Explore 22/5/15
I woke to the sounds of heavy rain which is always bliss on a lazy Sunday morning and one of those days you could have easily stayed all cosy and warm in bed, but it was not to be, as an adventure in the hills with my friend Monique awaited!
The Dandenong Ranges is a haven of hidden delights and a drive through there is always stunning . . . its winding, sun dappled roads and sweeping corners, sit under a canopy of majestic mountain ash trees and lush fern gullies that line either side. Eclectic little villages and quaint little towns wait for you on hilltops and there is beauty all around, it’s a sight that never fails to impress, rain hail or shine it is always beautiful, but none more so I believe, than in Autumn, with its seemingly endless array of colours, vibrant reds, gorgeous golds and rich russets! It really is a glorious sight and there are photo opportunities aplenty! We had to resist the urge to stop every few minutes!
With a top temperature of only 10˚C and the sun playing hide and seek with sudden down pours of rain, you would expect it could be quite unpleasant especially in the hills where it’s often a few degrees cooler again, but while it was cool and damp, it wasn’t cold, at least not as cold as we were expecting! The air was crisp and fresh, and the smell of wood fires filled the air . . . it was perfect weather too for the little roadside chestnut stalls that we passed along the way . . . you can just imagine rugging up and toasting them over the fire . . . it really was a wonderful day to be here!
Our first stop was in the mountain village of Sassafras, a beautiful little town with a wonderful selection of quaint little tea rooms (even one inspired by Agatha Christies Miss Marple), a fabulous tea pot shop selling every type of tea and themed teapot you can imagine, then there’s Geppetto’s a charming workshop specializing in old-world wooden children’s toys, an old school lolly shop, antique shops and galleries and stores selling local produce too . . . there is so much to see and do in this region but you could easily spend an entire day just here in the one town!
After a bit of a wander and a few purchases, a much needed coffee was in order, especially as we had skipped breakfast to get an early start and a Parisian styled cafe just on the edge of town seemed like the perfect choice!
As soon as we entered through the swinging distressed timber front doors of Cafe de Beaumarchais we immediately felt as though we were transported somewhere else. Despite the cafe’s dark interior a feeling of cosiness and warmth prevails . . . the high ceilings are painted black, rich gold patterned wallpaper covers the walls and there are exotic chandeliers throughout . . . a subtle glow radiates from the soft wall lighting and there are beautiful Parisian style displays all around . . . not to be missed are the delicious range of locally made european style cakes which are all beautifully displayed in a gorgeous glass cabinet, they were incredibly tempting but we had plans to lunch a little further along up the road in Sherbrooke which is where we headed next!
It was only a few kilometres up the road but what a colourful drive it was and at one point we nearly both did a double take as a red Japanese maple stood out like beacon in the now dimly lit forrest! It was absolutely incredible and of course a photo stop was definitely on the agenda for later, but for now it was all about our stomachs. As we came to a bend in the road we turned left and entered the picturesque 23 hectare estate that houses the Piggery Cafe . . . gorgeous manicured grounds, colourful tall trees and two vine covered silos set the backdrop for this former piggery now turned cafe! It was stunning!
The cafe itself is wonderful, almost like a modern day farmhouse and one that has retained its rustic warmth and charm. Two large open plan eating areas are housed by concrete walls and poured concrete and exposed brick, make up the flooring throughout. Grey slabs of marble form the shared tables under which little wooden stools sit and rustic little touches, like copper coat hooks, adorn the walls around. Natural light pours through cafe from the high ceilings and roof windows above and while the colour scheme may be cool, the feeling here is anything but! It’s warm and cosy and there is a buzz of activity inside both from diners and waiters alike! If the menu doesn’t make your mouth water then the beautiful displays of gorgeous home salads on the counter and a selection of pastries and petit fours made on site definitely will! I want to try everything!
While the cosiness of indoors was tempting, we opted to dine outdoors in the undercover area. It was a little brisk at first, but all of our senses came alive as we watched the weather constantly change as we dined. Mist gave way to light rain and then to the sun and then the pattern started all over again. It was beautiful being out in the elements (well almost, I must confess, we did have two large heating strobes above us) and it meant that we could take full advantage of the beautiful views and grounds before us . . . lush green picnic grounds to our right and just beyond us beautifully manicured lawn bowls, croquet and bocce pitches. Looking even further into the distance there is a trufferie (with 500 trees), extensive vegetable gardens and an emu enclosure which we are told has the ambition of sourcing the eggs to use in the Piggery Café dishes. There’s a pig enclosure too with Bubble and Squeak, which we are assured are pets and not for feasting . . . I was very relieved to hear that!
We were starving and everything on the menu looked and sounded so appealing . . . our delightful Parisian waiter suggested we share a few dishes so we could sample many things as possible . . . excellent idea we thought!
For starters we feasted upon a fresh lobster brioche roll which was heavenly and surprisingly so, seeing as we were so far from the sea, followed by a freshly baked lamb korma pie with split pea, cumin, mint and crushed cauliflower, served with a gorgeous garden salad of baby cos lettuce and baby carrots with a delightfully creamy dressing, and to finish a delicious cheese platter with tiny black olives and a selection of fruit and sourdough breads . . . of course there were a couple of mandatory glasses of wine to wash it all down too!
What a wonderful find this place is and what a delightful setting to feast upon sophisticated comfort food!
We could have easily sat and indulged in more wine, certainly not more food, although the petit fours dessert platters did look incredibly tempting (and I am not a sweet tooth) . . . instead, we wandered across to the neighbouring Alfred Nicholas gardens where we spent the remainder of the afternoon taking in the sights and all of the incredibly vibrant Autumn colours! We were obsessed with all of the reds!
One more coffee was needed before the drive home and we decided to head back where we had started our day, at the little Parisian cafe only this time we sat outdoors where we met two lovely local ladies who were just gorgeous!
The girls in the cafe remembered us from the morning and were so surprised to hear that we hadn’t ventured any further than Sassafras and Sherbrooke . . . see I told you you could easily spend an entire day just here and that’s exactly what we had done!
What a delicious day this was . . . a feast for the eyes and all of the senses, made all the more special but sharing it with the company of a very special friend!
Posted by red stilletto on 2015-05-21 13:58:45
Tagged: , Lobster , Lobster Roll , Brioche , Food , Food Photography , Bun , Roll , Seafood , Green , Dandenongs , The Dandenongs , The Piggery , The Piggery, Cafe
