The World Is Your Oyster...

My family always consumes tonnes of seafood every Easter.  Our table is normally set with some fresh Barramundi and a platter of prawns.

This year, since we were holidaying with the extended family, we thought we'd mix things up a bit and introduce the relatives to one of Tasmania's famous exports...

Barilla Bay Oysters

With oysters, I've found that people either love or hate the slippery little suckers.

I absolutely adore them.  My husband?  Not so much, but he was more than happy to tag along and check out Barilla Bay.

Barilla Bay is an oyster farm, restaurant and gourmet food store at Cambridge, southern Tasmania.  It's about 15 minutes away from Hobart.  It's only 5 minutes from Hobart airport and I was amazed to find out that they specialise in a travel pack so that you can take the oysters and other products on extended airline travel!

 It's a beautiful complex, overlooking the bay and oyster farm.

We'd booked to go on the farm tour before lunch.  Make sure you take coat and hat, it gets pretty chilly down this far south.  The tour takes you out to the edge of the bay where you can see where oysters are grown in racks and then into the processing areas.  They opened a few for us to taste and they were sensational!  Fresh and creamy.

The Barilla Bay Restaurant features fresh Tasmanian produce (including the famous oysters) matched with Tasmanian wines and beers.  It's on top of the food store and has views of the oyster farm.  

The oyster menu is extensive.

My favourites were the Avocado and Lime Salsa oysters, Wasabi Soy oysters and Tasmanian Brie. There is plenty on the menu for oyster phobes too.  Chef Simon Townsend is not only a dab hand at producing the freshest Tasmanian seafood, he can conjure up mean Thai-style salads and tender scotch fillets.

All washed down with a few bottles Tasmanian wine.

We grabbed a few cheeses and Barilla Bay's own Worcestershire Sauce from The Gourmet Foodstore to take home.

A delicious day out.

Barilla Bay

1388 Tasman Highway, Hobart.

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What to do....Hobart

So if you're staying at Antolu, which is just a stone's throw away from Hobart then you need to know fantastic places to eat.

Hate going on holidays, finding random restaurants and regretting the experience a few hours later?  I'm sure I've been in a few restaurants that would have had Gordan Ramsey frothing at the mouth.

Not pleasant.

So if you're after quality dining in Hobart here's a recommendation.

The Customs House Restaurant.

The customs House Restaurant provides award winning dining within the heritage atmosphere of the Waterfront Hotel.  Well known for seafood dishes (especially the wide selection of scallops) and a range of wines to accompany your meals.

Chef Alex and his staff at the hotel prepare meals with the freshest of produce, bought locally.  Tasmania does have the freshest and the best!

Customs House Hotel is one of the oldest Hobart Hotels which has been renovated to a high standard while still maintaining the original integrity of the building.

Here's a few pics of the menu to get your mouth watering....

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Things to do...Swansea

So you know that this week Susan checked out The Lair, a stunning property in Tasmania.

The area is ideal for fishing, swimming and diving or relaxing on the beach overlooking Great Oyster Bay and the beautiful Freycinet National Park.

The Lair is just 15kms south of the wonderful coastal town of Swansea, a beautiful historic town of around 500 residents.

The town is full of historic buildings including the Swansea Bark Mill and East Coast Museum built by the in the 1880s, Morris' General Store, Meredith House, Schouten House, Resthaven, Spiky Bridge and more.

This part of Tasmania also produces world class wine and produce.

For a treat, pay a visit to Kate's Berry Farm.  It sits high above the coastline looking out across Great Oyster Bay to The Hazards range.

Kate was born and raised in Victoria and fell in love with Tasmania the first time she visited.  In 1988 Kate seachanged to Swansea where she found her 10 acre dream property overlooking the sea and the mountains.

Kate saw the potential for a unique cottage venture, became a farmer and after a lot of initial hard work Kate's Berry Farm was born. It quickly achieved a reputation for producing outstanding, chemical free berries.  Kate designed and built her cellar door shop and workshop and works the gardens, and she's always ready to chat with visitors about her farm and what it means to her.

During the picking season, from November to May, punnets of juicy freshly picked berries are available for purchase.

Visit Kate's Just Desserts Cafe, a cosy little eatery that lets you relax and indulge in some of Kate's treats.  Like the name implies, apart from wine, tea and coffee and milkshakes,  the cafe sells nothing but luscious desserts.  Waffles and crepes with lashings of berries, fluffy scones and jams and rich cheesecakes. The berry tart is to die for.

Kate's kitchen also produces an ever expanding range of delicious country produce including chutneys, relishes and marmalades for you to purchase.  Everything is handmade is mall quantities.

She also has her own winery and produces a small range of delectable dessert wines, made from her berries.

It's pure, unadulterated indulgence.  Bliss.

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Exploring Tasmania...this cheese is the bees knees!

If you're staying in Tasmania and looking for an idea for a day trip, how about Bruny Island?

Bruny Island lies off the south-east coast of Tasmania.  To get to this little paradise, cross the D'Entrecasteux Channel by ferry.  

Spend the day exploring its wild seascapes and sweeping surf beaches, abundant birdlife and wildlife, tall forests and historic lighthouse.  Surfing, kayaking, even fairy penguins, the island has so much to offer.  You can be as mild or as wild as you like. 

All that exploring can make a girl build a pretty big appetite and guess what?  The island is home to some of Tassie's finest quality produce including wine, oysters, fudge and of course, cheese!

One of my favourite reasons to pay a visit to Bruny Island is the Bruny Island Cheese Co.

Bruny Island Cheese Co was started by Nick Haddow, after he spent 10 years working with specialist cheese makers all over the world.  His cheeses are heavily influenced by his travels and for him, cheese making is a pursuit of integrity and flavour.  

For me, it's all about the flavour.  Mouthwatering!

They produce a big variety of delectable cheeses.  From The Tom (cow milk, simple, fresh), to the O.D.O (marinated in olive oil and herbs), to the affectionately named The Bastard (cow and goat milk, delicate and robust all at the same time).

My personal favourite is the Otto.  It's a fresh cow cheese, wrapped in prosciutto and made in the Italian style.  It has to be baked for 15 minutes before eating.  Delicious served with a glass of wine.

The team at Bruny Island Cheese Co run monthly workshops so that you can go along and learn how to make some of their famous cheeses, as well as great breads, pizzas or even hand made butter.

Alternatively, grab a bottle of Pinot from Bruny Island Premium Wines, stock up on cheese and fresh sourdough bread and enjoy the island.

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A quick culinary delight...

Well the mayhem of Christmas is behind us and The Girl With A Suitcase is already organising my next weekend getaway.  I've developed an obsession with fresh local produce and beverages (cheers!) so in the next few weeks I'll be scouting out the best locations to experience some of these delicacies.

First destination?

Hobart.

Southern Tasmania has some of the most incredible food experiences on offer (wine, cheese, seafood, beer) and has quickly become a gastronomic extravaganza for those in the know!   Hobart is the perfect place to drop anchor and then explore the surrounding area.

My recommendations for a quick visit?

Grandvewe Cheese Factory in Birchs Bay.  Australia's only Sheep Milk Cheesery.  You can experience up to 15 different cheeses, visit the sheep farm and enjoy platters overlooking the spectacular D'Entrecasteaux Channel.

MeadowBank Winery/ Restaurant in Cambridge.  Just 15 minutes drive from Hobart puts you on the doorstep of this multi-award winning restaurant and cellar door, it's surrounded by a sea of vines and overlooks Coal River Valley.

Next?  The Lark Distillery in Davey Street, Hobart.  The cellar door and whiskey bar overlook Mawson Place and give you the chance to sit outside and enjoy your favourite drink whilst overlooking the Derwent.

                                

After all that booze culinary delight, you'll need somewhere comfortable to lay your head each night and recuperate, before the next days adventure.

I like to stay someplace that is full of old world charm but full of the latest modern convenience.

Here I can relax on the private balcony, sipping a James- Boag (yes, more booze but it's Tasmanian)...

and watch the boats sail in.

Upon a good friends recommendation I stay in Hobart at Kinvara House.  It was built in the 1890s but has undergone ultra- modern renovations to create a unique and spacious house with unsurpassed views of the city and Derwent River.

It offers fully self-contained luxury accommodation for up to 10 people.  That's fantastic for getting a group of good friends together or for the family.  It is designed for those who appreciate quality and privacy, with all the feel of a century old home with all the modern additions.

All located within walking distance to the city centre and famous Salamanca Place.

When you're not visiting all the gastronomic delights in the surrounding Tasmanian area, Salamanca Place is the place to go, with its daytime shopping, galleries and its evening restaurants.  It is in one of the most picturesque areas of Hobart and if you are in Hobart on a Saturday, you can't miss the Salamanca Market.

Regardless of the weather it is the place to visit for odds and ends and to taste Tasmania's famous local produce.  Food, more food.

(Insert Homer Simpson drool).

Ahhh, bliss.

More Tasmaninan experiences to come.

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