Piper Street, Kyneton evolves into Victoria's next hot gourmet destination
Piper Street, Kyneton is rapidly becoming a gourmand's dream destination, serving up some of the states some of the best eating and drinking experiences in regional Victoria. While locals and savvy weekend trippers from Melbourne have been quick to catch on, Piper Street is still a fresh discovery for many. Two restaurants with an Age Good Food Guide One Chef Hat rating stand just a few doors away from each other (Annie Smithers' Bistrot and Royal George Hotel), while several exciting new eateries have opened their doors in recent times. It won't be a secret for much longer.
Here are some highlights:
Slow Living, 37c Piper Street, Kyneton, Ph: (03) 5422 3818, www.slowliving.com.au
One of the unsung gems of the street, Slow Living's café and food store serves up tasty meals using locally grown organic and seasonal produce. The café has a rustic convivial atmosphere with a warming wood-fired stove, large communal tables and a wonderfully spacious veranda overlooking the historic streetscape. Open seven days a week, the owners reduce food miles by continually scouring the region to feature the pick of local farmer's crops in their dishes, serving up a menu that changes to reflect the climate: in winter you may find handmade pork and fennel sausages served with creamy mash made from local organic potatoes, and in summer, a refreshing menu featuring vine ripened heirloom tomatoes, freshly picked greens, locally produced smallgoods, cheeses, olives, organic stonefruit and biodynamic berries.
Slow Living also sell their own range of certified organic drygoods including stone milled bread and cake flours, oats, spices, coffee beans, pasta, cereals, olive oil, dried fruit and honey, along with local, seasonal fresh produce.
Little Swallow Café, 58a Piper Street, Ph: (03) 5422 6241, www.littleswallowcafe.com.au
With a background working at high end places like Melbourne's Jacques Reymond (Melbourne) and Pierre Gaignaire (Paris), chef Steven Rogers and wife Sarah decided to go back to basics, opening this European-style café in late 2008. A diminutive space with dark wood furnishings, The Little Swallow serves up high quality, simple food using ingredients from local suppliers in the Macedon Ranges. Among the mouth-watering dishes on offer: warm istra chorizo with potato and lemon, Turkish spiced lamb flat read with roquette and yoghurt and traditional eggs benedict.
Royal George Hotel, 24 Piper St, Kyneton, Ph: (03) 54221390
Since taking over the Royal George Hotel earlier this year, new owners Neil Henson and Jim Lekakis have bought on a new global team on board in the kitchen headed up by chef Chris Wade. Most recently heading up the kitchen at Seagrass (Docklands), Wade was traditionally French trained and spent considerable time overseas working with some of the world's greats including Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White. Utilising his considerable international experience to give a contemporary flavour to regional produce from central Victoria, Wade's new winter menu - together with matching wines - is now available for your culinary enjoyment.
Inner Biscuit, 34 Piper St, Kyneton, Ph: 5422 1129, website: www.innerbiscuit.com
Artisan baker and pastry cook, Mara Szoeke, formerly wored the ovens at Loafer Bread in Brunswick Street, North Fitzroy, before deciding on a ‘tree-change' and opened Inner Biscuit on Piper Street about two months ago. This small, funky café features a wonderful array of organic biscuits and European style baked pastries. Visit for lunch and enjoy borscht (Russian soup), followed by Sri Lankan spiced fruitcake - already a favourite with the locals.
Life's Sweet, 59 Piper Street, Kyneton, Ph: (03) 5422 6226, www.lifessweet.com.au
Cupcakes are the new black. Remember that. Although there would be some that might say the beloved miniature explosions of sugar, butter, flour and (sigh…) icing sugar have never really been ‘out', its clear that in the last few years they have enjoyed a major renaissance turning up not only at the best restaurants, gourmet cafes and several of Melbourne's hip bars. But there are cupcakes and there are cupcakes. Those who want to progress to the status of T.C.A. (True Cupcake Aficionado), you won't make the grade until you've headed out to Kyneton and sampled at least one of the outstanding designer cupcakes on offer at Life's Sweet - because they are really that good. Among the delectable 25+ cupcake combinations you can sample include traditional vanilla to the more contemporary variety with couverture chocolate, whole fruit, freshly roasted nuts as well as delicious gluten free and dairy free options.
Pizza Verde, 62 Pipe Street, Kyneton Ph: (03) 54227400, www.pizzaverde.com
Pizza Verde is known for its woodfired pizzas, made from 100 per cent organic flour and local ingredients. Try the roast pumpkin pizza with goats cheese, pine nuts, tomato and rocket; or the pork and fennel sausage pizza with cherry tomato, parmesan and oregano. The restaurant also offers special cooking classes for kids - see their website for the next session coming up in July.
Annie Smithers' Bistrot, 72 Piper Street, Kyneton Ph: (03) 5422 2023, www.anniesmithers.com.au
Awarded a coveted One Chef's Hat rating in The Age Good Food Guide and Two Wine Glasses in The Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide, Annie Smithers' Bistrot is a small French Bistrot catering to the ‘food and wine savvy' of the Macedon Ranges. The dining area overflows into a wine and produce store packed full of Annie's seasonal preserves and the best local wines.