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Food and Wine on the Freycinet Maria Coast At last! A chance to use a quotation I've savoured and saved for an appropriate moment: 'Whenver the subject of sex in the southern hemisphere pops up, most thoughtful people think of Tasmania." Edna Everage, of course. So it has been with food in the nether regions of Tassis, until quite recently. Here on the shores of Great Oyster Bay and the Pacific Ocean/Tasman Sea, rocky, forested hillsides sweep down to the fertile waters of the Bay and the panorama is mighty fine, the pastoral scenery peachy, weather windy often, invariably sunny, lifestyle superb ... and now the regional wine and produce have entered the bucolic mix and some fine restaurants have mushroomed. Who would have thought back in the 70's or 80's it would come to this? Restaurants serving local product in modern cuisine crafted by skilled chefs is a recent phenomenon, so that today dining out promises some tantalising prospects for visitors to the Freycinet Maria Coast with a yen for good food and crisp, clean cool weather wines. Several new eateries in scenic locations are thriving while the region's fame as a reliable providor of good food and wine is gaining national renown. Wine cellar door experiences can also be a memorable part of a tour along the Coast and hinterland. A growing number of visitors are experiencing first hand the quality of local wines. A mild climate, clean agricultural water, fertile soils, four distinct seasons, isolation and an unpolluted atmosphere provide eastern coastal valleys and slopes with an edge in producing pure, high-quality wines in a sustainable manner. BICHENO Cyrano Restaurant 77 Burgess Street, Bicheno Tel 6375 1137 Cyrano is our French mayor's favourite restaurant where the owner/chef is herself French. Very popular so book. BYO only. COLES BAY / FREYCINET Madge Molloy's Garnet Avenue, Coles Bay Tel 6257 0399 This reporter has never found the opportunity to experience this Coles Bay traditional seafood restaurant and to savour the reasons for its renown. Candlelight dining and a more than ample wine list. SWANSEA The Banc cnr Maria & Franklin Sts, Swansea. Tel 6257 8896 My favourite East Coast restaurant because the food is always good and inexpensive. Profound wine list specialising in local labels. What more could you want? Oh ... and intimate atmosphere with the popular host Lee Bailey. John Bailey is the ultra-experienced chef. |
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