moving, and then you realise it's early afternoon, like 130pm?  The upside of this is that at Breakfast & Beer you can start the day with a hearty breakfast and wash it down with a cleansing ale.  We both had bacon, avocado, tomato and pickle sandwiches.  And what beer, you might ask, goes well with breakfast?  I was recommended Manly microbrewery 4 Pines Brewing Company's Kolsch - a crisp light citrusy drop perfect for a humid morning and an empty stomach.


2.   Brunch at the Glenlyon General Store
Glenlyon is only a short scenic drive from Daylesford - This is a great local general store that houses a small kitchen that serves up all sorts of goodies.   










3.  Afternoon drinks at Wombat Hill
This place is the one - you drive through the scenic tree-lined road up Wombat Hill to the picturesque Wombat Gardens.  As you walk over the hill, you see Wombat Hill nestled amongst the trees.  Wombat Hill is the recently opened sibling to Alla Wolf-Tasker's well known Daylesford luxury hotel complex the Lakehouse.  

In terms of siblings, the Lakehouse is that older, confident, brash, attractive sister who you see at all the family functions (but you've kind of gotten over her after staring at her for so many years) whilst Wombat Hill is the younger, down-to-earth, understated and hidden beauty that is destined to eclipse her older sibling.   This is the perfect place for a refreshing afternoon beverage and snack in the back garden.  Great for brekkie or lunch - outstanding menu.

4.  Dinner at The Perfect Drop
 If I'd only eaten here a few days earlier it probably would have taken out all the categories in my "11 Awards for 2011".  The Farmers Arms was previously my number 1 in Hepburn until I ate here.  It was just superb, outstanding, flavoursome, quality food all sourced from local country produce.  We started with beef carpaccio topped with dehydrated black olives, grated pecorino and micro-herb, all of which just rocked (sorry John Lethlean, Larissa Dubecki et al, but I can't describe it better than that).  

For main we shared/fought over perfectly cooked duck with roasted apricots and cabbagey salad, pictured below left - OMG (apoligies again professional food critics).  The tender and beautiful texture and flavour of the duck combined with the sweetness and softness of the apricot was incredible.  

And we thought that it couldn't get any better - but then dessert arrived - a winning trifecta of delicious creamy rich panna cotta, crunchy sweet baklava cigar and sumptuous rose water ice cream, served with mint and figs (see below). 

5. Drinks at Horvat's Wine Cellar
Listening to the dulce tones of a jazz pianist, we enjoyed some locally produced shiraz in the relaxed and salubrious atmosphere of Horvat's Wine Cellar.