Red Hill Truffles

Food & Drink
Australia, Dog, Eat, Experience, Farm, Gather, hunt, Local, Mornington Peninsula, Peninsula, Produce, Red Hill, Taste, Tours, Truffle Tours, Truffles, Victoria, Walk
It’s a sunny, chilly autumn afternoon and Jenny McAuley of Red Hill Truffles is preparing for the busiest season of the truffle calendar. ”The truffle season starts at the beginning of June and runs for 12 weeks,” explains Jenny. “The truffle starts growing in the ground in the first week of December and it takes until the first of June to grow and ripen. The fungus grows on the root of tree, and the tree likes the fungus because the fungus kills the grass around the tree that competes with it for the sugar, water and elements it needs to thrive.

Solara House

Retreat
Accommodation, Beach, Beach Walks, Garden, getaway, Holiday, Mornington Peninsula, Mount Eliza, Outdoor Pool, Relax, Retreat, Slim Aarons, Solara, Stay, Sunset
Solara House, Mount Eliza: A Nostalgic Escape to the Glamour of Yesteryears with a modern twist. Nestled in the picturesque locale of Mount Eliza, Victoria, lies a hidden gem that harks back to a bygone era of elegance and leisure – Solara. As its Latin name suggests, this sun-kissed abode is an ode to the golden days, drawing inspiration from the iconic poolside glamour captured by the legendary photographer Slim Aarons.

Vulcano Gelato

Food & Drink
Beach, Cafe, Cakes, Children, Coffee, Food, gelato, Ice Cream, Juice Bar, Local, Mornington Peninsula, Pier, Rye Pier, Sorrento, Vulcano, Weekend
At Love the Pen, we have a confessed weakness for good gelato, a preference that easily trumps ice cream. The silky-smooth texture, the intensity of flavours, and the lower fat content make gelato a superior indulgence. Unlike its ice cream counterpart, gelato is churned at a slower rate, incorporating less air and resulting in a denser, more flavourful experience. It's served at a slightly warmer temperature, allowing the true essence of the ingredients to shine through. And let's not forget, it's an Italian masterpiece that has captured hearts globally.

Essence Food for the Soul

Food & Drink
Buy, chef, curries, Curry, Custard, delicious, Dessert, desserts, Eat, Essence, Food, Food for the Soul, Home, Kitchen, Love the Pen, lovethepeninsula, lunch, Mornington Peninsula, Pie, Pies, Portsea, Portsea Hotel, quality produce, quiches, Soup, Soups
When chef husband and wife team Jim and Melanie Houston got married at the Portsea Hotel, little did they know that 10 years later they would buy a business across the road from the Portsea Hotel and live in it with their three children for the best part of a year. That business is now known as Essence Food for the Soul. As chefs, life for Jim and Melanie was busy, particularly with three young children. The long hours took a strain, and they were ready to make a lifestyle change within the food industry. Sometimes everything falls into place and you find the ideal scenario, and this wholesale food business was perfect for the chef team. Essence Food for the Soul is all about the best quality produce made into delicious, heat and serve meals that help the time poor to eat well.

South Beach Project

Food & Drink
Beach, Cafe, Children, Coffee, Eat, Events, Family, Food, Kitchen, Local, Love the Pen, Mornington Peninsula, Restaurant, South Beach Project, Swim, Village, Volpino, Walk, Weddings, Weekend, Wine
Going out for a brunch of avocado on toast and a perfectly brewed flat white is a weekend ritual for many down Mt Martha way but the eclectic menu also includes dishes such as Fried Noodle Omelette, Mexican Grain Salad, Cauliflower Cous Cous & Korean Fried Chicken Burgers. As a region, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to exceptional cafes and South Beach Project fits neatly into this bracket.

Tom Sarafian: A Culinary Virtuoso Weaving Tradition with Innovation.

Events
Avani Winery, Cellar Door, Iranian, January, Lebanese, Middle Eastern, Mornington Peninsula, Pop up, Red Hill South, Restaurant, Tom Sarafian
In the vibrant tapestry of Australia's culinary scene, Tom Sarafian stands out as a chef who has transformed traditional cooking into an art form. Growing up in a family where food was revered almost religiously, Tom's journey from a childhood steeped in culinary heritage to becoming one of Australia's most celebrated chefs is nothing short of inspiring.

Avani Winery: The Essence of the Earth Through the Hands of the Singh Family

Latest Scoops
Avani, Love the Pen, Mornington Peninsula, Pop up, Red Hill, Red Hill South, Restaurant, Vineyard, Wine, Winemakers
Nestled in the verdant heart of Red Hill South, Victoria, Avani Winery stands as a beacon of minimal intervention winemaking, a testament to the profound connection between land and wine. The name Avani, meaning 'the earth' in Sanskrit, beautifully encapsulates the ethos of this boutique winery, passionately guided by the Singh family.

Emu Plains Market

Events
Balnarring, Emu Plains, Market, Mornington Peninsula, November
Underneath the ancient glade of a stringybark forest, makers unite to create a craft revolution never before seen on the Mornington Peninsula. More than just a market the Emu Plains Market brings together the community for a monthly festival-like feat of art, food, design and culture set within the picturesque Emu Plains Reserve in Balnarring.