Journal

On the road at Otto’s Bakery, Hahndorf, South Australia

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It’s a classic stopover… it’s a mandatory visit.. it’s Hahndorf in South Australia. With a reputation for fine food, heritage, great pubs, German flavours and beautiful bakeries, souvenirs and gorgeous Autumn shades at that time of the year, Hahndorf offers you an array of choices.

Parking is not always easy and you can get spaces up to 3 hours, but it’s a popular place, so get there early and sample your way down their gourmet smorgasbord of shops. Right at the southern end of the main drag you’ll find Otto’s Bakery. Ohhhhh…. the choices! One of everything thanks!

If you’re searching for that perfect apple or apricot pie that looks like something you’d like to rest your head on ;)….

Or you can settle for that little extra bit of sustenance… looks simple and chunky… but it’s sweet, crunchy, mildly chocolately and irresistible – their Nut slice. Defo a must!

Eat in or take-away, you won’t be disappointed. Definitely a return visit on the agenda… that’s if we don’t fill up on all of the other gourmet delights first!

On the road at Bracegirdle’s, McLaren Vale, SA

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While you’re touring around the wine regions south of Adelaide in South Australia, you will no doubt visit McLaren Vale. There are an eclectic group of boutique shops, providores and cafes and you can’t go past Bracegirdles.

With options to sit outside, al fresco or inside, Bracegirdles will certainly make sure you’re seated in comfort and offer you a breakfast menu too without a serving-time limit. Perfect! What else, but a burger or smashed avo, right?

Then of course there’s dessert! No matter what time of day, you can walk away with one or a hundred chocolates… such a selection! Gift boxes, individually wrapped yummies or just pick up a sample gobble for yourself.

And… after all that indulgence you need something just as delectable to wash it all down right? Nothing goes past a fluffy, creamy chai. Coffee, sure, but chai – definitely!

On the road at Yankallilla Pub, South Australia

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When you holiday somewhere in Oz, you can order in, go out for take-away, sample the international cuisine – all delicious! Or… you can test out your bog standard meal at the local.

Yankalilla Pub in South Australia has all the trimmings. Great service and great food is what you’ll find when you walk in to this pub. Sure, there’s the traditional fare on offer but you can’t go past the traditional parma hey? Scrummy, crunchy goodness, oozing with cheese and a super tasty tomato sauce. Definitely a must-try.

Then again, if parma is not your bag, then you could go for the local YFC (Yankalilla Fried Chicken). Their own special recipe outdoes a certain colonel’s IMHO. Crunchy, herby, tasty and yummy, moist chicken served with a side salad that kind of pales into insignificance once you’ve taken a bite of the chicken.

Most definitely worth dining there, at least once.

On the road at Henty St Fish ‘n Grill – Portland

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We can’t resist those old fish and chips huh? Now there are fish and chips and there are FISH and CHIPS! When you’re close to a local port where you see the fisherman offloading and cleaning their fish and the seagulls hover and the seals keep bobbing up and down in the water alongside the pier, you know you’re getting something pretty fresh!

Once it makes it to the local fish and chips shop, well…. it’s the best around! An excellent choice.

The juiciest fish, the crispiest chips and the mandatory dimmie! Nothing more to say really… except you get the local news with it – when only the best will do.

Drop in and make your choice at Henty St Fish ‘n Grill, Portland, Victoria.

On the road at Ashley’s Restaurant, Renmark, SA

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You’ve been on the road all day, you need somewhere comfy to stay the night and you stumble across this place.

It just so happens that Covid-19 has meant that finding a local motel to stay it is really difficult! Currently hotels are being booked out, every night, with Aussies travelling around the country, moving house and especially because overseas travel is simply out of the question.

Fortunately, you manage to find this place and Ashley’s restaurant on the premises is open for service. Man… it was a choice of fast food or dining in. No brainer really!

Ashley’s Restaurant is very simply decorated. It’s certainly a no-fuss restaurant with exceptional food and service! Our waitress was super-friendly, genuinely interested in us as customers and couldn’t do enough to ensure we were satisfied.

So…. a choice of chicken or beef schinitzel? Chicken. A choice of sauces – mushroom, garlic, parmagiana… Mushroom won out.

Top it off with a steaming chocolate pudding, oozing in a raspberry coulis and a creamy vanilla icecream… seriously… who needs those fancy shmantsy chef meals and TV cooking shows when you have this on offer huh?

On the road at The Old Bakery, Dunkeld, Vic

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Just when you think you can’t find the local bakery in the shopping strip, up pops a road sign to The Old Bakery. Visiting Dunkeld in Victoria, at the foot of the Grampians, is a delight in itself. A gorgeous little town with loads of tourist information for when you are travelling into those mighty and truly awesome ranges.

Be sure to head towards Ararat then take a side road off towards Mt Sturgeon and Mt Abrupt – follow your nose basically and you’ll find those lovely rich golden dirt roads that take you around those jaw-dropping drives where views of those mountains will take your breath away.

On your way back or on your way there, drop into The Old Bakery and have a sit down munch or get something to go. Cuppas and super yummy bread with artwork on the walls by Granville Montgomery – really worth looking at!

On the road at Heywood Bakery

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Ok.. Heywood is not exactly the biggest town on the map, but the Bakery is huge with plenty of space to shop, grab a cuppa or sit down and enjoy some home baked goodies.

One thing they do have which I find so hard to resist, but have of late (what is wrong with me?!) is their Bienstich (aka Beesting cake). Oh sooooooooo good! Crunchy sweet flaked almonds on top of a thin sponge, sandwiching a creamy, custardy mouthful of goodness and decadence.

But hey, let’s also go down the healthy path right? Salad rolls are obviously popular there, and I do have to say, rather scrumptious. Good old butter, a mixed salad, and don’t forget the mayo! Crunchy, fresh, made with love and super tasty. Highly recommended! They’re obviously popular because they have so many of them ready to walk out the door.

There are definitely multiple sweet choices and the vanilla slices are like Bienstich on steroids. Loaded with creamy goodness, you have a choice of Vanilla or French… (nope, I had no clue what that meant until I asked…). So, either icing sugar on top which will turn your clothes a different colour as soon as you take a bite, or icing to sink your teeth into. There’s nothing quite like a large gooey snot block is there? Or maybe there is… Bienstich… where are you?

On the road at Cape Bridgewater Café

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Ok… I agree. The weather was crap. The food was really good! When you leave town for a while and take in the sights at your leisure, you get to meet some really interesting people. The BNB we were staying at had a bung TV so having organised a TV technician (let’s call him Pete – well, ‘cos that’s what his name is) with the host, we got chatting, as you do, and he highly recommended this café at Cape Bridgewater.

Sure, it’s a bit of a trek, but if you’re on the road without an agenda, or you want a pretty speccy beach stop to take a squizz at, then this is it. The vast ocean and surf are pretty cool and no matter what the weather, the ocean does entertain.

We managed to secure a table inside given there were very few on offer as there were a few other larger parties with reservations and sat down to a serve of avocado smash with beetroot puree and a poached egg on crunchy sourdough and a serve of good ‘ole fashioned fish and chips. Nommie nom noms.

I’m sure a bright sunny day would just make this place shine and no doubt the crowds flock here in the summer months. Definitely worth a stop-over. It’s a quick drive from Portland and their chai latte is pretty damn good too I have to say.