Sunnybrae

Sunny afternoons at Sunnybrae are the stuff of dreams. The dining room is attached to an old cottage surrounded by a two-acre vegetable garden. It's now eight years since Diane Garrett and George Biron got their dream going. George has cooked in Melbourne and Queenscliff for many years and long wanted a property where he could not only cook but provide a venue for chefs to come, recuperate from city stresses and teach a bit. As well as running a weekend restaurant (all week from Boxing Day to Australia Day) he organises classes all year round on week days. Some of Australia's best chefs make the pilgrimage to little Birregurra and stay in one of the nearby farm cottages and guest houses. There's also the Annual Fungi Foray, a late autumn mushroom hunt; bread making; sausages; oils, curries, pasta and risotto. In the winter and early spring, George features produce 'from my garden'. Anything to do with food can be learnt here. But of more importance are the lunches and dinners served in these wonderfully simpatico surounds. It's as if there is no tomorrow, as lunch lingers through to evening. As fan J m-S says "everything (George) does has love in it and the setting is so beautiful, a sensualist's paradise and a wonderful place to take visitors to Victoria."

Cnr Cape Otway & Lorne Rds
Birregurra
Phone: 5236 2276
Opening hours: Sunday Lunch: from12.30pm, Saturday night 6.30pm-onwards. Open everyday for Lunch: between boxing day & aust day - and also open on Fri nights and all public holidays for Lunch
Licensed & BYO
Credit cards
Seats inside: 75,
Features: No smoking, kids encouraged, private room for 40 seats
Favourites: Crepinette of hare with small beetroot and wild mushrooms $20, Local yabbies with lemon dipping sauce $10/$20, Essence of white tomato soup $10