Royal Mail Hotel Head Chef, Dave Sullivan
Happiness is exploring the Royal Mail Hotel kitchen garden, with the Head Chef creating an amazing meal for you. It is a perfect way to appreciate where your food comes from. Knowing that the majority of the food on your plate is grown and harvested from the neighbouring farm and kitchen garden , adds to the memorable experience.
Head Chef, Dave Sullivan recently led me on the kitchen garden tour. Dave was very informative about what was in season and the organic processes that they use.
The kitchen garden inspires the chefs and the menus
The kitchen garden supplies herbs, fruit and vegetables to both restaurants; Wickens at Royal Mail and the Parker Street Project. Dave explained that up to 80% of the produce on the Wickens menu is grown onsite and harvested daily by the kitchen team. For instance, potatoes, garlic, onions and leafy greens.
Dunkeld
The Royal Mail Hotel is home to Australia’s largest restaurant kitchen garden. Located in Dunkeld, a small country town in regional Victoria, amidst the beautiful scenery and stunning backdrop of the Grampians.
The stunning backdrop of Mount Sturgeon
In addition to the main kitchen garden, the Royal Mail Hotel has numerous garden plots scattered around Dunkeld. The impressive 1.2 acres of edible gardens are grown organically, without the use of herbicides and pesticides.
Michelle Shanahan is the chief gardener. According to Dave, Michelle and her team have had great success with produce that isn’t typically grown in Victoria’s Western District. For example, bananas grow in the greenhouses. Guava and seaweed have also flourished.
Winter has its own unique charms and challenges in the Kitchen Garden. Meandering around you can see the crops planted to handle the cold and frosts. Brussels sprouts, broad beans, peas, turnips, parsnips and colourful cauliflower to name a few.
dining experience
Given the seasonality of the Royal Mail Hotel kitchen garden, there is never a bad time of year to visit. Some people may be put off during the colder months. However, once you make your way back to the fireplace, with the breathtaking views, you soon forget it is cold outside. The extensive wine list and delicious, hearty meals, certainly warm you up.
Baked cauliflower, roasted puree,
gnocchi and parmesan
Braised royal mail lamb, turnip and yoghurt
Pumpkin, yoghurt puree, parsley,
macadamia and pepita seed
Sticky quince pudding with malt ice cream
From the kitchen garden tour to the dining experience, it is a celebration of connection and country living. The Royal Mail Hotel offers an experience you won’t find in the city. Seasonality, freshness and locality is the focus. You can’t help but appreciate the Grampians and where your food comes from.
The garden is magnificent and practical
The Details: Royal Mail Hotel Kitchen Garden Tour
Tour: Every day at 10am. To begin, check in at reception for directions to the kitchen garden.
Address: 98 Parker Street Dunkeld, Victoria, Australia.
Cost: Kitchen Garden Tours are complimentary for house guests or $15 per person.
Bookings: Visit the Royal Mail Hotel website for further details.
Parker Street Project : Open for lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. The menu is delicious and designed for sharing. In addition to the standard menu there is a ‘Feed Me Menu’ with the chefs daily selection of plates.
With so many wonderful places in the Grampians, we are spoiled for choice. For more information on the special places, culinary delights and fabulous folks of the Grampians, visit the Grampians Eats webpage or Instagram account.