Nothing But The Best
The Age
Saturday September 2, 2006
The region has an impressive reputation for the quality of its produce, writes Michele Curtis.
LAKES Entrance is home to Victoria's largest fishing fleet, and the area's restaurants and cafes make the most of the sea-fresh catch, with flathead and flake predominating. The cheeses produced in the area have won international acclaim, led by producers such as Jindi and Tarago River. The region is also gaining a name for the quality of its beef and organic fruit and vegetables, berries in particular. LAKES ENTRANCE FISHERMANS CO-OP (Bullock Island, Lakes Entrance, phone 5155 1688, daily 8.30 am-5 pm). The variety of fish caught in Bass Strait is astounding. Luckily for us, much of it ends up in this shop, depending on the season and the weather, of course.SOUTH EAST SEAFOOD CO (Shop 3, Albion Centre, Nicholson Street, Bairnsdale, phone 5153 1100, Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm; Sat 9am-noon) sells only local fish. Look for flake, whiting, blue eye or rockling from Bass Strait or estuary fish from Gippsland Lakes. FOSTER BUTCHERY (39 Main Street, Foster, phone 5682 2410, Mon-Fri 7am-5.30 pm; Sat 7am-12.30pm) is the home of John Davies, who helped to bring the branding of local beef under the banner of Gippsland Natural. The animals must be pasture-fed and naturally reared, and the beef is then graded according to Meat Standards Australia using high benchmarks. Ted Walsh of ISLAND PRIMARY PRODUCE (511 Ventnor Road, Ventnor, Phillip Island, phone 5956 8107, Mon-Fri 9 am-6 pm; Sat 8 am-4 pm; Sun 10 am-3 pm) specialises in taking beef and lamb from the paddocks of Phillip Island to the plate. Recent additions include organic fruit and vegetables and an in-house chef whips up curries, pies and casseroles. Although not organic, the animals are free-range and chemical-free, pasture-fed, and processed in the old-fashioned manner. The EAST GIPPSLAND FARMERS MARKET (Secondary College Oval, McKeon Street, Bairnsdale, phone 5156 9342, first Saturday of each month, 8am-noon) showcases the best ingredients from Erica to Orbost. You can expect to find Tambo tomatoes, Mitchell River avocados, Capra organic goat's cheese, and Stratford lamb. The SOUTH GIPPSLAND FARMERS MARKET (Memorial Park Koala Drive, off South Gippsland Highway, Koonwarra, phone 5664 0096, first Saturday of each month, 8am-12.30 pm) has 30 to 35 stalls in the middle of summer and all the produce sold here is regional. There are fresh rabbits and hormone-free beef, heritage tomatoes, unusual potato varieties and Faudel goat's cheese. The KOONWARRA FINE FOOD & WINE STORE (South Gippsland Highway, Koonwarra, phone 5664 2285, daily 9am-5pm) is a shining example of a food store-cum-restaurant showcasing the best regional food and wine. You can stop for a quick caffeine fix, stay and indulge in a seasonal menu in the delightful gardens, or purloin the shelves of local produce, including Jindi, Maffra, Faudel and Tarago River Cheeses. Across the road THE ORGANIC FIX (1 Koala Drive, Koonwarra, phone 5664 2481, Mon-Sat 9am-5pm) is a multi-talented business. Here you will find organic strawberries, currants, cherries, apples and pears from 20 different growers and a full range of grocery items.
© 2006 The Age
