Victoria
Goodbye music festivals, hello food festivals? Where to plan your next regional road trip
From community-led harvests, to cheese and bread workshops with Australia’s best, regional food festivals have a lot to offer – and they’re booming. Here’s our pick of five to visit this autumn.
- Bianca Hrovat
- Review
- Mansfield
To try some of Victoria’s best Mexican food (and margaritas), head for the hills
Forget nachos, sombreros and fishbowl margs. Honcho is delivering good-value modern Mexican dishes cooked over fire.
- Besha Rodell
- Review
- Balnarring
The secret’s out about this French charmer in a Mornington Peninsula business park
Local favourite Le Bouchon offers a classic Gallic dining experience that rollicks and garlicks in all the right places.
- Dani Valent
- Review
- Romsey
This ‘monumental’ winery restaurant lives up to its name, but how’s its menu?
This winery, cellar door, restaurant and sculpture park one hour north of Melbourne is definitely worth a visit.
- Dani Valent
- Review
- Reservoir
La Gout Afrique is a brilliant little gem in a suburban corner milk bar
What do you buy from a milk bar? Cheezels, dishwashing liquid and emergency Tim Tams. What about jollof rice, fried plantain and fufu?
- Dani Valent
- Review
- Yarra Glen
This Yarra Valley winery restaurant has always been worth visiting. Now, it’s almost essential
This winery restaurant in the Yarra Valley is only getting better under chef Joel Alderdice. And one dish might just one of the prettiest in Victoria.
- Dani Valent
The expert’s guide to Victoria’s best regional food events to book right now
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival’s regional dining program has been announced. Here’s festival creative director Pat Nourse’s top picks to book right now.
- Dani Valent
Update: Paradise Valley Hotel reopens after suspected arson attack
A picturesque pub in the Dandenongs is back open for Friday drinks after a suspicious fire was lit early on Sunday morning.
- Emma Breheny
Underbar moves back to original Ballarat location after brief stay at Hotel Vera
A plush partnership between two luxury destinations in Ballarat has dissolved, leaving a hotel without a restaurant and a restaurant without a home.
- Emma Breheny
- Review
- Geelong
Pork belly, pipis, parma: Ambergris’ menu straddles new and old Geelong (and pub and restaurant)
There’s safety in the elevated chicken parma, meanwhile other plates showcase modern Asian flavours from the chef’s time at Coda and Tonka.
- Dani Valent