Happy and Hungry in Healesville!
- Jul 23, 2017
- 3 min read
Last week Mr Wonderful and I picked up our brand new car! It was a pretty exciting thing for us to be able to do together, buy a new car, and what better way to break her in than going for a lovely road trip up to Healesville.
I mentioned in my last post that we were schmoozing at the night market. By this I mean that Mr Wonderful had some international work colleagues in town who he, and some of his other work mates, had taken upon themselves to show around Melbourne. I’m in no way complaining, because I’ve been lucky enough to tag along, and this weekend brought with it a delightful trip up into wine country!
Now much to my disappointment, this particular trip didn't include stops at any vineyards or distilleries, but there’s no shortage of other things to see and do up in and around Healesville. We’ll just have to go back again soon.
We started our morning by meeting our little convoy at the Harvest Cafe in the main street for a much-needed coffee and quick brekkie. Good coffee (or tea in my case) and a tasty croissant with ham and Swiss cheese, we’re onto a winner here!
No time to rest though, we were off to Healesville Sanctuary. Just as we walked through the gates it was feeing time for the Emu, so Mr Wonderful helped to feed them; fussy little buggers they were though!
Now as much as I love Australiana and Animals, the three hours we spent wandering around was enough for me. My focus on what was coming up soon for lunch.
We returned to the main street for lunch. Our plan was for a table, again, at the Harvest Cafe (which is also connected to one of the pubs) but in a smallish town, walking in and asking for a table for a group of 7 can be a struggle - next time will have to remember to plan ahead and make a booking. We ended up at the Grand Hotel. In my opinion, this was a very happy occurrence, I had THE BEST pork belly of my life, and this is a big claim.
Not to sound filthy, but I love pork! Just ask Mr Wonderful! At every opportunity, I will choose pork from a menu. And this pork was amazing. Mr Wonderful chose the schnitzel, and it was ‘Okay’. Around the table was burgers, bangers and mash, and casseroles, but with a crackling crackled to perfection, deliciously gelatinous flesh, pickled sauerkraut and half a roasted apple, all swimming in an amazing gravy (or jus, as the fancy people say) my dish absolutely took the cake.
And speaking of dessert, what better way to end the meal than with a trip up to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery?!? My thoughts exactly, there isn’t one!
It was packed (with people, not just incredible looking chocolate!)! I was stupidly surprised that on a winters day topping out at 11 degrees this was the case. With chocolate samples on entry, an amazing array of chocolates that would impress even Willy Wonka, and a selection of ice creams that made my already over indulged mouth water, I’d found my happy place. Can you say Apple Pie ice cream? You should! As you walk up to the counter and place your ice cream order. It was wonderful! It legitimately tasted like I was eating a frozen apple pie.
As the clouds rolled in overhead the rains started, bringing our delightful day to an abrupt end. We went our three separate ways running for cover of our cars before embarking on the slow drive home. It really was a lovely day, and I’m looking forward to a trek out to the Yarra Valley and Healesville again soon.
Next time; wine and Gin!
Oh, this is happening!
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