Farmers Arms Hotel Daylesford

1 East St

Daylesford, VIC 3460

Ph+ 61 3 5348 2091

info@farmersarmsdaylesford.com.au

This 1857 red brick pub is the oldest in Daylesford.

'Executive Chef Gavan Anders has created a mouth watering selection of simple but sophisticated dishes that showcase the freshest of local ingredients at value for money prices. It's all deliciously casual and you don't need a reservation'.

Poppet with her pint!

It was a beautiful clear, sunny day ~ perfect beer garden weather! Whilst the period charm of the interior of the pub is lovely for those without furry children, we were so content with enjoying the sunshine out in the beer garden. 

The meals here are HUGE! The calamari salad was not even considered a main on the menu, but was definitely filling! It was hands down the best calamari salad we had tried in some time, with an asian flare in the dressing and addition of nuts. If this was HUGE, then the Gummy Shark and chips was MAMMOTH! We are not food connoisseurs by any means, but love good food, especially when it is matched with good weather and good company (the pugs of course!)

Calamari Salad

Gummy Shark & Chips

A trip to Daylesford need not mean a day away from your pooches! We thoroughly enjoyed the road trip out of Melbourne, walking through the town, driving around the outskirts to recommended places to visit ALL with the pugs happy as can be, riding with us in the back, or exploring with us on foot (or paws!) 

Gypsy hanging out in the beer garden.....

If you were planning an extended stay in Daylesford, here are a few links to pet-friendly accommodation. Enjoy!

http://www.takeabreak.com.au/Daylesford/SpaCountry/Pet-Friendly/accomodation.htm

http://pet-friendly-accommodation-daylesford.street-directory.com.au/

http://www.wotif.com/hotels/australia-vic-daylesford-pet-friendly-hotels.html

http://www.cottagedirectory.com.au/cottages/Pet_Friendly

http://www.bookitnow.com.au/accommodation/bin/4514/

Dog~Friendly Daylesford Pt 1!

Chocolate Mill

5451 Midland Hwy

Mount Franklin VIC 3461

Dogs and Chocolate are not usually a good mix, but we were able to combine both with pleasure. Of course, the pugs didn't consume any chocolate (it is toxic for dogs) but they certainly loved the rural surrounds of the Chocolate Mill and the humans absolutely enjoyed the chocolate consumption while the pugs explored!

A chocolate box for humans and liver treats for pugs!

There is a huge outdoor area here and dogs on leads are most welcome. We were lucky to visit on a beautiful, sunny day. The pugs enjoyed rummaging in the leaves and sticks. Gypsy even played hide and seek behind a log! 

Chocolate Mill is the perfect place for a sweet morning tea or afternoon tea with chocolates, cakes, ice cream and hot and cold drinks. It is just 7 minutes north of Daylesford on the highway(A300) heading towards Castlemaine. 

Yummy milkshakes and milk chocolate with coffee beans

Gypsy and Poppet enjoying the outdoors at the Chocolate Mill

So much Fun in the Sun! with my new toy from 'Mind Your Pet' in Daylesford

At Chocolate Mill all of their chocolate is made on site and sold exclusively. They use only Callebaut Belgian Couverture chocolate in all their products, made with the finest cocoa beans, natural bourbon vanilla and 100% pure cocoa butter. Best of all, no palm oil! There is a viewing window to see the production as it happens. Chocolate demonstrations happen daily at 11am and 2pm. 

We love the story of The Chocolate Mill....

In 2001, Jennifer Gregory and Chris Weippert moved from Perth into a shed on the property. Here they lived for 28 months, 18 months without power and budgeted for $7 a day for food for the two of them, while building. On November 21st 2003, with $22 in the bank, they opened. Only 4 months later they were featured in Epicure and then The Herald Sun.

If you are not located in Victoria, The Chocolate Mill have an online store:

http://www.chocmill.com.au/


YUM!

Our next post will also feature another great place we visited whilst in Daylesford! Stay tuned!

Chez Dré Encore!

We really do aim to cover a variety of cafes to share with dog~lovers but it is really hard to go past Chez Dré in South Melbourne when we visit this part of town. Particularly when you are entertaining Europeans and long brunches are the norm. A few lattes, some oo-la-la brunch, a few more lattes, followed by pastries and tarts.

For our original post on Chez Dré, please visit this link as it will give you all the vital information you need to make your way to this amazing little treasure trove tucked away in South Melbourne. 

http://gypsyju.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/chez-dre.html

But before you do, lust over the 'Omelette Du Jour with Herb Polenta' and 'Minute Steak on Homemade Focaccia' we had today. As for the 'Lemon Citrus Tart' and 'Praline Dessert', you are just going to have to believe us, we couldn't resist and ate them straight away! 

Hey! Where did that tart go?

Faces say it all. The girls LOVE South Melbourne ;)

Outtake - too funny!

Trivia Anyone?

Bark in the Park® 2012

22 September 2012

10am-2pm

Princes Park

Royal Pde, Parkville 3052

PURINA® BARK IN THE PARK® is the social event of the year for dogs and their owners.

Visitors to the event, held in Princes Park, will enjoy complimentary:

* Dog washing courtesy of TOTALCARE®

* Grooming classes courtesy of PETLIFE®

* Pet training tips and behavioural advice from the PURINA® PetCare Advice Team

* RUFFS® agility course

* Food samples from the BENEFUL® range and PURINA® ONE™ range

* WAGWEAR® fashion parade

* Family photo shoots courtesy of SUPERCOAT®

Hosted by Steve Jacobs from Channel Nine’s Today Show, and with special appearances by Dr Lisa Chimes (from Bondi Vet) and celebrity animal behaviourist Dr. Joanne Righetti, the award-winning PURINA® BARK IN THE PARK® events across the country are expected to attract over 25,000 passionate pet owners and their dogs this year. 

Chez Dré ~ South Melbourne

285~287 Coventry St

(Dog~friendly courtyard off Hotham St)

South Melbourne 3205

(03) 9690 2688

Chez Dré is a patisserie/boulangerie/café located in South Melbourne. The urban, industrial~ style décor perfectly compliments the delicate, sweet intricacies shelved on the main counter. We are referring to the array of single~size desserts developed by owner Andrea Riess, a laureate pastry chef who has previously worked in Michelin starred food establishments in France.

Perfect coffee!

We could ask ourselves over and over again, how it is, we have not visited Chez Dré before today? Within 24 hours of receiving a recommendation to visit, backed up by photographic evidence of the pasty, we piled the pugs into the car and were off to see if this place was as wonderful as we’d imagined.

Ma - How is it that we haven't been here before?

Our answer? Yes! Yes! Yes! A light drizzle of rain did not impact on our ability to enjoy our brunch alongside our pugs. The courtyard is well sheltered from the Melbourne elements with gas heaters blazing to provide extra warmth. We were extremely comfortable in our surrounds. 

The brunch menu runs all day (another win for Sunday- woo!) and the idea of having something light so we could fit in a sweet was quickly dispelled. Instead, we opted for what we wanted on the menu and decided to take- away a box of cakes. Diet queens beware, only head to Che Dre on a cheat day! There are so many temptations on offer from the pastry shelf to the highly exceptional all day brunch menu!

Oh! The joys of a Croque Madame ~ vegetarian style!

Field mushrooms, rocket pesto, Gruyere cheese and Bechamel sauce!

Oh! I can only imagine what is on top of that table! *sigh*.....

Maybe if I hold my tongue out something will magically drop on it!.....

Minute steak on house made focaccia consisted of a Goulburn Valley grass fed eye fillet with beetroot relish, sautéed onions, goats cheese, rocket and a fried egg.

Served with rustic potatoes (bacon was a side order)

check out the face in the background....

Reaction to food by pugs and humans alike..... ;)

In our box of take~ away cakes, we decided upon the French Vanilla Cheesecake with Mandarin, Hazelnut Chocolate Praline Crunch, Chocolate Baileys Fondant and the Salted Caramel Dome. A pre~ warning to scan the pastry shelves before ordering brunch in order to contemplate your selection over the duration of your visit to Chez Dré!

Another outstanding brunch trek to South Melbourne!

To the park we go.....'til next time! ;)