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Febuary 4 2010 number4 Cafe Mechanica.. Thomas Av Warburton . Cafe Mechanica is not a restaurant, it is as the name suggests a cafe. However it is very different and is worth a visit. Julie and I had some very yummy toasted sandwiches on thick slabs of sour dough with good quality fresh coffee to follow. It was filling enough to call it lunch rather than a snack. It is the cafe itself that grabbed my interest You see 32 years ago as a fresh faced 15 year old, I took on my very first job as an apprentice motor mechanic. I worked at Donna Buang Service Station, the petrol was sold upstairs on the Highway and the work shop was underneath around the back. That was when Warburton was a commercially based town catering for the locals that lived and worked there. The town has now become a weekend tourist haven, so the dynamic of this beautiful place has changed accordingly. The old petrol station has now become a bakery and the workshop down below has now been transformed into Cafe Mechanica. This Cafe, lady's, is one that your man would be happy to come along with you. It has all sorts of bikes and car paraphernalia with interesting posters and magazines to read. there is a large flat screen TV in the back which is playing a selection of car and top fuel drag racing events. Different? Yes. Good? Yes. Blokes the lady's can have coffee and cake and you are able to get up and wander (check the motorised bicycle and guess it's age) The Yarra river runs right past the front of the place and after coffee and eats go for a walk down Thomas av and have a look at all the work that has been done around the back of the Warburton Main Street and in the rehabilitation of the Yarra river. Cafe Mechanic is open from 9am till 1pm Monday to Friday and later on Saturdays and Sundays and is situated behind the Valley Bakery 3415 Warburton hwy Warburton. regards Brian 04/02/2010 January 30th 2010 Number 3. 
Cunninghams Hotel. Ya wanna country pub???? Well this is it!!!!! Cunninghams Hotel is on the Warburton Highway in Yarra Junction, it is a Californian Bungalow style of building, was once a guest house I believe and was moved to the spot where it is now about 80 years ago. The place has one main bar where you can order your meal. They have a inside dining area which is made up of a number of small rooms so its quiet and cozy. Or if the weather is good, then do what Julie and I and the kids did and eat outside at the front of the pub. You have the choice of eating under the veranda or the front beer garden it is right on the main road so one is able to enjoy a cold ale while watching the world go by. The hotel is super relaxed and the atmosphere is pure country, this building has been left alone as far as major renovations goes, so it has a kind of feeling that you are only able to get from a place that does what it does without any special graces. What about the food? Well at first glance there is about a dozen mains 4 or 5 entrees and the same with deserts. I had a chicken Florentine and Julie had a Kiev and a desert (which I can't remember) and the meals were great really tasty and a good size. To be honest we had not tried Cunninghams for a number of years and that was a mistake on our behalf. we have made the pledge to try make it a regular eatery. The meal prices range from about $19 to $25 for a main and there was a good selection real typical pub style. The place is owned by Gail and Trotter (Michael) they are naturally very friendly people, know their stuff and you can be assured that one of them will be mixing or pouring your drinks you order at the bar. They have only really taken over the place for about 6 to 12 months and the little pub has really got busy, testament to them doing the right thing. If you decide to stay at 3 Kings and have a meal at Cunninghams, then you will be entitled to a freebe.... order a meal and the deserts are free!!!! that's right no charge!! Just let Julie or myself know and we will organise the rest. Now from 3 Kings forget the car keys because it's about a 5 minute lazy walk, so it can help to burn off the dinner calories. It's at 2424 Warburton Highway Yarra Junction, call Gail or Trotter on 59671080 sorry there is no web site. Eat well kind regards Brian January 24th 2010 Number 2. 
The Home Hotel.. Winner 2008 Victorian country pub of the year! The Home Hotel has been around for I think about 120 years and has always been a Pub. It has been lovingly restored and is totally in keeping with its period style, it is gorgeous inside. What you will notice when you venture inside is that the place is absolutely spotless which I think is pretty important given that you are going to eat there! Denise and her son Brad have owned and run the business for about 5 years and do a great job I have no hesitation in recommending them every time. As you walk in the front door, turn right into the smaller semi detached dining room. This is a great place to dine if you are seeking a more cozy and romantic setting. through the smaller dining room into the main bistro with its soft lighting, oil paintings and lovely garden visible through the widows certainly wont disappoint. They have a secure children's play area set up as well so the little ones can be kept entertained as you relax. The mains range from about $23 to $29 the food is terrific and there is lots of it. The meals are definitely more restuarant style than pub fare and Chef changes the menu for the seasons so there is good variety also. What you will notice if you drive by at meal times is that there is always lots of vehicles in the car park, because this is the pub that a lot of the locals eat at. That is generally a very good advert for an establishment on its own. The good news is that they are open every day for lunch and dinner, I would suggest maybe booking on weekends if you were looking to be seated in the smaller dining room. Phone 59673303 2170 Warburton HWY Launching Place (5 minutes from 3 Kings) www.thehomehotel.com.au well that is suggestion number 2 see what you think regards Brian January 15th 2010 welcome to food and wine.... I have been a resident of this part of the Yarra Valley for 35 years and in recent years it has never ceased to amaze me of what we have along the Warburton Highway as far as food and wine are concerned.. Well read on, because this local fellow is going to let you in on some tips of exactly where to head to. Now firsty no one listed in this blog is paying me one cent or giving me any freebies to promote them so you will not be getting a clouded opinion. Further more, I am going to take it on myself as my duty to visit places i have not been to before and then chat to you about the good ones.(tough gig hey)... Number 1  Bulong Rest  The range of white and red Bulong Estate Winery and Resturrant The owners are Judy and Howard Carter and the chef is Antoine... You just know sometimes when you meet people for the first time that they are just plain nice and great to chat to. Where they will take a really genuine interest in what you are about, you know country people!! Well Judy and Howard actively run the winery and Judy was originally the chef, (I personally have never tried her fare but I believe people still ask for her skill on occasion). Matt is their son and he is the wine maker, that's right readers this is one of those boutique wineries that grow the grapes harvest and bottle all on the property and that is not as common as you might think. Now if you are like me and know that you like the taste of, but know nothing about the process, feel free to ask all of the questions and Matt will know the answers. He is happy to talk about it as well, because this place does not have 10 bus loads of people coming through daily getting the same stock information day in day out. So I guess he is not bored with it and that makes a big difference with the whole experience. Wine prices Most of the wine is priced between say $19 and $24. they have a limited Cab Sav at approx $35. I think that is pretty good for a premium wine. you can purchase at the cellar door or by mail order. phone number is 03 5967 1358 or www.bulongestate.com.au Restaurant Now I have to tell you, this is one of the Yarra Valleys very very best restaurants this Antoine can really cook. The meals are just divine the setting is great with terrific views of the vines and mountains.. This is the place to go to when its just the 2 of you for that special romantic occasion... Stay with us at 3 kings and do this place for dinner or lunch it is a must. The down side..... Sorry people they are only open Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday for lunch. Prices About $29 for the mains!!! that's right about the same that you would expect to pay at a place half as good... see local knowledge, you have to chat to the locals to find the best value and quality. Well that's my first recommendation I will chat about another one in my next update. keep posted and live for the experience... Bye for now Brian 15/01/2010 |
Ah yes the spa
50" Plasma and gas log fire
Go on get fit
