Restaurant: The Grosvener Hotel

Restaurant: The Grosvenor Hotel

Ocean Street

Victor Harbor

http://www.grosvenorvictor.com.au/index.html

(photos above from their website)

This old hotel in Victor Harbor is one of a few hotels in the small seaside town, and is argueabley the most enduring. The 100 year old building has located on the corner of Ocean St brings character on the busy tourist street.

The staff are generally very friendly here. A couple in particular are very attentive. I think the place suffers from the transient staff issue that most small town pubs contend with. Old wooden door fridges behind the bar are just fabulous. I would love to have them in my home. Beyond that however, the decor is pretty boring. A unique thing about the place, is its famous electric train that traces around the edge of the ceiling through the restaurant and bar. Kids have always talked about that train, but unfortunately it more often than not not running.

The menu is basic pub food.. but its good. I have always had a good steak here, and the cheap steak nights make it worth while.

The Grosvenor's claim to fame is having the best Chicken Parmigiana in town. It isn't the usual thing I would order, but by all accounts it is really good

The veggie bar is generally good, and is mostly well stocked.

The Grosvenor is just your basic town pub. Victor really lacks in the dining seen particularly with the competition a short drive away in nearby Port Elliot. They have developed a beer garden round the side, which is a fantastic addition and is getting a lot of use with interesting functions. It may be the highlight of the place.

Restaurant:The Star of Greece Cafe

Restaurant: The Star of Greece Cafe

1 The Esplanade

Port Willunga

Overlooking the stunning waters at Port Willunga sits the iconic restaurant, The Star of Greece. A very popular leisurely lunch spot, this would have to be one of my favourite restaurants of all time. I have been lucky enough to not once have a bad meal here. A credit to the management and the chefs they choose.

The name can confuse, as this is NOT a Greek restaurant. It is named after a ship of the same name that hit bottom here in 1888. The ship was a solid, three masted iron ship, that couldn't fight the "once in a hundred year storm". It is hard to imagine that 18 men died as the remains of the ship lie not too far off shore. She ran aground at 3am however, and it wasn't until dawn that she was spotted. A rescue attempt didn't even get started until late afternoon. Over a hundred years have passed, and the wreck is now a popular dive site, being one of the easiest wrecks to access in the state. Check out this web site for photos of the wreck: http://www.staugustinelighthouse.com/blog/lamposts/diving_on_the_star_of_greece.php

A beautiful summer day and a visit from my Grandma from Canada brought us to The Star of Greece for lunch. The scenery was breath taking. It was a perfect summer day with the sun sparkling on the different hues of the ocean. Like a postcard. The restaurant itself doesn't look anything spectacular, almost like a shack on the edge of the cliffs. Inside is quaint and cosy. Wine bottles from various special occasions line the the perimeter shelving and tables are crammed in as tight as they can be! Mismatched chairs and crockery set the scene for a casual feeling lunch.

We were lucky enough to be there the first day of their new menu. I haven't found the new menu online, but trust me... its amazing. I had a very hard time to choose what to eat. After having some bread to start with the most amazing olive oil (so fresh and no rancid after taste at all), we had the Poached Prawn, salmon roe, avocado mousse, tomato jelly and dandelion leaves ($19).

What a pretty dish! The flavours were so delicate and subtle. Just wonderful particularly on a hot summer day. The textures were spot-on. The chewy prawns, crunchy lettuce, the smooth jelly and avocado...perfect. The bowl they came in was really neat, very shallow, almost like a plate with a really wide rim that sloped downwards. Have to get me some of those!

To accompany our amazing food, I had a Shaw and Smith Sauv Blanc ($9) and Grandma settled on a lovely sparkling. Hesketh "The Proposition". Grandma loves her bubbles.

At this point we were entirely happy with our lunch. Everything was perfect. The staff were great, view fantastic, food amazing. We were served our drinks, bread and entre relatively quickly, and then to our disappointment, our main took a very long time to come out. Fair enough a large Xmas party table was seated in that time, but it got to the point where I had to ask about our next course. Despite this .... what eventually DID come was just amazing.

You know when you have one of those dishes that you reflect on, and remember forever as the "perfect" this or that.... well this is it. The perfect salad. Hands down the BEST salad I have EVER had. Ruby Red Salad- beeroot, watermelon,raspberry,red cabbage, goats curd and maple dressing ($17). I don't even know were to begin with this..... first of all if you have read my other posts, you would know I LOVE goats curd. I also love beetroot and the combination of the two is a match made in heaven. Watermelon in salad is the surprise ingredient of all my favourite summer salads and raspberries are my all-time favourite fruit. It was like chef Harley Ireland made this salad just for me! Again, the textures were varied with the crunchy cabbage to the smooth goats curd. The tart raspberries cut through the sweetness of the maple dressing perfectly. I can't find one thing wrong with this salad.

The new menu at the Star of Greece is one of the best menus I have seen. There is a strong focus on South Australian food from KI Haloumi, to Port Willunga Squid, Coffin Bay Oysters, King George Whiting....it goes on.

Our food was amazing. I don't know the chef's history (however google is going to get a work-out on that) but the attention to detail in colours, flavours and textures is incredible. I can't wait to go back.

Restaurant: The Hahndorf Inn

Restaurant: The Hahndorf Inn

35 Main Road

Hahndorf, SA

http://www.hahndorfinn.com.au/The_Hahndorf_Inn_Hotel/Home.html

There is nothing better to say good-bye to a diet than German food. Losing those 5 kilos before Christmas, just had to go on hold for a day in Hahndorf!

Hahndorf is quaint historical town in the Adelaide Hills which was settled by Germans in the mid 1800s. "The history of the Hahndorf Inn goes back to 1853 when Gottlob Schuetze established the Australian Arms in a long fachwerk building at No. 46 Main Street. Mr Shuetze transferred his hotel to a single storied stone building over the road and changed the name to the Union Hotel in 1863. For many years, the Union Hotel was the scene of rollicking weddings, parties and musical evenings. Plays and learned lectures ranging from "Ancient Teutonic History" and "How to Make a Home Happy" added to the intellectual life of the conservative rural community. Many years later, when the South Eastern Freeway reached the village in 1972, it became the dining room of the renovated newly named The Hahndorf Inn"

(from: http://www.hahndorfinn.com.au/The_Hahndorf_Inn_Hotel/History.html, Inn).

Whenever in Hahndorf, I always eat at the Hahndorf Inn. I love the atmosphere, and the fact that the owner plays his accordian around the tables. I also appreciate and support the fact that the owner refuses to put pokies in his pub. GREAT DECISION!!! I wouldn't go here however if I didn't enjoy the food as well! Great simple German fare and cold frothy German beer on tap! Heaven!

Kassler Chop with Saurkraut and a pretzel

Most of the time I order kranskys and this visit, I ordered the chilli cheese kranskys with saurkraut, rhine potatoes and a pretzel with assorted mustards ($20.90). Huge amounts of food for around $20. I love cheese kranskys, and these were just wonderful. The saurkraut is really mild, so even those hesitant in the pickled cabbage would be able to stomach it. The assorted mustards used to be served in jars at the table, but now you dish some up on a plate from a side serving table. I liked having the Beerenburg jars brought the table... I am not sure why they changed it, perhaps people were messing up the jars, or even taking them... who knows.

There are 4 (I think) different German beers on tap. I had the lager as per usual. Light, but still 5.1% alcohol. The heavier beers go over 7%. I do not profess to know a whole lot about beer so I will leave my tasting notes to a simple, very cold very good beer!

The meals are simple, great value for money with no bells and whistles. You always know what you are going to get. Lunch has changed to bar service, but I don't actually miss the table service that much. There is a kids room which is great for the little ones, and the location is great for some before and after lunch browsing in the local shops. Just don't expect a "light" meal.... ..

Restaurant: Tranquilo

Restaurant: Tranquilo

3 / 4 Mt Barker Road

Stirling

http://www.tranquilo.com.au/index.htm

I love a day in the Adelaide Hills, and Stirling would have to be one of my favourite spots. Although it was winter when we stopped here for lunch, there were still remnants of autumn leaves around. Stirling is a pretty little town, especially in the autumn. The trees are awash with golds and reds... just stunning. The warm fireplace inside Tranquilo was so inviting on a cold winter day, and we were seated next to the window. Perfect for people watching!

The wine list focussed on South Australian wines almost exclusively, and had tasting notes for each. A nice addition to a wine list! I am so impressed with South Australian restaurants taking advantage of and promoting their own state's abundance of great wine and produce. The prices were very reasonable as well, hovering around $7 a glass.

We were obviously famished when we arrived, as we polished off the dukkah before I even thought of taking a photo! It really was the best dukkah I have ever had. It had a lemony taste to it that cut through the nuts and seeds perfectly.

I had the Beef Bourguignon ($23.90). What a great comfort food on a cold day! Braised beef cheeks, Kanmantoo bacon and seasonal vegetables in a rich red wine gravy, served in a tagine with mashed roasted potato. Fantastic meal. I love anything served in a tagine. It is such a dramatic presentation, and make the most basic of stews look like a gourmet meal. The beef cheeks were tender to the point of melting in my mouth, and there was barely a hint of the red wine........a perfect beef bourguignon. Julia Child and Elizabeth David eat your heart out!

My husband had the South Australian Whiting ($21.50) .Coopers Ale Battered Fillets served with garden salad and saffron aioli. He was disappointed in this dish, as the fish didn't have a lot of flavour. The saffron aioli was really good though.

The coffee was very nice, and had information about the beans, the milk they use (Tweedvale Dairy in the Adelaide Hills) and an explanation of each type of coffee you could order. What a neat idea! Although we didn't have any dessert, the truffle tasting plate from South Australian chocolatier Cocolat, sounded like a GREAT idea!

What an enjoyable comforting lunch! Great for a winter day. The stand-out thing about this restaurant however, is its commitment to South Australian wine and produce! Good job!

Restaurant: Three Brother's Arms

Restaurant: Three Brothers Arms pub

40 Venebles Rd Macclesfield SA

About 15kms out of Strathalbyn, in the quiet little town of Macclesfield is the Three Brothers Arms Pub. Cosy and inviting, the pub was originally called the Davenport Arms Hotel. It was built in 1841 and has an interesting history.

In the back beer garden, are the remains of the Goat's Head Brewery and a well sits in the back corner of the dining room.

Once used as a wishing well, many of the old Australian

pennies of yesteryear wishes can be seen embedded in the bar.

A town and pub of this age of course always has many a story to tell, and this one of course is no exception. Most interesting , was the curious death of a young Adelaide chemist. In April 1883, an inquest was held at the pub following the sudden death of Adelaide chemist, Robert Allott. He had been holidaying with a friend, local brewer Harry Conigrave. The inquest found no reason for the young man of 20 to have died, and so it remained a mystery.

What makes the situation so strange, is Allott wasn't ill and only became ill after receiving his "regular" medication from the local doctor, which he and two other doctors testified could not have killed Allott.

Although they found that local doctor Cecil Jackson was not at fault, rumours of his past soon surfaced which I think nowadays would have been looked into much further. Amongst other medical malpractices like illegal abortions, more importantly Jackson was accused of murdering his lover in Victoria. Elizabeth Maitland Hilder was the daughter and the sole heir of one of Jackson's wealthy patients. He had been attending Mr Hilder for a long time, and during the

time, Hilder became more and more ill. Elizabeth suddenly died, and the town took action, burning an effigy of Jackson, running him out of town. Curiously, when he left, Mr Hilder's health suddenly reversed, giving more kudos to the rumour that Jackson was poisoning him. (I got a lot of information from Curiosities of South Australia 4 by Russell Smith. These are great little books that I always take with me when having a country drive through South Australian and have seen a lot of little treasures because of it!)

Accompanied by my family (including my "surrogate" Australian family), we met up on a Friday night, next to a roaring fire at the pub.

We started with the Regional plate: bread, olives, Kanmantoo bacon, Kanmantoo Metwurst, Apple Chutney, Hamlet's Choizo Sausage, Woodside Goat's Curd and 3 Bros own Dukkah. ($22.90)

Absolutely the most wonderful start after the trek to the pub. The house made Dukkah was perfect! Just the right balance of spices and nuttiness, easily one of the best Dukkahs we have ever had and anything with goat's curd makes me happy! Beautifully presented, and full of local produce, fantastic.

I have made the pilgrimage to the butcher in Kanmantoo, buying bacon, metwurst and pepperonni. I think that they deserves their own blog, but will make mention of the absolutely fantastic products they deliver with their unique smokey fresh flavour. The butcher shop is situated behind a farm house, amongst the paddocks where you can just imagine Wilbur waiting for his fate!

The pub is famous for its large collection of beer. Apparently, it has over 300 beers available, focusing mainly on English beer. I tried the Landlord Timothy Taylors Sting Pale Ale (11.50 for 500ml) which was quite nice. I am not a big beer drinker, but I really did enjoy this. Interestingly, a few Canadian beers make the list, ones I have never heard of. I love that they have sourced boutique beers from around the world.

As there was such a large group, I didn't taste all dishes, but managed to get photos of most if not all that made it to the table!

Chicken Schnitzel Parmigiana (18.50) with added bacon.

I had the Twice Cooked Pork Belly with Cauliflower Cream, Garlic Broccolini and Plum Chutney ($22.50). Not a regular feature, I chose this delight from the specials board. I love pork belly, the crispy outside and tender inside is such a nice combination. I really enjoyed this , I thought the mash and broccolini were the perfect accompaniments to a really well done dish. Two of us ordered this, and I obviously got the better cut, as the other cut was mostly fat.

The 300gm MSA "1824" Porterhouse Cooked to Order with Olive Oil Mash, Spinach, House-made Tomato Chutney and Rosemary Butter (27.90) was cooked perfectly medium rare as requested. The steak was tasty and tender, but had obviously rested too long on a cold winter evening as it was getting on the cold side.

Grilled Lamb Burger on Turkish Bread and Basalmic Onions, Beetroot Relish, Whipped Fetta Salad and Chips (19.90)

Salt and Pepper Squid with Lemongrass, Ginger, Chilli, and Garlic Aioli (17.50). The squid was great, lightly dusted but the stand-out was the ailoli... magnificent!

Chicken Schnitzel with mushroom sauce (16.50)

Traditional Lamb's Fry and Bacon with Creamy Mash and Vegetables (16.50) was raved about by both her ordered it. Comments like how they remember it as a child, fantastic excellent were all mumbled from full mouths!

I obviously liked this dessert a lot and didn't write down the name of it! It looked to me like the perfect winter dessert.

Warm Lemon and yoghurt Cake with Poached

Quince, Toasted Almonds and Cream Chantilly (10.50)

Chocolate Peanut Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream and Iranian Fairy Floss (10.50)

I had a really great night at this pub. The atmosphere was cosy, warm and fun. It really is the perfect winter pub to visit. Mel Pritchard and Shane Ortis (formally of Coolngatta Cafe at Aldinga Beach) have done a great job settling into Macclesfield.

I think Mel has chosen the menu well, non-pretentious, good pub food. If she keeps the specials rotating, the permanent menu is perfect and what is expected in a country pub.

The beer list is intriguing and will attract menu lovers of the brew I am sure.

Shane is great in the bar, but a bit of that "chefness" in him comes out a little front of house. We were never asked if we wanted a second drink, despite only 5 tables being full most times during the evening, and he always seemed rushed and short with the customers. It almost felt like HE was doing US a favour by attending to us at times. Having said that however, by the end of the evening he was relaxed and friendly and our coffees came out very quickly!