We were headed to Steve Cumper’s Red Velvet Lounge for lunch, but we could just as easily have opted for the Lotus Eaters Cafe, a few doors down the main street. Other foodie outlets in the area include Evans’ Rare Food gourmet charcuterie, Nicholls Rivulet Organic Farm’s organic and free-range beef, pork and vegetables (sold from the farm gate on Saturdays, honesty box in the driveway for fruit and veg during the week), two artisan butchers, Tongola Goat Products (cheeses and curds) and handcrafted Cygneture chocolates.
We’re going to have to return for the food, and there are a couple of wineries in the area, though the most interesting, Two Bud Spur, which produces a Beaujolais style Gamay Nouveau doesn’t seem to be open to the public (yet)..
But we were there for lunch, and the Red Velvet Lounge well and truly lived up to a glowing reputation. The place has definite character, does well for coffee and pastries through the day and does an excellent lunch. I had a fair chunk out of a leg of lamb from the wood fired oven and Madam’s grilled calamari with smoked paprika mayo went close to matching it in the great things I’ve eaten stakes.
In the relentless quest for something new to try I asked for a glass of Two Bud Spur Gamay Nouveau for starters, but was subsequently informed that they'd sold out. I was offered a glass of French Gamay instead, and rather nice it was. Subsequent perusal of the all in French back label revealed a source that seemed to be on the Atlantic coast around La Rochelle if my memory serves me well. We really should write these things down.
Having asked for a recommendation from the Pinot Noirs on the list I was pointed towards the 2011 Third Child and I'm glad I was, to the point where we've got a phone call to arrange a tasting appointment on our last day penciled in on the agenda.
We took a stroll around the town after lunch, stopping at the crafts shop and finding a Commonwealth Bank where I was able to refill the cash reserves.