In Praise of the Long Lunch

Lunch at Bella Vedere in the Yarra Valley this weekend. 

Bread made on site, with Australian sparkling.

Stuffed pork trotter with lentils

Chips fried in duck fat with fried runny eggs.

In Praise of the Short Break

Just returned from a four-day escape to beautiful Cradle Mountain in Tasmania. The first time we went was this time in 2005, and it snowed. Not quite that lucky this time, but still a good way to escape - the fact that we had been there before was a big part of the appeal.

There is a lot to be said, too, for taking that short break out of range of a phone signal, for taking walks among the hauntingly majestic King Billy pines and around Dove Lake, spending hours in the spa, and consuming some wonderful food, cheese and Tasmanian wine, particularly from these labels: 

• Holm Oak (pinot noir)
• Josef Chromy (pinot noir, ZDAR pinot noir, Pepik sparkling)
• Frogmore Creek (iced riesling – excellent with roquefort)
• Delamere (pinot noir)
• Clarence House (merlot)
• Tamar Ridge (riesling)
• Chartley Estate (sauvignon blanc)
• Bay of Fires (NV sparkling, and a very good unreleased 2009 pinot noir)