Kristin Lee takes you to some delightful foodie gems in the Dandenong Ranges.
Earthly Pleasures Cafe
Set in a gracious, heritage-listed 1930s stone building, which was first built and used as a residence, doctor’s surgery and gallery space, this spacious, family friendly and ethically-focused café is one of the earlier trailblazers to use sustainable and fair trade produce. Utilising deliciously fresh, local and seasonal foodstuffs from the likes of Kallista Biodynamic Market and Dandenong Market, and incorporating organic and/or chemical-free ingredients from suppliers such as Eltham’s Kas Organics, they concoct their ever-popular breakfast and lunch menus, daily specials, plus decadent cakes and desserts. Beverages encompass artisan-roasted coffee, organic chai latte in a mug, house-made hot caramel, a selection of organic teas, and a terrific range of craft beers that are mostly sourced from Victoria, keeping food miles to a minimum. On the regional front, they offer Hargreaves Hill Brewing Co pale ale and stout and Kelly Brothers Cider Co apple cider. Earthly Pleasures’ flavoursome fare can be savoured inside the red-brick period dining room with open fireplace, high ceilings, mezzanine and antique-style dining tables and chairs. Alternatively, outdoor terraces and an ornate water fountain in English forest-style gardens create pleasurable alfresco dining. Closed Mondays and public holidays.
1627 Burwood Highway, Belgrave
(03) 9752 6744
www.earthlypleasurescafe.com
Mad Raven Pizza Deluxe
Herbaceous aromas, spot-on for thickness bases and a luscious selection of slow-cooked toppings are the underpinning of Mad Raven Pizza Deluxe’s consistently euphoric tasting gourmet hot stone pizzas. Catering for carnivores, herbivores, vegans and gluten-free, owner and pizza cook Holger Galoch has raised the bar when it comes to modish pizza making, especially since he believes that the detail makes the difference. Ardent about using free-range meats, including chicken, ham, lamb mince plus chorizo and handmade salami from Bills of Belgrave, top-notch Australian prawns are sourced direct from a fishmonger at Dandenong Market. Although much of the quality produce is also bought at market, some of the herbs are home-grown. Sumptuous pizzas encompass the likes of The Fiesty Bean, Kasundi Kiss, Lamb Boreka and the more adventuresome Mystery Palette Pizza, or choose tasty extras to top up a classic base. While deluxe takeaway predominates at this five-year-old gourmet gem, a couple of booths with oak tables can be booked for dining in the warm, cosy, soft-lit space that is decked out with eclectic décor, incorporating a display of Holger’s grandmother’s vintage postcards. Open Thursday to Sunday from 5pm until 9pm.
78c Monbulk Road, Kallista
(03) 9755 2911
www.madravenpizzadeluxe.com
The Deli Platter
Situated near the turnoff to SkyHigh, this compact French country-type delicatessen, café and providore focuses on clean, fresh and food intolerance aware fare. With a philosophy of high-quality wholefoods, The Deli Platter is an additive, preservative and toxic oil-free zone. With their menu items and takeaway gourmet foods essentially made in-house, they also showcase a blend of local and Victorian produce, as well as luxe imports from Switzerland, Spain, France and England, often encompassing raw milk cheeses. Here you can smack your lips over a fresh made baguette, kale and quinoa patties, pork pies made to a traditional English family recipe with free-range grass-fed pork, or simply select from the array of farmhouse cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s cheeses, artisan breads and shaved ham off the bone to create your own epicurean delights. Succulent seasonal berries hail from Silvan’s Victorian Strawberry Fields and fruit and veg are also grown nearby. Additional regional products include Heather’s Preserves and free-range bacon and ham from Greg’s Tender Joint at Belgrave South. As well as selling a selection of artisan goodies, The Deli Platter makes pre-ordered picnic hampers. Alternatively, BYO basket to fill.
1/1514 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd, Olinda
(03) 9751 0144
www.thedeliplatter.com.au
Woods Sherbrooke
Located in Sherbrooke’s former historic post office, this gastronomic jewel, which opens Friday to Sunday, has consistently been listed in The Age Good Food Guide for more than a decade. With its intimate casual daytime café and beautiful garden, at the rear is the more formal, oval windowed, local art-adorned restaurant that also offers a modern Asian-inspired dinner menu. From their kitchen garden, they pluck organically grown fruit, vegetables and herbs to use in their frequently changing selections. Thankfully, part-owner and chef Gill Spurrier has kept the highly sought after breakfast of corn and zucchini fritter with grilled bacon, tomato salsa, avocado, sweet chilli sauce, sour cream and fried onions as a mainstay. Woods Sherbrooke prides itself on using free-range meats from Bills of Belgrave, with Little Creek Cattle Company at Coldstream also called upon when participating in the annual Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Other local year-round producers incorporate Yarra Valley Dairy cheeses and produce from Yarra Valley Gateway Estate. With a century-old magnolia tree in the café garden to sip and sup under, it’s also the ideal locale for their gourmet BBQs to be held on selected weekends during warmer seasons.
21 Sherbrooke Road, Sherbrooke
(03) 9755 2131
woodssherbrooke.com.au