Tasmania

I owe you all an apology. According to Blogger I haven't posted since the 5th of September. An extremely busy work schedule and one friend's fabulous wedding has meant that I have barely had time to remind my family that I'm alive. Hopefully I'll be able to update you on all the restaurants I have tried in the past couple of months.

I thought I'd start with a brief overview of a few of the places I tried in Hobart.

Pigeon Hole: A little trek uphill through Hobart brings you to a lovely little cafe in a suburb full of pretty houses. The kitchen is located in an old fridge, but despite the space limitation they manage to pump out a range of home-made breads and in-one-pan egg breakfasts that are simply delectable. It is hard to resist one of the lovely pastries on display for a post-breakfast treat. I recommend the rhubarb danish with one of Pigeon Hole's coffees.

Jam Jar Lounge: They have Bloody Mary cocktails on the breakfast menu. Enough said.

Daci and Daci: Fantastic bakery, you cannot go near this place and not be tempted! Pain au chocolate passed the test.

Jackman and McRoss: Another fine bakery. Get a pork and pistachio sausage roll a go for a stroll around the Battery Point area.

MONA Wine Bar: When you can't take anymore sex and death slink away to the MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) Wine Bar for super fresh Tassie oysters and lovely Ploughman's lunch. With a vineyard and brewery on-site there is no shortage of drinkies! (Don't get the Moo Brew larger, tasted like floral VB).

Jack Greene Bar: Burgers! Really good ones! And about 10 beers on tap; feels really similar to the Local Taphouse on Flinders in Sydney. The Fish burger comes as an actual fillet of perfectly cooked fish. Blue-eye trevalla no less! The Belly Pork burger is also worth a look in. Top it off with cider and you are well on your way.

Nant Distillery: An artisan distillery an hour outside of Hobart, near Bothwell. Three course lunch, whisky tasting, distillery tour and two hours of clay-pigeon shooting; what more could you want? Lunch consisted of confit trout from the distillery’s own streams, twice cooked duck with plums and a fabulous sticky toffee pudding with whisky butterscotch sauce. The blokes running the shoot are hilarious. I want their life.

Salamanca Markets: A must-do if in Hobart on a Saturday. Go to one of the German sausage sizzle stands, get a bratwurst and take in a buskers show.

Kate's Berry Farm: If you find yourself driving up the east coast of Tasmania make sure you stop in at Kate's Berry Farm in Swansea. They have a selection of berry pies, jams and chocolates for sale. Disappointingly no fresh berries! But the pies are stuffed full of berries and are absolutely delectable.

The Edge of the Bay Restaurant: Attached to the Edge of the Bay hotel this is one of two up-market restaurants in Coles Bay, near Freycinet national park. The menu is limited, and there isn't much seafood on the menu (two dishes in all) which is such a shame given the restaurant sits on the edge of such pristine water. I thought they would at least have oysters. The pulled pork entree was seasoned very strangely and wasn't enjoyable. The main coral trout was perfectly cooked and beautifully accompanied. The cheese plate was lack-luster. The view however was knock-out.

Coles Bay Marine Farm: The oysters were a bit deflated, having been left too long between shucking and serving. The scallops and mussels were beautifully cooked. Nice place for a spot of lunch.