Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm
Ever feel like a billy goat? I cant say that I have until now. Careful to heed the signs and waiting until the group of four who happily run across the bridge before us clear the planks, Mr NQN and I walk across the bridge to Lavandula Swiss Italian Lavender Farm. We were nearing the end of our lovely little sojourn to the Daylesford area of Victoria. Here at Lavandula they grow Italian and English lavender and hand harvest every batch slowly. As well as lavender, they also grow olives and grapes and these are used in the cafe.
The restaurant here is called “La Trattoria Cafe” and during summer months people can eat outside underneath the ash trees but since it’s a bit chilly from the sudden burst of snow, we take a seat inside. The menu has some lavender items but it’s not overkill and there are regular sorts of items too. We hone in on the local platter for two and the goat with polenta. It’s ferociously busy with people constantly coming into the back room and seeing their faces fall as they see the reserved signs-so Dear Readers, if you want a table here, I can definitely recommend booking! 
Lavender champagne on left and Lavender lemonade $5
First we start off with lavender lemonade. It’s soda water with lavender syrup and is refreshingly girly. Mr NQN finds it a bit to floral for him but I like it as I love lavender flavoured food. Mr NQN tries the lavender champagne “I think I like this better than regular champagne” he says. It has just the right amount with the lavender so that it doesn’t overwhelm the champagne.
Regional tasting platter for two $35
Our local tasting platter comes out. There is a hot and spicy salami, prosciutto and bull-boar sausages from Istra meats. The bull-boar with it’s star anise flavour is absolutely divine. The olives are from the farm and the frittata is fresh and warm and not rubbery as sometimes frittatas can be.
Goat from Spa venison braised in date and cinnamon with baked polenta $25
The slow cooked goat is wonderfully soft and I finish my half off of this. It’s scented with cinnamon and Thai basil and slightly sweet with dates. There is a square of slightly crunchy edged seasoned polenta.
Lavender Scones $8.50 for two
If only I had room for the lavender scones! OK we have a smidgen of room and we find ourselves sinking our teeth into an absolutely terrific scone. It’s enormous for starters and even though Mr NQN doesn’t usually eat scones as he finds them too dry he happily tucks into this and finishes more than half. The scone has just the right touch of lavender, never too much so that it becomes soap and it is served with a strawberry and lavender jam and whipped cream. The texture of the scones is very light and they’re beautifully warm. There is also lavender ice cream served in a waffle cone but we don’t quite have the stomach space for it. What a shame!
The kitchen of the original farmhouse
We then take a quick explore of the house which has been beautifully restored. Built in the Swiss Italian style by the original owner Aquilino Tinetti it gives us a real glimpse into the style of house of that day. The kitchen is particularly impressive as is the enormous fireplace. He excavated about 7 feet below and used the rocks from the excavation for the walls of the house. And because I love shopping, there’s also a store that sells not only things scented or flavoured by lavender but also other goodies for the home!
My what a twisty neck you have Emu!
“Who are you saying has a twisty neck?” Emu says.
Daylesford Organics
Oh dear. I haven’t brought any gum boots. But in my defence Your Honour, gum boots aren’t the usually kind of footwear that I pack and I didn’t expect such wet and cold conditions. Not to matter! Our hosts the lovely Brendan and Kate are Melbourne city dwellers that decided to make the change to become farmers once they had a child. They now produce almost 40 varieties of apples and specialise in organic produce, in particular heirloom breeds (which you know excites me!).
Brendan and precious organic garlic
They have about twenty varieties of heirloom apples as well as tourist pleasing varieties like the Isaac Newton apple and a 20 ounce apple. Along with these they also carry the popular granny smiths as well as English varieties like Cox’s, Pippin and Bramleys as well as the Australian Ballarat variety. Apart from apples they grow about 30 different types of vegetables with about 200 heirloom varieties. They grow four types of carrots, five types of beetroot including a chioggia beetroot which looks like a fuchsia shade from the outside but once slices, resembles a red onion. They’re one of Alla Wolf-Tasker’s suppliers for The Lake House restaurant.
Brendan shows us how some crops are planted curved to catch as much water as possible in summer and to get rid of it in Winter. Everything that they do encompasses several farming principles like permaculture and biodynamic and even though they don’t come from a farming background, they’ve made it work.
Brendan shows us the organic garlic for which there is a lot of demand (I find it so hard to buy Australian garlic, let alone organic Australian garlic!). I get so excited about it that he kindly pulls up a couple of stalks of it to take home with me. They also have chickens-they started with a dozen and then 6-7 years later they have 1,000 chicken of different breeds. The fences have movable posts so that they can rotate the chickens around so that they get to nibble on different grass. The chickens then fertilise the soil and this can then be used to grow vegetables later without the need to add anything to the soil.
Chickies! I want to take them home with me…
During farmgate season which starts at the end of January, people can walk through the farm itself before going to the shop. “I figured if you are going to open up a farm gate shop, people wold want to see the actual farm” Brendan says. And if they’re not busy and you want to buy something straight out of the ground,they’ll be happy to do this!
Pure Honey
We make one quick last stop at one of the many honey stands that line Jubilee Road. Pure Honey operates as an honesty stand which is unattended and there are honey samples for tasting prior to purchasing. The prices for honey are very reasonable. It is cold extracted honey from local apiaries and there are varieties like grey (my favourite) and stringy bark.
Daylesford shopping
You know any holiday isn’t a holiday without a bit of shopping! We walk down Vincent Street where there are lots of cute little shops including a lovely vintage store which is actually three stores in one. We spy a hilarious ashtray, some good luck three legged pigs called Chanchitos and a tea cosy which I adore and immediately purchase.
See? She even looks like me!
I buy a coffin from Uncle Fester’s which also stocks Living dead Dolls. Well not a life sized coffin but a small coffin which I used for my Halloween story. There are all sorts of fabulously Halloween items here.
Our last stop is the Sweet Decandence shop at Locantro where we spy some hand made chocolate in the displays. At $2.50 per chocolate they’re not cheap but when Pia shows me how they’re made upstairs you see why. They don’t use any molds here and they make 1,000 chocolates a day using this single pot. Their method really harks back to how chocolate used to be made with old fashioned methods.
The single pot used to make all of the chocolates
Set in the tray
They pour the chocolate and then allow it to set and the cut them up or hand shape them and then coat them with chocolate. Incredibly, they don’t use piping bags either and Pia explains that each “R” written in white chocolate on top of the Rum and Raisin chocolate is done using a spoon. Denise, the chocolatier dips the spoon into the chocolate, gets it at the right consistency and then draws the R using the melted chocolate on the spoon.
Their most popular chocolate is the Milkshake which is a two layered number. We also try the Sticky Fig which is sticky and fruity, Daylesford delight, toasted cashew and sultana and the fruit and nut. The chocolates remind me of a fudge and are on the sweet side, rather than the bitter sweet side but I can’t help marvelling at the techniques that they use.
Other lovely little stores
Love these door handles!
Breakfast AND beer? Man win!
We check into the Grand Hyatt on Collins Street and are shown up to the Club Floor check in (I admit I do love these special checkin floors). Our room, although a tad snug, is newly refurbished and comes with complimentary breakfast, canapes and drinks in the lounge on the same floor. In fact as we’re just after something light for dinner given we’ve been eating at an Olympic level this suits us perfectly.
Nibblies from club lounge
Potato chip nachos-don’t be scared!
I make us a couple of plates as I’m a greedy ahem good wife and i particularly like the beetroot salad with fetta and herbs and the smoked salmon, prosciutto and scallops. I make Mr NQN a potato chip nachos-don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. On the bottom is a layer of tomato and onion salsa, then guacamole and then chive sour cream and then crispy potato crisps on top (so they don’t get soggy).
And last of all we end off with dessert which is a sweet mixed berry compote with whipped cream and strawberries with chocolate and other fruity bits. We retire to our room and I make use of the well stocked amenities box and get ready for bed.
Mixed berry compote with whipped cream
After I take a shower I emerge from the bathroom to find Mr NQN doing something rather odd in the hotel room. ”I’m drying the egg cartons” Mr NQN says to me by way of explanation. You see we had the precious eggs from Daylesford Organics but Mr NQN’s wet board shorts in the back of the car managed to make the egg carton cardboard all wet and I wasn’t ready, willing or wanting to give up my precious eggs! So we make use of the velvet lined drawers and rest our little eggs there while waiting for the cartons to dry.
“You never travel normally do you?” Mr NQN says. I look at the organic garlic and eggs that I am taking as carry on and admit defeat.
So tell me Dear Reader, what’s the oddest thing that you’ve brought back from a trip?
NQN and Mr NQN travelled to Victoria as guests of Tourism Victoria and the Daylesford and Macedon Region.
Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm
350 Hepburn-Newstead Rd via Hepburn Springs, Shepherds Flat Springs, Victoria
Tel: +61 (03) 5476 4393
Daylesford Organics
19 Foxs Lane, Muskvale, Victoria
Tel +61 411 040 412
Farmgate opens January 2011
Pure Honey
143 Jubilee Lake Road, Daylesford, Victoria
Tel: +61 (03) 5348 2997
Vintage Store (three stores in one)
Vincent Street, Daylesford, Victoria
Uncle Fester’s
197 Vincent Street, Daylesford, Victoria
Tel: +61 (03) 5348 4258
Sweet Decadence at Locantro
87 Vincent Street, Daylesford, Victoria
Tel: +61 (03) 5348 3202
Grand Hyatt
123 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria
Tel: +61 (03) 9657 1234
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29 Comments | Add your own
I don’t know where to start, but this sounds like my kind of paradise, Lorraine. What with all the sculduggery about honey in the States (additives, toxins from mislabeled Chinese honey… it’s a mess) going to a beekeeper is the best way to get the good stuff. All that lavender was heaven… must try lavender champagne… I can imagine that was insane! Thanks for the visit, great tour guide as always!
Blow darts from Borneo (but don’t tell customs!!) You see I was the gold medal champion while there so I had to have some!!!
Wow, all that food!! It all looks so delicious, I have no idea how you keep your figure, you are obviously blessed.
I loved the gorgeous little chicks! I am suprised they didn’t make carry on luggage
Daylesford is a lovely Victorian town. I can’t wait to go back.
Love the use of lavender in food, but don’t really like the smell. Is that weird?
My friend dragged me into a lolly shop to stock up on sweets for the drive home from Millthorpe to Sydney and instead I bought several of the large glass jars that they kept the lollies in. They were a steal and I want to go back for more!
We were invited to go to china to dance ballet by a private boarding school, a sort of student exchange thing. During that time we danced at three schools. The second school we visited was the best public school in the area (while the one we stayed at was the best private) so there was a great deal of showing off (I mean a great deal… fancy transportation, grand ( and very very delicious meals, presents and performances). My ballet teacher was presented by the public school a rather large present (we also got beautiful Chinese water colours by the students). Not knowing whether to open it there or later, she just politely said thank you and did not open it. Later when we were back she did open it, when she saw it got a big fright, it was a fur, but had looked so life like she had first taken it as a living creature.
Wow, so many things to see in one post!
My fav is the lavender farm is super cute, we have something similar in Christchurch, I love all things lavender
.
Also good to see more people starting to give chickens movable homes
the bridge… never been a fan of swinging bridge, but as you know too here in NZ there are quite a few.
Everybody like to see me going on one though! They laugh and laugh (I wander why, I swear I never wear my heals on them!)
Ha!
ciao
Alessandra
We spent some time drooling our way around Daylesford just last week…, I think if I died & went to foodie heaven then it’d look a lot like Daylesford, I loved the place.
The oddest thing I ever brought back – well, it wasn’t actually odd, but: Way back when, in a marvellous Mexico City bookshop I found a copy of Vincent (horror movie star ere your time!) Price’s wonderful cookery book, which weighed roughly a ton! Well, we were on the outward leg of a six-week trip and this would have taken up half our baggage allowance!! So guess who tenderly nursed it in her lap in and out of some eight US and six Asian stops and used it as a very hard pillow on innumerable planes? It was one of my faves until I somehow lost it in my divorce settlement. Darling ex liked it too! Oh, and Daylesford will not be missed on the next trip south – interesting! And I LOVE lavender!!
I’m so glad you went to the Lavandula farm. I went there with my family a couple of years ago on my birthday and it was really lovely, despite the 38 degree heat. I had a really nice lamb dish and a glass of the lavender champagne.
A strange tummy bug from Mauritius
Though at the time it was more like 
!
Potato chips nachos and Sticky Fig chocolate… be still my heart!
I’ve been wanting to go to Daylesford since I read about it in a magazine but now I’m even more determined.
Buying produce fresh from the ground is my idea of heaven!
I don’t think I could have left those little chicks there though. So cute.
I clearly need to work on my holiday shopping as I can’t think of anything I’ve brought back that’s been even slightly strange.
I’ll jokingly say my husband of 28 years from my six week holiday in India but he’s a darling so no. I don’t like to ruffle “Customs” feathers so I won’t risk bringing back odd objects that may not get through but we did lug around a quite heavy sculpture from South Africa a few years ago.
Btw, everything about Daylesford is so very quaint, I think I could easily spend a week there and explore all the lovely places you’ve visited Lorraine.
restored farmhouse kitchens and lavendar scones take my fancy – haven’t been to daylesford for a while and your lovely photos make me want to go there
What a quaint swiss-italian lavadula farm it is!Can you imagine the toil of the owner to escavate the sandstones and use them to build the walls!Geniuous and charming!
Never thought to use cinnamon and thai basil with each other.Must try it.
Coincidentally I recently read an article about city slickers-cum bee-keeper experts based in Sydney..George and Charis Schwarz..And they have roof top hives!!!
Heirloom varieties-be it roses, fruit,vegetables take my breath away..they make you feel so in love with nature!
The chocolatiere must be the worlds most patient and passionate person!I don’t think I’ve yet seen such testament of devotion to ones craft! What I would give to learn from her.
When I was overseas 2 years ago, I couldn’t spare any chunk change for the smallest of souvenires, so I collected the bits and bobs that I happened upon.
A button that I found while sitting on the lawns of a park in Paris,a snail shell and used metro tickets.They make for interesting artifacts don’t you think??
Those scones!
I had a laugh about Mr NQN and his egg carton adventure..
SSG xxx
Oooh so many tasty treats! It’s my birthday soon so I want to go for a bit of a daytrip to Daylesford.
I’m so terribly jealous of you – this is definitely going on my road-trip-to-do list (I’ll save room for the ice cream). I can only imagine how wonderful it was to be sucking in all that perfumed lavender air !
Hi deana-Oh I didn’t realise that there were such issues surrounding honey in the US!
Can I send you some of our lovely stuff perhaps? You’re more than welcome! 
Hi Cate-Oh really? How fascinating! What else will we learn about you!
Hi GourmetGetaways-It sometimes feels like a losing battle trust me
Aren’t they gorgeous?
Hi Debra-it certainly is!
Hi Fiona-Oh really? I find the smell related to taste.
Hi Chris-hehe I must go back are they the really nice lolly jars?
Hi Hex-Oh that’s hilarious! How funny is that!
I can imagine the shock! 
Hi Alessandra-Thanks so much!
Isn’t it gorgeous? I was surprised at how many guys there were there too! Yes the moveable home is a great idea isn’t it! Hehe don’t worry I’d be just like you 
Hi Anna-Oh how fun!
Isn’t it gorgeous there? And yes with all of the wonderful producers too 
Hi EHA-Ooh now I’ve heard so much about that book as well as Liberace’s! I must hunt down copies of both if they are still around. Good on you and that’s a great memory and it’s not like it is an every day book!
What a shame that it got lost in the divorce though 
Did you make anything from it?
Hi Claire-we really loved it and the food was fabulous! Ahh I think we had the opposite weather that day
Isn’t the lavender champagne lovely?
Hi Hannah-Ouch! you poor thing!
Not the kind of “present” you really want. Hehe I knew you’d understand! 
Hi Claire-it’s such a lovely area and not too far from Melbourne which is nice. i know, could you imagine if I had brought the chicks back along with the eggs and onions
Hi Matilda-haha!
Yes sometimes it’s best to avoid incidents with customs 
It’s really so lovely there!
Hi Johanna-Oh you’re lucky to be so close!
Hi sia-isn’t it lovely! I know, it’s amazing when you see how much he dug up! Ooh roof top hives! I visited some in Vancouver
I agree, they’re the way that fruit and vegetables were meant to be 
I know, I can’t imagine how she does that and so perfectly too! I think that’s perfectly lovely-after all they hold plenty of memories! 
Hi Sydney Shop Girl-hehe gotta love him!
xxx
Hi Esz-Oooh how exciting and happy birthday coming up Esz!
Hi foodie and the chef- It’s quite special indeed! yes definitely save room for the sweeties
I was in Daylesford last weekend and was at Sweet Decandence @ Locantro too (as well as Lake House). While I must admit that I don’t think the chocolates were any better than the ones you can get at a good chocolatier in Melbourne, I do like the shop itself (atmosphere and all) and the lady at the counter was extremely friendly.
Didn’t think to visit the lavender farm but I think I might the next time I’m there!
As for the weirdest thing I’ve brought back from a trip? Do odd-smelling spices and dried shrimp paste from Indonesia that’s enough to make a customs dog bowl over count?
I wonder how lavender scones and lavender champagne tastes like! I hope I can taste them someday!
I love lavender as well, and have been hoarding the last inch in my bottle of lavender liquor. I always come back from my parents place with my suitcase stuffed with produce. One time there was a whole pumpkin as well in there, another time it was stuffed full of frozen loaves of delicious gluten free bread-not easy to find!
Chicks!!! The chicks!! Solo adorable…I can melt looking at them
this was yet again a fantastic lost, love the idea of lavender champagne, must make sure I go there next time I’m in Daylesford.
The oddest thing I can think of which I brought back from a trip was a whole bag full of cooked crabs from Shanghai. It smelt so strong the customs guy didn’t even have to open it. But guess what? We were allowed to take it in! So now we know cooked seafood is ok
Such a fun post, Lorriane! The Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm is right up my alley since I’m a real fan of lavender! Love the look of that original farmhouse kitchen!
How wonderful getting to visit that lovely area! I’ve heard lots of great things about Kate and Brendan’s gorgeous organic farm.
I think bringing back fermented vanilla whey last weekend was the strangest thing I’ve brought back recently!
Except for the fact that I am a natural ‘fraidy cat, that sign on the bridge would have tempted me to break all the rules stated. The lavenday champagne and lavendar scones will do me very nicely, thanks – although it does look very cold there, so perhaps in front of a fire.
I shop for food items every where I travel. The most expensive thing was the REAL balsamic vinegar from tuscany. We paid nearly $100 for it and savored every single drop and cried when it was gone.
Oh I really want to go there. I love places that have lots of food shops to visit. I have never had anything lavendar flavoured, but I must try it soon!
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