poplars restaurant reviewed in The Age Good Food Guide for a second year

FULL 2009 REVIEW:

Wild blackberries are picked in the Buckland Valley by an apprentice on his way to work, destined in Autumn to provide the striking purple colour and flavour of poplars signature Fruits of the Season soufflé, which only weeks earlier in summer was originally orange hued from locally harvested peaches. It is that kind of restaurant! French influenced with a gnarled grapevine and rustic bicycle gracing the entrance portal to a tasteful and relaxed dining room. On Friday nights a local pianist plays; it might be bit passé as a feature, but the music is a nice match to the attentive discreet service. The menu is more about comfortable consistency than cutting-edge cuisine, but platings are generous and pleasing to the eye and palate. French onion soup, chicken terrine, and pork and apple pithivier’s vie for attention on the entrée list. Fish of the day might be a succulent fillet of baked blue eye served on slow-braised peppers and snap peas with a champagne dressing. Other mains include glazed confit duck leg with pickled beans or perhaps brine-cured free-range chicken served with French-style lentils and smoked bacon. Whatever the season, the soufflé is definitely worth the 20-minute wait.

The Age Good Food Guide recognises poplars restaurant

FULL 2008 REVIEW on our recognition page.

Read about our French Odyssey, published in Essential Magazine

Julia and Patrick travelled to France in mid-2008 and - naturally - have a few things to say about the wonderful food they sampled. Click to view or download the full article (1MB PDF) published in Essential Magazine.

Provincial Pantry - a new 'virtual market'

Can't get to the North East before Christmas? Tried something while you were visiting but can't find it in Melbourne? There is a great range of produce and wine from the North East Valleys available on the new Provincial Pantry website.

Friday night jazz…

Enjoy a crackling fire and live tinkling from local pianist Peter Benson

Come in and warm your cockles by the fire!