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If you’ve never tried traditional Polish food, then your life is not complete. We recommend you take a trip to Warburton and discover one of the hidden treats of the Yarra Valley – The Polish Jester.

Now there are many things that make the Polish Jester unique, there’s the location, a stones throw from the Yarra river. Then there’s the delicious variety of Polish food that’s on offer. To cap it off, the owner, Kristof Kaczmarek, just happens to be an actor of some note. Now you may not recognise the name, but if you think his face looks a little familiar, then you have probably seen him in one of his many TV performances. He has appeared in such shows as, City Homicide, Stingers, Blue Heelers, The Genie from Downunder, to mention a few. His feature films include a leading role in The Sound of One Hand Clapping, First Strike and A Fortunate Life. Kristof graduated in 1977 with a Master of Arts from the National Academy of Film, TV and Theatre in Lodz, Poland, so when it comes to performing he knows what he’s doing. He also knows a lot about Polish food and that’s good news for food lovers!

The Polish Jester offers the best in traditional Polish dishes including, Bigos -the hunters stew, Zurek, Golabki (Stuffed Cabbage), and a variety of Polish dumplings. Kristof’s wife Beata does the majority of the cooking and says, she has developed her recipes, “on a mixture of childhood memories and the quest for the perfect flavour.” Beata has generously shared her recipe for Bigos – download it here and try it for yourself.

	For bookings call (03) 5966 9339
	The Polish Jester is open: Thursday & Friday 5pm till late. Saturday & Sunday – midday till late.
	3416 Warburton Highway Warburton VIC 3799

A Sweet Experience!

If you like great cafes, then you will love Three Sugars. Brian Gauchi setup the cafe about seven years ago and it quickly became one of the most popular cafes in the Yarra Valley. It’s easy to see why. The atmosphere is relaxed, comfortable and cosy. The staff are friendly and the service is fast.

As for the food…..they make some of the most delicious pies, cakes and muffins you will find anywhere. According to Brian the pumpkin spinach ricotta pies and the open baked pies “really rock!” They do more than rock, they make a dotheyarravalley editors mouth start salivating just remembering how good they are!

Being somewhat of a connoisseur of  Chai Lattes, I was delighted when my Chai arrived accompanied by a small cup of honey. (See video) It’s the little touches like this that make the difference between an average cafe and a great cafe. And Three Sugars is definitely the later!

Watch our teaser video below:

Shop 6 / 3389 Warburton Highway Warburton VIC 3799

(03) 5966 9521

Yarra Valley Winery, Weddings and Restaurant

Situated in the heart of the Yarra Valley on the banks of the Yarra River at Coldstream, RiverStone Estate produces premium quality wines for the domestic and international markets. We are very partial to their desert wines. The  Semillon Botrytis and Tokay are a real treat and here’s a tip right from the outset. Put a bottle of their Tokay in the freezer. Because of the high alcohol content it will not freeze but becomes a syrup that you can drizzle over your favourite desert. As Lola Berry would say, “Yumo!”

The RiverStone Estate restaurant specialises in great food in a relaxed atmosphere. Choose from appetisers for two, enjoy a hearty dinosaur T-bone steak, some king prawns, kangaroo or something else from their main menu. They have childrens meals and some of the most delicious cakes and deserts this side of the Black Spur. They also cater for weddings, parties, corporate functions and social clubs.

Tastings are free and you can sample their selection of premium quality boutique Yarra Valley wines. Relax and enjoy an antipasto platter, cappuccino, or choose from their extensive range of wine accessories, while enjoying the spectacular panoramic views from the verandah.

Riverstone Estate has recently opened 4 rooms offering Bed & Breakfast, which is perfect if you are attending a function at the restaurant or would just like to stay and enjoy the peace of the Yarra Valley. Riverstone is just down the road from Rochford, so if you are planning to attend one of their outdoor concerts, Riverstone is a perfect place to spend the night.

Getting there is easy! If you are traveling from the City, simply follow the Maroondah Highway towards Healesville make a right turn at Hill Rd and a left turn at Skye Rd and you’re there.

With sweeping views of the Yarra Valley, award winning wine and a superb Mediterranean style Restaurant, it’s hard to beat Tokar Estate for an afternoon or evening visit to the Yarra Valley.

The winery is the brain child of Leon and Rita Tokar who originally purchased the property as a weekend retreat from the stress of city living. They took up permanent residence with the completion of their home in 1999.  According to Leon things just gradually evolved. “We used the new home as a cellar door, the wine flowed as Rita prepared and served a delicious light lunches for family and friends. These occasions were not only extremely popular, they were so personally rewarding for both of us that the idea of making wines and meals on a larger scale seemed the next logical step. This resulted in the ‘creation’ of what we now proudly call Tokar Estate.”

Latest Events

Christmas In July – 29th & 30th of July

Complete with Christmas decorations, carols and bon bons. On offer is a 2 Course Lunch for $35.00 per person or 3 Courses for $45.00 per person.  Please see number below for bookings.

Spanish Night – Saturday 28th August

Tokar Estate’s Annual Spanish night features a degustation dinner that takes you on a culinary tour of Spain. You will be entertained by traditional music and dance and the night coincides with Tokar’s release of it’s new Tempranillo. Cost is $125.00 per person including 7 course dinner & Tokar Estate wines. To book call their number below.

	Lunch – 7 days a week from 12:00pm Dinner – Saturday Evenings from 6:30pm. Sunday – Friday Evenings for bookings of 20 or more, by prior arrangement.			6 Maddens Lane Coldstream, VIC 3770 Melways Ref: 276 K9
	The Restaurant offers stylish cuisine, peppered with strong Mediterranean influences, featuring local Yarra Valley produce.			For bookings phone: (03) 5964 9585

For lovers of great food the Yarra Valley Dairy is a must do attraction.

On arrival wander over to the cows to say a quick hello before heading to the Cheese Shop where you can sample their premium quality handmade farmhouse cheeses.

The Cheese Shop is located in a one hundred year old milking shed and the first thing you notice upon entering is the immaculate presentation and attention to detail. The fine rustic decor combined with the gorgeous Yarra Valley views creates a warm and relaxed atmosphere. The friendly staff are keen to greet you and with their exceptional product knowledge it wasn’t long before we were sitting down to a cheese platter accompanied by a variety of breads and a glass of local Sauvignon Blanc.

The service was great and the prices were very reasonable. So if you love nibbling cheese in a friendly relaxed atmosphere we highly recommend a visit to The Yarra Valley Dairy.

The Cheese Shop is open 10:30am to 5pm – 7 days a week except Christmas Day.

The Yarra Valley Dairy is located at 70-80 Mc Meikans Road, YERING VIC – Phone 03 9739 1222

Congratulations -

Yarra Valley Dairy won 2 Awards at the Grand Dairy Awards on February 3rd 2010.

2010 – Champion Flavoured Cheese – Yarra Valley Dairy Persian Fetta.

2010 – Innovation in Dairy Manufacturing Award – Yarra Valley Dairy Cheesemaker Jack Holman.

Every now and then you come across a place that just makes you smile! The Cog Bike Cafe is one of those places and its now open in Warburton too!

What is it about the Cog Bike Cafe that’s so appealing? In a word – EVERYTHING.

Who would have thought you could turn a tin shed into a thriving business. Damian Auton, that’s who. Damian, a passionate bicycle lover, came up with the idea a bit over four years ago and has created one of the cleverest little businesses we have seen for a some time.

The Cog is perfectly located on the Warburton Trail at Mount Evelyn on the edge of the Yarra Valley. The “Warby” Trail is a 4okm converted railway that runs through beautiful bushland with sweeping views of the Yarra Valley and surrounding ranges, only about an hour east of Melbourne.

The cafe offers pretty much everything a Warburton trail user needs to have a great day out. Hot and cold drinks, energy bars and some of the best muffins we have ever had. Damian perfected his muffin recipes during the four months he waited for the council to approve his permit. On Sundays, the busiest day for the cafe, they bake two varieties of mouth watering egg pies. Nothing tastes as good on a cool morning after a ride than a hot cappuccino and a freshly baked raspberry and white chocolate muffin.

Apart from the refreshments, the Cog Bike Cafe offers some serious gear for cyclists. They even make their own bikes and as well as being superbly crafted bikes they also have personality. Each bike is hand painted and named.

If you don’t have a bike, that’s OK, they offer a bike hire service with very reasonable rates.

	Hot & cold drinks Smoothies Muffins – White Choc raspberry, apple cinnamon, carrot apple & walnut Egg pies (Sunday only)		4 Clancy Road Mt Evelyn VIC 3796
	03 9736 4999		Weekdays: 9am – 6pm - Weekends: 10am – 6pm

We can’t recommend the Cog Bike Cafe highly enough! It’s got personality, position and purpose. If you haven’t done the Warburton trail yet then make sure when you do you stop by The Cog Bike Cafe and enjoy their hospitality, delicious snacks and bike repair! What a great combination. Watch the video below to get an idea of why we love it so much.

Stay tuned for the new Cog Bike Cafe opening in Warburton in January 2010. In the mean time enjoy our photo gallery below.