Sunday 11 May 2014

Weekend in Daylesford: Harvest week + Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges e-travel app

As part of the Harvest Week Festival and the launch of the Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges e-travel App, Gastrology had a lovely weekend away in Daylesford.

We planned our itinerary using the free Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges e-travel app.
An initiative of the Region's Tourism Board, the  free e-travel app works offline thereby allowing visitors to explore the area without roaming charges. It's especially handy when you find yourself in a no-coverage zone when you're out and about. The app also comes with maps, special offers and information on accommodation and things to do in the region.
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The Lake House
Location: 4 King Street, Daylesford
Phone: 03 5348 3329 
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Daylesford is a foodie's dream. 
An absolute highlight of our trip to Daylesford was our visit to the multi-award winning Lake House where we wined, dined and reclined. 
Needing very little introduction, Lake House is one of Australia's finest luxury retreats and destination restaurants. A world away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Lake House is perched on the edge of Lake Daylesford amongst six acres of beautiful gardens... Continue reading here.
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Harvest week 
Daylesford Macedon Produce Harvest Week Festival is a celebration of the harvest, dating back to the time when the success of the crops dictated the lives of the people.

From 25 April – 4 May, the Daylesford Macedon Ranges Region celebrated the harvest of Central Victoria showcasing the region’s abundant food and wine, celebrating the best producers, farmers, provedores, restaurateurs and vignerons. 

Events ranged from masterclasses in charcuterie to farmers market tours to traditional sour dough baking workshops.
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Daylesford Farmers Market tour with Emma Dean
Where: Daylesford Primary School, Vincent Street, Daylesford
When: 1st Saturday 8am - 1pm
As part of the festival, we attended the "Tour & Lunch" with 2013 Masterchef winner, Emma Dean.
The Daylesford Farmers Market is held on the 1st Saturday of every month and offers true value to consumers and the farmers who produce and grow the food.
The farmers market provides an opportunity to talk with producers and learn more about the various products, nutrients, uses and innovative recipes.
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Lunch @ Mercato
Location: 32 Raglan Street, Daylesford
Phone: 03 5348 4488
Cuisine: Modern Australian
After the market tour, we joined Emma for lunch at Mercato. 
A Daylesford culinary institution, Mercato attracts both locals and visitors. The décor is stylish and elegant. We enjoyed the relaxing and welcoming dining environment.
The menu had been curated by Emma and Richard Mee (chef/owner of Mercato) and was based on seasonal market produce and simple dishes from Emma Dean’s cook book. 

The food was unpretentious and generous...
Left: Roast chestnut and puy lentil soup
Right: Lamb rack with olive tapenade, broad bean, garden peas, kipfler potatoes
Beef cheeks with vanilla and swede mash, sautéed kale
Chocolate almond tort and poached quince

The chocolate almond tort was the highlight of our lunch and simply delicious. It was rich, decadent and accompanied by perfectly poached slices of quince. 
Mercato on Urbanspoon

Gisborne peak Winery
Location: 69 Short Road, Gisborne 
Phone: 03 5428 2228
Gisborne peak Winery is a winery with a distinctively casual setting. There is plenty of seating on the open-air deck over the water.  While wines remain the primary focus, Gisborne peak also offers a casual lunch menu.  All wines are served by the glass or bottle and visitors are invited to enjoy free tastings at the cellar door.

Gisborne Peak Winery on Urbanspoon

Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges e-travel app


The Daylesford and Macedon Ranges e-travel app works offline, allowing visitors to explore the region at the touch of a button - without roaming charges, even if there isn’t strong reception signals. 
Below are the features of the app:
  • It’s an e-travel guide with maps, navigation, special offers and information on accommodation, shopping, food & wine and other activities & services;
  • It allows visitors to plan their perfect trip in the region and share their experiences via smart social media integration;
  • The ‘near me’ functionality lets visitors know what businesses and services are around them, at any given time;
  • It’s free to download;
  • It’s 100% offline, so it can be used even when there is no phone reception;
  • Apple iOS and Android compatible; and
  • Accessible on all mobile and desktop devices. 
Download the app here!


Gastrology bloggers attended various events courtesy of Harvest Week, Lake House & Mercato.

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