Take your taste buddies on a wander around the kitchens of Kyneton and Trentham, two of regional Victoria's top dining destinations. Small in size, these culinary villages punch well above their weight in fresh produce and fine dining, earning well-deserved reputations on the foodie trail.
Fill your belly and basket with a food-finding trip down Piper Street, Kyneton and High Street, Trentham. We've taste-tested the best of the eat streets so you can plan your culinary wander.
1. Du Fermier, Trentham
Local culinary legend Annie Smithers handpicks produce from her kitchen garden to create her seasonal and daily French farmhouse-style menus. Her restaurant's warm culinary welcome has earned it a star in the Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide.
2. Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham
Taste your way around the neighbourhood without leaving the bar. The Cosmopolitan's mantra is 'eat, drink, love local', and there's a lot of love in the produce-driven menu, local wine list and beer offerings.
3. Midnight Starling, Kyneton
Add a little France-ing and romancing to your wander where Piper Street meets Paris. Savour the signature duck a l'orange or, for a special occasion, book in for the five- or eight-course Ma Cave seasonal degustation (weekends only).
4. RedBeard Historic Bakery, Trentham
Find the perfect bread and breakfast at Trentham's historic bakery, where the wood-fired, nineteenth century masonry oven is as much an attraction as the artisan baked treats it produces, and where you can break bread with friends at a sourdough making class.
5. Piper Street Food Company, Kyneton
Find yourself in the company of exquisite house-made terrine, sausage, rillettes and pâtés at this French charcuterie store. Stock up on gourmet bits and pastries for a picnic, or take a class and give yourself a big pât(é) on the back.
6. Animus Distillery, Kyneton
From a garage in North Fitzroy to sleek outfit in Kyneton, Animus are a welcome addition to Piper Street. Chill out in the cocktail lounge with drinks and snacks, or GINdulge in their award-winning offerings with a personalised tasting or flight.
7. Fook Shing, Kyneton
Celebrate all things southeast Asian, at this hotel-turned-restaurant. Named after an infamous Chinese detective posted to the region during Victoria's Gold Rush, you'll find it along Kyneton's Piper Street. Just pick up your trusty magnifying glass and follow the clues.
8. Musk Lane, Kyneton
Take a chance wander down a laneway, to find this hidden neighbourhood wine bar. Try a tipple or two at the cellar door, or soak up the sun in the accompanying beer garden.
Side trip: Martin Street Coffee Roasters, Blackwood
Detour to Blackwood, a small township in Victoria's Wombat State forest, for some quality beans. Pre-order online and drop into the commercial roastery, to grab a bag of their specialty blends.
