Crudo adds a new gourmet offering to Gippsland waterfront

Gippsland has a new gourmet destination with the opening of Crudo | Wine & Provisions in Lakes Entrance.

 

The new Mediterranean-inspired deli and wine store is part of popular waterfront restaurant Sodafish and has opened on the lower deck beneath the floating restaurant.

Following five successful years of Sodafish, executive chef and owner Nick Mahlook decided to  expanded his operation, creating a providore experience that brings together local seafood, European pantry staples and a wine selection in a relaxed coastal setting.

Crudo - Italian for ‘raw’ - aims to replaicte the Sodafish ethos with quality, simplicity and respect for produce, including gourmet offerings from Spain, Italy and France.



Guests can browse cheeses, anchovies, sardines and antipasto ingredients, plus pantry staples designed to elevate everyday cooking. 

Freshly baked breads and sourdough pizza slices are available daily, with toppings such as mortadella, stracciatella and pistachio, or capers, confit tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella. 

Sounds good for picnics, or anyone in self-catering accommodation in the sun, sand and surf destination. 

Crudo also offers grazing platters for pre-orders, also ideal for picnics, boating days or entertaining. A new jetty allows guests to pull up by boat, collect a platter and wine, and head back onto the Gippsland Lakes.

Images: Nicky Cawood

Barrels of fun: a new wine tasting experience in Rutherglen

 

Stanton & Killeen, a family owned winery that produces outstanding fortified wines, has opened a new speakeasy-style tasting space at its winery in Rutherglen, north-east Victoria.

The wine maker has transformed part of its century-old cellar into a cosy space surrounded by muscat barrels that is now open for group experiences and private hire.

The area is a new addition following a renovation of the old winery space.

Guests are able to step back in time and experience a 'Mystery of Muscat' tasting surrounded by old old oak barrels, or can book the space for friends or family groups.

The space is available for a minimum of four and maximum of 30 guests for a three-hour private experience featuring premium wines and gourmet provisions.

This is part of Stanton & Killeen's membership of Ultimate Winery Experiences of Australia.

The producer has a history stretching back seven generations and almost 150 years.

See https://www.stantonandkilleen.com.au/

Add a pink tinge to your Sydney summer fun

Rosé and croquet sounds like the perfect partnership for summer fun at Centennial Homestead, the garden party venue in Sydney's Centennial Park. 

Centennial Homestead has just launched its ‘Rosé & Croquet’ partnership with leading Provencal wine producer AIX.

 

Centennial Homestead will have an abundance of rosé on offer, as well as complimentary mini croquet kits for patrons to enjoy.

Centennial Homestead and AIX are aiming to create "a captivating and family-friendly summer experience". 

The activation will see the outdoor seating area extended with additional seating, picnic blankets, and umbrellas. 

AIX Provence Rosé will be priced at $16 a glass, standard bottles are priced at $75, and for those who really want to be in the pink magnum bottles will be $140 and jeroboam bottles will be $250. 

Patrons are will also have the opportunity to purchase the picnic boards curated by Centennial Homestead’s executive chef Jeffrey Forrest, which cost at $43 per person. 

The picnic board includes a selection of the cheeses and cured meats. The casual dining menu will also be available during the entirety of the activation, with a selection of fresh and contemporary dishes with a twist on traditional home-cooked favourites.

The Rosé & Croquet activation will run through to December 31 and operating hours are Wednesday to Sunday, from noon-5pm. 

You'll find full details here: https://centennialhomestead.com.au/whats-on/rose-and-croquet/

Tasmanian bubbles on the Hobart waterfront

Hobart luxury hotel MACq 01 has partnered with Australia’s world-regarded sparkling wine brand House of Arras to launch a tasting experience at the hotel's The Story Bar from March 1. 

The ‘Arras in the City’ experience will bring a slice of the Arras cellar door in the north of Tasmania to Hobart’s waterfront for the first time.

Guests will enjoy a flight of four of the brand’s highly-ranked releases paired with a selection of bites from MACq 01’s culinary team.

Available daily until June 30, the ‘Arras in the City’ experience includes two of the highest-awarded and newest wines available on release from the Arras portfolio.

Founded in 1995, House of Arras is Australia’s most-decorated sparkling wine brand, with 100 trophies and more than 268 gold medals.

The ‘Arras in the City’ tasting tipples include NV House of Arras Blanc de Blancs paired with Tasmanian crayfish, spanner crab, apple radish, dill, yuzu aioli and black sesame crisp; NV House of Arras Brut Elite Cuvée No. 1701 with buckwheat blini, Meander Valley crème fraiche, chives, dill and Avruga caviar; 2014 House of Arras Grand Rosé with King Island steak tartare, cornichon, caper, shallots, parsley, chives and crisp sourdough; and 2014 House of Arras Grand Vintage matched with Ashgrove cheddar, Red Cow Dairy gruyere and Italian Taleggio arancini, aioli and truffle pecorino.

The wines and canapes will be presented on a custom-made Tasmanian Blackwood platter alongside a tasting storybook for guests to delve into the story of House of Arras and each wine.

“We’ve worked closely with the MACq 01 team to develop the ‘Arras in the City’ experience to showcase some of my favourite Arras wines alongside a curated menu of canapes that highlight Tasmania’s best produce, which we know people will love,” says Arras head winemaker Ed Carr.

One of two bars at MACq 01 hotel, The Story Bar showcases Hobart’s history and stories.

The ‘Arras in the City’ experience will cost $95pp and be available seven days a week from 3-6pm. Bookings are not required. For more information, visit macq01.com.au.