food&wine
Launceston has outstanding restaurants,
including the eclectic Stillwater at Ritchie's Mill,
which has a terrific selection of wines by the
glass, and sister eatery Black Cow Bistro, which is
regarded as one of Australia's best steakhouses.
Also try The Terrace at Country Club Tasmania,
which has an award-winning wine list, and Novaro's
for reliable Italian dishes.
The recently established Launceston Harvest
Farmers Market features wines from small
producers, such as Gryphonwood, Sharmans and
Humbug Reach, and a wide range of gourmet goods
including preserves, fresh herbs and vegetables,
cheeses, organic heritage Wessex Saddleback pork
from Mount Gnomon, venison and other meats, plus
freshly baked sourdough.
The occasional market at Ut Si Cafe in Perth,
south of Launceston, features goodies such as fresh
breads, duck eggs, local honey and olive oil.
Even in smaller towns such as Burnie, in the
north-west, there is plenty to explore throughout
the year, including the Hellyers Road Distillery and
Makers' Workshop, a space that honours the town's
creators, innovators and artists. Opened in late
2009, the workshop invites visitors to try their hand
at various skills, and on any day there are several
artisans on-site. The local farmers market is held
on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month
at the Wivenhoe Showgrounds.
On the way from Burnie to Launceston or
Hobart, pop in to Ashgrove Cheese and Christmas
Hills Raspberry Farm (the Devonshire teas are
legendary) and make sure you visit 41 Degrees
South at Mole Creek to sample its smoked fish and
ginseng products.
There's so much on offer in Tasmania that any
self-respecting foodie may well need to splash out
on some excess luggage.
MORE INFO
To discover more about tourism and wine routes
in Tasmania visit www.discovertasmania.com
and www.winetasmania.com.au.
Left and
below:
A selection
of Grandvewe
cheeses; driving
by Jansz
vines in the
Tamar Valley.
"Australia's island state has
been variously described as
'the new Champagne' [and] 'the
future of Australian produce'."
