Take the high road and enjoy a bounty of delicious locally-grown produce and award-winning cool climate wines.
Lamb and beef raised here have long been sought after by chefs and specialist butchers across the state and further afield. Grazing on the region’s lush pastures, it seems, produces exceptionally tender and succulent cuts of meat. Orchards flourish in our high altitude climate. In season, you can buy freshly-picked berries, apples, pears and stone fruits from farm stands and local markets, or head out of town to pick your own – a popular activity for families with children.
Ask for advice and locals are likely to recommend starting the day with a robust espresso at their favourite café. At one hip establishment the baristas are up before the birds, coaxing their wood-fired oven into action and baking pastries and bread so popular the daily supply sells out by mid-morning. Blackboard menus across the region feature local seasonal produce the likes of ricotta hotcakes piled with berries and honeycomb butter, curried lamb pies and honey and lavender brulée, to name a few inspired dishes.
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Guyra is famous for tasty glasshouse tomatoes and hosts an annual Lamb and Potato Festival, celebrating the specialties of nearby farmers. Elsewhere in the region, trout farmers, bakers, and cheese makers are among a growing number of small businesses producing delectable artisanal foods.
These days, vineyards in the region are generating quite a lot of excitement for producing cool climate wines of a distinctive style. Petersons Winery, located on a landmark pastoral property just outside Armidale, you can taste award-winning Riesling, Semillon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot, and, if you like, stay the night in the historic homestead.
At the monthly farmer’s markets, you’ll find local honey, home-made jams and chutneys, olive oil, teas and, of course, assorted garden vegetables and free-range eggs, among the array of local food products for sale.
Fortunately, much of the food grown here finds its way from ‘pasture to plate’ and onto the tables of local eateries. From casual family restaurants, cafés, clubs and pubs to fine dining rooms and cellar door establishments, there’s a diverse choice of dining options, as well as cuisines in the city of Armidale.
In warmer months, tables and chairs spill outside under shady umbrellas and trees. On summer weekends, it’s fun to share plates on the terrace at the New England Regional Art Museum and listen to live jazz. On weekends year round, you can head out of town to one of the local breweries that are creating quite a buzz such as Great Hops Brewing co and the Welders Dog Brewery. After a long day exploring everything the Armidale region has to offer, what could be better than a locally brewed cold beer?
