{"id":42137,"date":"2016-05-17T10:34:36","date_gmt":"2016-05-17T00:34:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/?p=42137"},"modified":"2018-05-14T06:08:20","modified_gmt":"2018-05-13T20:08:20","slug":"5-ways-to-enjoy-europe-in-the-southern-highlands-of-nsw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/5-ways-to-enjoy-europe-in-the-southern-highlands-of-nsw\/","title":{"rendered":"5 ways to enjoy \u2018Europe\u2019 in the Southern Highlands of NSW"},"content":{"rendered":"

From comfort food to cool climate wines, quaint villages, rolling hills and boutique book stores, a weekend escape to the Highlands<\/a> oozes with decadence and old world romantic charm.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Although the region is known for it\u2019s distinct English style countryside, the constantly evolving food and wine scene gives a taste of not only the UK, but also Italy<\/a>, France<\/a> and even Scandinavia<\/a> – without getting out the passport.<\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019re in need of injecting a little bit of the Northern Hemisphere into your life, but your bank balance or annual leave won\u2019t allow you to take that 24 hour flight to London<\/a>, Paris<\/a> or Rome<\/a>, follow my lead with the next best thing and escape on a whim for a weekend in the NSW Southern Highlands<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here is my\u00a0\u2018must do\u2019 food and wine guide to doing the Southern Highlands:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0<\/strong>Have a French inspired long lunch:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Feel as if you\u2019re in a cute French countryside restaurant with a long lunch at Eschalot Berrima<\/a>, located in the beautiful village of Berrima.<\/p>\n

Set in a heritage sandstone cottage, this hatted restaurant manages to blend elegant dining with a comfortable home-style setting.<\/p>\n

The contemporary French-Australian menu is pretty heavenly, making the \u2018what to pick\u2019 decision incredibly difficult.<\/p>\n

After carefully analysing the menu, I can personally vouch for the seared scallop, done in a scallop mousse, wild nettles, tarragon and pasta verde for an entr\u00e9e, followed by the perfectly cooked local chicken with salted eggplant, jamon and garden squash for a main (don\u2019t forget a cheeky side of Eschalot\u2019s version of onion rings!).<\/p>\n\"Eschalot\n

2. Taste Scandinavia at <\/strong>Biota Dining<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Biota\u2019s slightly quirky approach mixes Scandinavian interior design, with paddock-to-plate style produce, making for a fun and creative night out.<\/p>\n

Head Chef James Viles sources much of the menu\u2019s ingredients from the onsite garden and local farms. The menu is constantly changing to fit in with the changing seasons, with the \u2018Cooler Months\u2019<\/em> being the current option on offer.With a choice of either a seven or five-course degustation, the five course with matching wines was my preference: the portion sizes were perfect and we left feeling satisfied and not overly full.<\/p>\n

While all of the five-dishes were degustation goodness, the pasture fed beef cooked over coals, combined with Jarrots 2012 Cabernet Merlot Franc from Orange really hit the spot for me.<\/p>\n

Biota\u2019s five-course \u2018Cooler Months\u2019 degustation with matching wines (as of April 2016):<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\"Biota\n

\"Biota

Five-courses of creativity and deliciousness at Biota Dining<\/p><\/div>\n

3. Escape to the \u2018UK\u2019 countryside<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ok so it\u2019s not quite Europe (being its next door neighbourhood is close enough!) however you can\u2019t have a trip to the Southern Highlands<\/a> without getting the English countryside feels.<\/p>\n

Get into the spirit and book in for the High Tea with Centennial Bubbles option at Centennial Vineyards<\/a><\/p>\n

With beautiful vineyard views, it\u2019s the ultimate place to treat both your savoury and sweet tooth, with layers of Arancini balls, ham and egg sandwiches, scones with jam and warm pumpkin soup; matched with the Centennial Bong Bong (meaning water!) Sparkling Wine.<\/p>\n

After getting your sugar high on at High Tea, make sure you pop by the cellar door for a taste of the delicious wine on offer \u2013 the Centennial Chardonnay is my top pick, combining the perfect blend of butter and oak flavours.<\/p>\n\"Centennial\n

4.\u00a0When in Rome (or Bowral)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Located in the centre of town in Bowral<\/a>, arrive with an empty stomach ready for a traditional good old fashion Italian meal. Onesta Cucina\u00a0<\/a>translates into \u2018honest kitchen\u2019 and as a family run restaurant, it really delivers on making you feel warm and comfortable, while enjoying hearty and flavourful dishes.<\/p>\n

Although the menu changes on a regular basis depending on the produce available, I can personally vouch for both the soft shell mud crab with salsa verde and the 16 hour braised beef cheeks with vegetables and a shiraz sauce \u2013 both are dishes you truly won\u2019t want to end.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s also great and pretty rare these days (especially in Sydney<\/a>!) is that Onesta allows for BYO wine (with a $10 corkage fee) \u2013 meaning you can pick up a fab bottle of wine from one of the many cellar doors in the Southern Highlands \u2013 like Tertini Wines, Centennial Vineyards and Bendooley and enjoy it over your evening meal.<\/p>\n

Hot tip: treat your inner child with the famous Onesta Sundae, filled with honeycomb, berries and chocolate goodness. I\u2019m not usually a dessert person (I prefer to fill up on entr\u00e9e and mains) however after recommendation I gave it a taste, and it didn\u2019t disappoint \ud83d\ude09<\/em><\/p>\n

Bendooley Estate<\/a><\/strong> Berrima:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ok so Bendooley Estate probably has more of an English countryside feel to it if anything, HOWEVER when it comes to Italian cuisine, the wood fire pizzas and linguine with blue swimmer crab, chili, garlic and lemon on the menu are both deserving of a mention mixed with the Bendooley 2015 Pinot Gris.<\/p>\n\"Bendooley\n

After carbing up on pizza and pasta, drop into the Bendooley Cellar door, just next to the main restaurant.<\/p>\n

As a new addition to Bendooley Estate in late 2015, the cellar door is cozy and character filled, with a rustic feature piece style fireplace in the middle of the room, making it the perfect place to settle in on a chilly Autumn afternoon with a Bendooley 2015 Pinot Gris, which while young, has a fresh pear and honey taste to it which goes down a treat.<\/p>\n

\"Bendooley

How Saturday afternoons should be spent, sipping Bendooley Pinot Gris<\/p><\/div>\n

5. Retreat to an English country manor:<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a long hard day of wining and dining, Peppers Craigieburn Bowral<\/a>, located just five minutes out of the centre of Bowral is the ultimate countryside retreat.<\/p>\n

\"Peppers

Retreat to the \u2018English\u2019 countryside with a stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.<\/p><\/div>\n

Have you been to Bowral<\/a>? Tell us about it below.<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n