Wine and Cheese are like Ageless Companions

I have such a soft spot for the Swan Valley, it is only 45 minutes away from the city and whenever you go there you feel like you've taken a mini holiday. It has some pretty cool things to do, such as super golf, mini golf, a wildlife park in the form of Caversham Wildlife Park, not to mention the beer breweries, wineries, chocolate factories (x 2! - Margaret River Chocolate Factory and Whittaker's Chocolate), honey farms, nougat factory, ice creamery and of course a place to indulge in cheese. 

So as you know, a couple of weekends ago I went there for some R & R, well, more so because I was procrastinating doing my much needed to do list and driving around the Valley and stocking up on wines and eating cheese seemed like a better option. We stopped by a couple of wineries and then spent the rest of our time eating cheese at the Cheese Barrel, located on Great Northern Hwy. 

The Cheese Barrel is a place I've been itching to go to for ages (since it opened last year!). But alas, everytime I'm in the Valley, the place is either closed or we've run out of time to go there. Anyway, it stocks many gourmet cheeses from around the world. The purpose build cafe is behind the tranquil vineyard of Olive Farm Wines and overlooks the Susannah Brook. They have a lovely deck/patio area, which was the perfect backdrop to a lovely winter's day or better yet in the warm sunshine of spring and summer. 

The cheese display filled with cheeses from all over the world.. I wanted to buy some but decided against it in the fears that my mum and I would just consume it within minutes of it being home.

The best bit though would have to be their cheese boards and depending on the theme you go for allows you to indulge in a variety of cheesy goodness. We decided to go for their regional boards, in particular the French Cheese Board, because, well, the French know their fromage well. You can however chose to have the UK, Italian, Spanish, or Australian regional boards or hey you may prefer to have a soft cheese or hard cheese or blue cheese board instead (check out the menu here). To top it off, each of their cheese board can be paired with matching wines. Wine and Cheese the perfect ageless companions. Why would you not love this place?

Although it was crisp we decided to sit outdoors and enjoy some of the winter's sun. I love how they have turned out wine barrels into tables, something simple and yet gives it such flare. I wouldn't mind having a few wine barrels as tables for my door are one day. 

I ordered myself a chai latte to warm me up a little. It was possibly one of the nicer chai lattes I've had in a while. Not too milky and the perfect amount of chai flavours through it (usually it's too milky and no chai taste at all). 

Then the best bit came out - the cheeses. Our French Board consisted of four cheeses from four different areas of France. There was the Labuche d’Affinois, a soft white mould, cow’s milk cheese, the Rouzaire Camembert, a hard cheese in the form of Marcel Petite Comté and the Papillion Black Label Roquefort blue cheese. This was accompanied by figs (so yum!), crackers, bread and quince with macadamia nuts through it. 

I actually thought all four were absolutely divine (but then I'm cheese biased.. I love most cheeses, exception of the really smelly ones and the ones with fruits and what not in them that they don't taste like cheese but seem more like dips), even the blue cheese, it wasn't too strong at all.I would have to say though my favourite was the Labuche d'Affionis soft cheese, which was just creamy goodness. If I had more time in the Valley I would love to try their matching wine and cheese set. 

If you ever get a chance, head to the Cheese Barrel, have a cheese and wine board and just take in the fresh air and the rolling green (or it may be yellow-ish in summer) horizon of the Valley. Just make sure you have a skipper.

Winter weekend

I had such a good weekend(probably the last in a while) of freedom before I work my little heart out (and give up most of my weekends) to save for the massive holiday planned later this year. Excitement is building to a degree, although little research or planning is done since booking our hotels. 

I had a wonderfully busy time with my family. The whole gang was there at grandparents place for combined birthday celebrations which included my grandpa's 85th birthday, cousin's sweet 16 and my uncle's 50th. There was a buffet of delicious food (each family made something.. secret family receipes), stuffing of faces and... feeling a bit like a beached whale after that.

Sunday saw me hit the gym to try to undo some damage. It didn't work so well as the sunny winter's day made it impossible to say no to a visit to the Swan Valley to stock up on pantries made bare from winter nights in. We went in the afternoon so only made it to two wineries - Sandalford and Lancaster before having afternoon tea consisting of a FRENCH Cheeseboard from the Cheese Barrel. 

Let me assure you I made it to the gym today. Although, I ended up making a quick pastry dessert (puff pastry and nutella!.. with a scoop of  conossieur ice cream) after dinner (chicken stirfry and a bowl vegetable soup).. the dessert may have ruined everything once again. 

This battle will never be won.. but at least I get good food out of it..

After all tomorrow is another day.. 

The following photo is at the Lancaster Winery

And some (about a third of the food) and birthday cake (for grandpa - because you know he's the youngest and all ^_^)

Sittella

It was a great weekend a few weekends ago to be in the Swan Valley, again. This time it was a for a lovely wine tasting at a couple of places, followed by a lovely lunch at Sittella (booked half an hour before we went there! so naughty of us really and very lucky to get a table) before heading for ice cream (of course!) then home for a nap!

The front entrance to Sittella's Restaurant

 

Sittella is a lovely winery decked out in a very Mediterranean/Tuscany decor. The restaurant overlooks the vineyards and provides an amazing view of the vines and the dam. It was a pity that we didn't get to sit outside, but then again, it was rather hot so I guess indoors was better.

Interior of Sittella's

 

The view of the restaurant from the vineyard

 

We didn't try out their wineries (but will do next time!) as I already had far too much to drink from the first couple of places (and on an empty stomach too!) so it was time for eating. 

We were given our menus and after our order was taken fresh warm bread with creamy butter arrived.

 

Bread and Butter

After devouring our bread we waited inpatiently for our mains. 

Bf ended up getting wagyu beef (grade 7) medium-rare and it was massive cut of meat, however, it wasn't exactly the best wagyu as the fat over-powered the meat, it wasn't "evenly throughout". It wasn't very tender either, more chewy than anything. I think it wasn't so much the produce more the cooking perhaps.

Wagyu steak with potato croquette, mushrooms and vegetables

I on the other hand, didn't know whether to get the salmon or duck, but in the end ended up with the duck. Much to my disappointment, the duck was very fatty. (I realise that duck are generally fatty, but this one probably had more fat than duck meat). The breast was also cut up and I really expected a duck breast on bone (no idea why). It wasn't a bad dish, but just the taste of too much fat through my meats is really not to my liking or taste.

Duck with potato gratin, beetroot and vegetables

The service at Sittella wasn't exactly attentive to us, although they were to other customers in the restaurant. We seemed to have been left with dirty dishes on our table, bread basket not put away and nor were we asked whether we would like a top up. We didn't get our bottle of water until asked for at least a few times. It wasn't like we were sitting in the corner, but I'm not sure if it's because we were a "young" couple compared to others in the restaurant, and thus were seen as less important?

Nonetheless it's a lovely little winery with great views and casual, relaxed ambiance. The food isn't spectacular but it's tasty and nice, but maybe avoid the duck dish, because the salmon looked amazing and I regreted my choice straight away when I saw it come out for the other tables. And if you get a chance why not stroll down to their dam and have a look around.

Chester's Restaurant

Bf and I had a lovely date at the Swan Valley. We spent the morning playing Supa-golf at Oasis Park (such a challenge with hills and golf balls rolling down hills!). It was rather exhausting and the sun warming up didn't help with the heat and exhausation. So after the game of "golf" and trying wines at Lamont winery (the wines there wasn't really great!) we ventured to Chester's Restaurant for lunch.

Chester's Restaurant is located within the Heafod Glen Winery. The restaurant is steeped in history and was originally a fruit drying shed, then stable quarters for local riding academy, (may explain the tin roof and exposed Marri wood pillars). Rather lovely setting really.

 

We made a booking a head of time and when we got there the outdoor area was rather packed and busy (it was after all a lovely spring day), but we were seated inside, which suited us fine, considering we were out in the sun all morning playing "golf". 

After much deliberation, we decided we share an entree, get a main each and perhaps if the desserts look good have it at Chester's, or if not, go and get ice cream at Oggies!

We started of the meal with a lovely Mushroom soup special. It was creamy with the lovely taste and aroma of mushrooms (it really did smell yummy, especially for our rumbling tummies!). Although I wish they provided us with bread on the side and they didn't have such itchy hands, as I felt as though they tipped too much salt into it (bf disagreed and didn't think it was too salty).

 

For the mains, Bf ordered the pork with crackling mashed potatoes and glazed pear (the pear looked rather unappetitizing and didn't tie in with the dish even if they were going for that pork and pear/apple thing). The crackling was pretty good was well salted and crackled throughout, although they removed it from the pork meat and the pork itself had this massive 1cm of fat encased around it, which I was not impressed about (bf didn't mind), but I seriously think if you are going to remove the crackling from the meat, trim the fat!

We also had a side of potatoe gratin to share. It sounded rather pleasing like it was going to be cheesy and creamy. Instead what came out was this perfectly browned top, but like they say don't judge a book by it's cover, because the potatoe gratin was sour and vinegary. It wasn't what we expected at all. In fact, I really couldn't stomach much of it.

I on the other hand, had the duo of beef. There was there steak fillet - perfectly cooked on top of this lovely potato terrine with the jus (which was a little on the sour side, again you can taste the vinegar! obviously didn't cook that off!) and braised beef cheek tenderly slow cooked on a bed of sweet beetroot. I quiet enjoyed this dish really wished there was more of it.

Chester's Restaurant is a nice place to try at in the Swan Valley and I must say I appreciated that it was on the Entertainment Card. 25% off was rather nice. I wasn't blown away by the food, a few hits and misses but enjoyable and pleasant nonetheless. The ambience is rather relaxed, to the point that I could probably laze around at the place. The service was friendly enough and they asked us how our meals were, which was nice, and topping up our glasses.

I might however wait until the next year when I get a new Entertainment Card to come back again.

Oggies Ice Creamery

 

Spring is here! And what better way then spending the day through the wineries of middle swan!Especially as it's not too hot yet and the flies haven't come out in full force. The sun is out but there is a slight breeze so it's just perfect!

 

 Anyway, one of the biggest perks of Perth is that you drive about 30-40 minutes from the city and you have reseached the Swan Valley and wineries, breweries, norgout, chocolate, cheese and honey farms!

 

So after having a lovely lunch at Sittella's Winery and stocking up on my wines at Sandalford (who knew I was a VIP member there? Because I didn't!) we went to Oggie Ice Creamery for some dessert and to cool ourselves down.

 

Oggies Ice Creamery has a range of ice cream ranging from classic rum and raisin and honeycomb to a wide range of sorbets.

 

 

 

Apart from the ice-creams they also do banana split, waffles, sundaes and spiders, along with stocking 'ole school sweets and lollies like whizz fizz, jaw breakers and red skins.

 

 

argh what a dodgey photo of me I look half dead! haha

 

I got half scoops of blood orange sorbet and ginger and something (i forgot! oh how bad of me!!) ice cream. And the half scoops was so generous in serving! The ginger-something ice cream tasted like gingerbread man and it actually went really nice with the blood orange sorbet. The blood orange sorbet - the flavours of the blood orange was such a nice refreshing hit on a warm day. It wasn't too tangy and it wasn't too sweet. Perfectly made sorbet!

 

Bf on the other hand got spider with sunkist. He was like a little kid making his spider. How cute!

 

 

Oggies Ice Cream is definitely worth going if you are ever up Swan Valley way, just because their range of ice creams is pretty impressive and they make it all there. Try getting the sorbets because the flavours are pretty intense and just perfect to take the heat off.

Taylors Art Coffee House

One of my favorite areas of Perth is the Swan Valley. It's a bit of country romance just 30 to 45 minutes from the city. It has wineries, chocolate factory, ice creameries, nougat factory and some really quaint galleries and cafe hideaways.

One of those gallery/cafe place is Taylors Art Coffee House, a blink and you probably missed it. It has an old rustic charm, with mismatched cups and recycled wooden seats and a massive sitting area outside under big gum trees. Makes you feel like you at someone's backyard having breakfast, very Australian feel.

To top it off, the inside area has a little art gallery and shop filled with trinkets you can browse through after having a hearty brunch.

This particular sunny Sunday it was pretty busy, the line to order and pay for food was out the door. It's really a first in with the order to get served first as their as no waiter service.

The prices for The brunch is rather reasonable and the servings quiet large. They have the usual big breakfast with bacon, sausages, eggs, mushroom, tomato, smoked salmon with poached eggs and a beautiful and rather huge pancakes with fruit.

The flavours were wholesome, delicious and reminds you of something the grandparents would have made, as the presentation is very much thrown together.

Big Vegetarian Breakfast

Pancakes with fresh fruits

 

The whole shebang aka the big breakfast

 

Smoked salmon with poached eggs and toast

 

Having said that, it's a hearty meal made with love at reasonable prices but when it's busy expect to be waiting a while for food. Personally I don't think waiting for the food is such a bad thing especially when you sitting outside under the shade of old gum trees, sipping coffee and tea and doing it with good company.

I definitely be back and when I do I want to slowly make my way through the menu.

1 bride, 22 dresses and no groom, just wine!

Day 2 of MMXI and I am already loving it. Went all classy today at a hen's day (for the lovely, sweet and beautiful Lulu), wine tasting in the mini-margaret river, that is of course, the Swan Valley. Everyone that was important were there and all the ladies looked oh-so-lovely in their summery dresses.

The girls at Lancaster Winery

 

 

Almost all of us at Edgecombe Winery for lunch

 

Unfortunately these were the only photos I took. Too busy wine tasting and enjoying the moment (the way it should be I believe!).

Congratulations to Lulu for her BIG day on Friday. Although it was a HOT 39 DEGREES CELCIUS it was still a lovely day with some great wines, light lunch and of course a trip to the Swan Valley is NOT complete without heading to the chocolate factory.

So once again...

CONGRATULATIONS 

LULU!!