the deliciousness issue - Visit Mornington Peninsula

find your way

mornington peninsula

what will you find?

the deliciousness issue FEBRUARY 2017

Discover the wonderful world of mushrooms, meet the chocolatiers, plus great recipes and what makes a good pinot. take a journey along the Great Indulgence Trail

Some delightful and delicious discoveries and a tasty bit of inspiration

in this issue DELIGHTFUL DISCOVERIES • The Wonderful World of Mushrooms • Recipe: Spicy Chorizo Pizza • Fruits of Love • Food, Glorious Food • A Delicious Soak • Pinot Love

FESTIVE events From the 31st of March until the 9th of April the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is held, and the Mornington Peninsula is humming with long lunches and delicious dinners.

AND MORE... • RECIPE: Lemon Verbena Creme Brulee • Indulgent Chocolates • The Great Indulgence Trail • How to Plan Your Trip • Wine Food Farmgate • Discover Key Regional experiences • On the Blog • Suite Dreams eMagazine designed and produced by Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism Disclaimer: Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism (including its officers and agents) has made every endeavour to ensure that the details appearing in this publication are correct at the time of printing, but accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy or mis-description, whether by inclusion or omission, nor does the Publisher accept any responsibility for subsequent change or withdrawal, of prices, details or services shown which are subject to alteration without notice.

the deliciousness issue

festive food events From the 31st of March until the 9th of April the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is held, and the Mornington Peninsula is humming with long lunches and delicious dinners.

Meet the makers, enjoy the harvest, learn the secrets and eat it all... the Mornington Peninsula has some truly delicious offerings to tempt you. Of course with three longest lunches on offer, the difficulty will be choosing. TOP TIP: Make sure you book early!

MELBOURNE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL EVENTS

DINNER AT OUR PLACE?

LA TOMATINA

MEET YOUR MAKER

31 March - 1 April A night out of the ordinary at Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove. An intimate and progressive dinner throughout the grounds of the Estate, meeting the people and seeing the places behind the scenes, glass in hand.

Sunday 2 April A perfect Sunday lunch with vineyard views to celebrate the most popular Mediterranean fruit, the tomato. Port Phillip Estate are raiding the kitchen garden, and an abundance of tomatoes will be integral to each dish.

2 - 7 April Roll up your sleeves during harvest with Paringa Estate’s winemaker Lindsay McCall as you learn his secrets to making top-shelf wines. Then enjoy lunch with the winery team on the deck of the chefs' hatted restaurant.

FIND MORE INFORMATION HERE >



FARM FOOD FUN

PEI ON THE PENINSULA

RESTAURANT EXPRESS

Saturday 8 April Big and little foodies to join Green Olive at Red Hill to taste and enjoy nutritious farm-grown food in a fun and festive environment. Where does our food comes from? How does it grow? What is sustainability and why is it so important?

Saturday 8 April Enjoy a relaxing lunch where Pei Modern’s Anthony Hammel will be using Crittenden Estate’s own gardens, coupled with local produce and a healthy lashing of fire, to create four courses matched with Crittenden wines.

31 March - 9 April Restaurant Express lets you enjoy a two-course express lunch with matching Victorian beverage for just $40 at restaurants all over town and across the state. Come enjoy lunch at The Long Table Red Hill.




www.visitmorningtonpeninsula.org

4

Regional World’s Longest Lunches Victoria sits down to lunch

MELBOURNE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL EVENTS

MORNINGTON

ON THE BAY

RED HILL

Friday 31 March Mornington Racecourse will be transformed into a gastronomical ode to the region. On the menu will be Peninsula seafood, local beef, Red Hill Truffles, Boatshed Cheese, Tyabb Old Fine Herbs, all complemented by wines from the region’s many wineries.

Friday 31 March Sail the bay aboard Searoad Ferries and sample the best of the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas. Enjoy four courses created from the delicious produce of farmgates, food providores and makers, while watching the coastline glide by between Sorrento and Queenscliff.

Friday 31 March The region’s abundance of amazing primary producers, organic growers, farmers, seafood suppliers, distillers, plus some of Australia’s leading wineries, will be showcased over three courses, surrounded by the vineyard at Lindenderry at Red Hill.





5

THE wonderful WORLD OF MUSHROOMS Deb and Ryan at Benton Rise Farm in Tuerong grow the most amazing mushrooms in a rainbow of satiny colours. Imagine Yellow, Pink, Tan, Pearl and King Oyster mushrooms, as well as some gorgeous Shitake ones. They are so pretty that they look almost too good to eat - but luckily they also taste delicious so you get to have your mushroom and eat it too!


6

WINE FOOD FARMGATE RECIPE

Change it up!

meat e h t e c la p e R ooms r h s u m h it w n Rise o t n e B m o r f ex t ra n a r o f m r a F eat. delicious tr

recipe: spicy chorizo pizza Try this simple yet effective pizza recipe from the team at Mornington Peninsula Brewery. For a really special pizza, make your own dough and use beer as the raising agent in the crust.

chorizo. Evenly spread the roast capsicum and onion. As per the individual’s taste, add olives and jalapenos and finish off with mozzarella but not too much. Heat oven to hottest setting and cook until golden.

INGREDIENTS - SERVES 4 1 green capsicum 1 spanish onion 180g pizza dough Pizza sauce Pepperoni - enough to cover base 8 slices chorizo Olives to liking 1 jalapeno sliced Mozzarella cheese Rocket

TO SERVE Sprinkle top with rocket to taste. Cut with a pizza wheel or sharp knife into 8 and serve.

METHOD Slice capsicum and onion, sprinkle with olive oil. Roast in wood fire oven. Spread pizza sauce leaving a 20mm edge. Cover sauce base with pepperoni and add 8 slices of

MATCHED BEVERAGE Mornington Peninsula Brewery IPA. ABOUT MORNINGTON PENINSULA BREWERY Mornington Peninsula Brewery is nestled in the industrial estate of Mornington. The brewery has a casual relaxed atmosphere complemented by the beer garden and a viewing mezzanine overlooking the brew house. Together with a tasty menu of traditional wood fired pizzas, Mornington Peninsula Brewery makes a welcoming destination for the discerning beer drinker.


7

FRUITS OF LOVE Did you know? • The strawberry was a symbol for Venus, the Goddess of Love with its red colouring and heart shape • Medieval stonemasons carved strawberry designs on altars and around the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals to symbolise perfection and righteousness. You can get your own strawberry perfection at Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm in Main Ridge. Pick your own fruits of love until the end of April, or pick up some of those amazing chocolate dipped ones. Lovely!

Fresh strawberries

Pick your own strawberries

Chocolate dipped Name and of place delicious here

food, glorious food! Delicious and delectable doesn’t do it justice. Sharing a glorious food experience with the special people in your life is one of the great pleasures in life. Try these great spots and we are sure you won't be disappointed: ӹӹ Treat yourself at a chefs’ hatted winery restaurant dining at Paringa Estate, Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove, or Port Phillip Estate. ӹӹ Share prawns on the lawn with amazing sea views at Max’s Restaurant, or a Josper grilled sirloin with a lakeside backdrop at Stillwater at Crittenden. ӹӹ Take in views over vines at Morning Sun Estate or thousands of roses at Morning Star Estate. ӹӹ For the casual romantic try a slap-up, any-day breakfast at Blue Mini - a re-imagined bowling alley with a cool vibe, or on weekends only at Whispering Vines Café - a historic passionfruit factory that is now a winery.

You will never settle for ordinary when there is so much choice. From fine dining, perfect picnics, funky cafés, charcoal barbecues, seafood just caught, or a hearty breakfast.

ӹӹ Frock up for High Tea at Woodman Estate, or find a secluded spot for a five star picnic from Polperro Winery, Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove or Merricks General Wine Store.

Blue Mini Cafe

Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove

ENJOY A DELICIOUS SOAK Slip a little bit deeper into the mineral rich waters of geo-thermal hot springs. Pair a relaxing mineral pool experience with a massage at a beautiful day spa, or soak away tension and treat your soles with a spa pedicure - your feet will love you. There are so many options...

Woodman Estate Spa

The Wellness Manor

Peninsula Hot Springs

pinot love

The Mornington Peninsula is recognised as the crucible of Pinot Gris in Australia. This is due in no small part to talented winemakers like Kathleen Quealy. Kathleen Quealy was dubbed "the Queen of Pinot Grigio" by James Halliday and in 2016 she was the first woman to be named as a Legend Of The Vine. As young winemakers in the late 1980’s Kathleen, and her husband Kevin McCarthy deduced that the cool climate of the Mornington Peninsula would make it perfect for growing Pinot Gris. The cool humidity and number of cloudy days would create a long cool growing season. The region's deep red clay soils would hold water so the vines would nourish their grapes until the end of autumn, and there was enough rainfall for the vines to grow without irrigation as they did

in Europe. Without masses of sunshine the grape ‘berries’ would be smaller and the flavour more concentrated. Thus started a love affair with the complexities of Pinot Gris. Consumers discovered its delights, creating a groundswell of demand - and the region delivered.

To discover more about the magic of Quealy Winemakers and their love of Pinot READ ON>


11

WINE FOOD FARMGATE RECIPE

Lemon Verbena Creme Brulée

A light and delicious dessert from the team at Green Olive at Red Hill, made even more special with local free range eggs. INGREDIENTS 1 litre cream 12 egg yolks 250g caster sugar 1 handful fresh lemon verbena leaves METHOD Preheat oven to 120°C. Place ten, 1/2 cup (125ml) capacity ovenproof dishes in a large roasting pan. Place cream in a medium saucepan with sugar and lemon verbena leaves and heat to 97 degrees - do not boil. Allow to stand for 20 minutes to infuse. Use a whisk to whisk the egg yolks together in a bowl until well combined. Gradually whisk the cream into the egg-yolk mixture until well combined. Strain into a jug to discard lemon verbena leaves. Pour evenly among the prepared dishes. Pour enough boiling water into the roasting

pan to reach halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake in preheated oven for one hour or until just set. Remove from oven and set aside to cool for 20 minutes. Refrigerate overnight to chill. TO SERVE Sprinkle each brûlée with sugar and either caramelise with a blow torch or cook under the grill for 1 - 2 minutes : your brûlée should be golden brown. MATCHED BEVERAGE Kelpie Bridge Moscato ABOUT GREEN OLIVE AT RED HILL Sit on the deck while enjoying the view of the vineyard, kitchen garden and ducks on the dam. We also have a cosy indoor area and a perfect spot for larger groups. We grow olives, grapes, herbs and vegies, raise sheep, chooks and fish and turn amazing produce from local farmers into a range of goodies you’ll love. Delicious!


12

deliciously indulgent The little village of Flinders is developing a reputation for delicious food experiences, and Mornington Peninsula Chocolates is one of the best.

L to R: Cass, Milton and Isilda

This family of chocolatiers see chocolate making as an art form offering all the nuances of wine making and more. Milton and Isilda were truly inspired by the cinematic triumph ‘Chocolat’ and so began a love affair with chocolate that grew and grew. So much so that they spent time studying alongside some of the world’s most famous Master Chocolatiers. The family are also involved in the business and they have built Mornington Peninsula Chocolates to be a blissful blend of exquisite flavours and fine art. From the moment you step into their stunning atelier (chocolate shop), you’ll discover that the delicate art of chocolate making is indeed alive and flourishing in this hidden world of pure indulgence and (really quite) decadent pleasure. These multi-award winning couverture chocolates are lovingly hand-crafted daily using only the finest local and imported ingredients - you can see

Mornington Peninsula Chocolates

them being made through the viewing window. They are made using traditional French, Belgian and Swiss techniques from originé chocolate sourced from around the world and blended exquisitely with fresh local ingredients. These passionate chefs are certainly dedicated to their craft and have developed their own award winning style. Isilda and Cass tweak the recipes and create the amazing filling combinations, while Milton and Christian specialise in the moulding work, and are experts in the popular chocolate FUN FACT: Isilda animals and stiletto was a successful shoes... and they make the most potter and Milton amazing gelati! was an automotive Handcrafted with specialist before passion... truly they became sumptuous and chocolatiers! delicious to boot!


14


Main Ridge Dairy

Main Ridge Dairy

‘tHE GREAT INDULGENCE’ TRAIL Is there anything more wickedly wonderful than an afternoon spent sampling chocolate and cheese? The local Mornington Peninsula Chocolates are the ultimate; handmade using traditional techniques and the finest Belgian couverture, and are meltingly divine. The region also produces the most superb cow, goat and sheep cheeses - handmade by artisan makers like Red Hill Cheese and Main Ridge Dairy. But don’t totally fill up on cheese. Check out these (plus other delicious goodies) on the trail HERE>> Red Hill Cheese

Main Ridge Dairy

Red Hill Cheese



rip My T

how to plan Your trip You see, there’s so much to see and do on the Mornington Peninsula and it’s our job to help you Find Your Way.

Try our online Trip Planner - you won't be disappointed You can choose all the things you’d like to do and our planner gives you an itinerary that is your own. The itinerary includes a map with directions and driving times. You can reorder it, delete things and add to it - all online. When you are finished you can download it or email it to yourself and your friends…..give it a go.

Plan your trip!


16

FIND YOUR WAY TO...

wine food farmgate GET ON THE TRAIL...

Myrtaceae Winery >

Ashcombe Maze Café >

Ocean Eight Vineyard & Winery >

Bass & Flinders Distillery >

Paringa Estate Winery & Restaurant >

Benton Rise Farm >

Peninsula Fresh Organics >

Blue Mini Eatery, Emporium, Events >

Peninsula Fresh Seafood >

Blue Range Estate Wines >

Phaedrus Estate >

Crittenden Estate >

Polperro Winery >

Dromana Estate >

Port Phillip Estate >

Flinders Hotel Dining >

Prancing Horse Estate >

Foxeys Hangout >

Pure Peninsula Honey >

The Mornington Peninsula has amazing wine, food and farmgate experiences. Meet the makers, growers and chefs as you find your way around the region.

Georgie Bass Café & Cookery >

Quealy Winemakers >

Find out more >

Green Olive at Red Hill >

Red Hill Cheese >

Hart’s Farm >

Red Hill Cherry Farm >

Hawkes Vegetables & Farmgate >

Red Hill Community Market >

Heronswood Garden & Dining >

Red Hill Epicurean >

Hickinbotham of Dromana >

Ripe ‘n’ Ready Cherry Farm >

Hillock Downs Produce Store >

Spa Dreaming Centre Café >

Kings Market Gardens >

Staples Apples >

Lindenderry Estate Red Hill >

Stillwater at Crittenden >

Main Ridge Dairy >

Stonier >

Max’s Restaurant >

Stringers Stores, Sorrento >

Merricks General Wine Store >

Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm >

Mock Red Hill >

T’Gallant Winemakers >

Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove >

The Cups Estate >

Morning Star Estate Restaurant >

The Long Table >

Morning Sun Vineyard >

Tully’s Corner Produce Store >

Mornington Peninsula Brewery >

Volpino Mount Martha >

Mornington Peninsula Chocolates >

Whispering Vines @ Trofeo Estate >

Mornington Prime Cuts >

Woodman Estate Food & Wine >

MP Experience >

Woolumbi Farm >

Discover key regional experiences; attractions and adventure, marine

activities, arts and culture, golf, hot springs and wellbeing, tours, transport, markets and shopping, and more.

find your way to

golf

arts & culture

Mercure Portsea Golf Club >

McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery >

marine activities

Merricks House Art Gallery >

Bayplay Adventure Tours >

Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery >

Moonraker Dolphin Swims >

adventure & attractions

Peninsula Standup Paddle >

Arthurs Seat Eagle>

Polperro Dolphin Swims >

Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens >

Searoad Ferries >

Boneo Maze & Mini Golf >

tours

Gunnamatta Trail Rides >

Gunnamatta Trail Rides >

Heronswood Historic House & Gardens >

spa & wellbeing

Lantasia at Boneo Maze >

Peninsula Hot Springs >

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park >

The Wellness Manor >

Mornington Racing Club Events >

Woodman Estate Spa Retreat >

Mornington Railway >

markets and shopping

Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm >

Mornington Racecourse Market >

The Big Goose >

Peninsula Gourmet Emporium >

The Enchanted Adventure Garden >

Wells St & Point Nepean Markets >

now On the blog... Seven Summer Sensations Warm nights and long lazy days are perfect for summer soirees with friends. Barbecues with a few refreshing beers beckon, or a cider if you prefer. And there is plenty of opportunity for a bit of fun. Find your way around the region for summer ale and entertainment… READ MORE>

Mock Orchards

Six delightfully decadent ideas So the Christmas cheer has worn off and the post-holiday low has surfaced. Maybe a little indulgence is warranted – after all, you have been very good all month, or at least tried to be good. To reward such dedication and commitment a treat is needed. So here are six delightfully decadent ideas to reward all your restraint, hard work and goodness over summer… READ MORE>

Red Hill Cheese

Name of place here

SUITE DREAMS What will your wake up call be? The murmur of the sea? Bird calls in the bush? The rustling of the vines or the first golfers to the tee? Arthurs Views > Best Western Plus Brooklands of Mornington > Big 4 Mornington Peninsula Holiday Park > Blue Range Estate Villas > Happy Glamper > Harmony Bed & Breaksfast > Lakeside Villas at Crittenden Estate > Lindenderry Country House Hotel > Mercure Portsea > Mornington Peninsula Foreshore Camping > Peppers Moonah Links Resort > Polperro Winery Villas > Quarters at Flinders Hotel > Woodman Estate >

find great packages here >

@jaclyn_snaps

@kelly___wilson

sarahjanehi

what will you find?

@cureforhangry

Follow us to join the conversation and keep up to date with what’s happening in region.

@lindenderry

As you discover all of the great things to do and places to see on the Mornington Peninsula share your pics on social media using our hashtags. Hashtagged images stream into social media feeds on our campaign websites so that we can inspire others to get out and explore the region.

We’d love to see what you find!

#winefoodfarmgate #findyourwaymorningtonpeninsula

@thelongtableredhill

@nicolercoco

@jacobsmith06

@sunnyridgestrawberryfarm

@bobrovnycha