Le Bouchon French Cuisine - Balnarring, Victoria

After touring through the South West of France and dinning on some of the finest French food we could find, to discovery a truly remarkable French restaurant  right on our door step is just fabulous.  Normally you would think you would have to travel up to Melbourne to experience exceptionally good French food. For too long we have been denied fine French Cuisine on the peninsula but not any more.

We are blessed with some excellent Italian, Indian, Chinese, Argentinian and Greek restaurants on the Peninsula but not French. When the other food styles, particularly Italian, have dominated the culinary landscape it is  about time French made a big return. I'd like to see more Frenchies pop-up!

Le Bouchon is situated in Balnarring, itself a quiet little town just thirty to forty minutes drive from Frankston. The Balnaring shopping center has been established for a very long time but there is a whole new and very European looking addition been built. Le Bouchon itself has a good French vibe. Just what you want when you dine out and feel you are anywhere else but Southern Vic.

I'm not going to go on about my meal or my wife's meal or my in-laws meal I could never do it justice. I must say though on a scale of one to five, five being extreme fine dinning, this French eatery is a definite four and that is with some tough marking. Is this the finest dinning experience I have ever had, in other words a "5"? No. But it was half the price and nearly as good. Value for money - off the planet.

Staff are funny, warm and friendly and knowledgeable and senior staff are French. The owner will probably be your waiter. Parking is easy and dine inside or out. If outside the view is ordinary but inside, on a busy day, may be very noisy. Pick a Tuesday to Thursday night to dine inside and you should have a quiet and exceptional experience. Good French food done well and on the Peninsula. Bon appetite!

Soumah Wines and Restuarant - Yarra Valley, Victoria

As part of a wine tour, Soumah Wines, provided one of tasting. Not only a tasting but they also put on lunch. The whites didn't really excite me but the Cabernet fell in favour. After the tasting of eight or so wines you got a glass of your fav. to have with lunch. The Cabernet was very good and had me go back for another glass, this time I had to pay.

You had a choice of about four different mains. I went for the "Agnello Brasato" (braised lamp). It certainly look extra yum but fell short of the mark by being too dry. There was lots of a weak source to lubricate it but it didn't really hit the mark. Don't let this put you off. A lot of my fellow sippers were quite pleased with the whites and meal.

Staff are friendly and very informative and the winery is idyllic. Good enough reason to try it yourself. Go for a meal and vino and enjoy the drive there and the view. Go anytime of the year as you can dine in or out.