Now tell us, do you have any plans for the sunny weekend ahead? Why not get out of Melbourne and head down the Hamilton Highway to the lesser-known historic township Inverleigh, just outside Geelong.

Introducing Gladioli Restaurant, open in what was previously Matilda’s on High St, Inverleigh. It’s the latest venture of award-winning chef Matt Dempsey (ex- Pettavel) whose same yummy nosh we sampled when we visited Baveras on Geelong’s Cunningham Pier early last year.

While he may have forgone the coast and pier for the country and his boutique ‘Delicious Intent’ dinner party business, Matt’s new regional hotspot, which has made its home in the old homestead, boasts high-class service and a similarly high standard of food. Its contemporary-Australian menu employs an ingredient only (‘leave the rest to your imagination’) descriptive style. You might make entrée the trout with cream, fennel and watercress. Mains meanwhile may include everything from Greenvale lamb with peas, saltbush and black garlic to Lara rabbit with heirloom carrots and broadbeans and Western Plains suckling pig with radish and apple. Even more local are the desserts with offerings like Brian’s berries with custard and jelly and a St James walnut parfait with honeycomb and vanilla.

So this weekend could look a little like this. A local wine or micro brewed beer in a lush foliage ridden garden, a lunch interlude before more of the same – with the tasty addition of a cheese plate of course!

Where: 14 High St, Inverleigh. VIC
When:  Lunch Thurs-Sun| Dinner Weds-Sat
Details: gladiolirestaurant.com.au

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