Birregurra is located 1.5 hours from Melbourne in Regional Victoria and in Birregurra sits a restaurant which has not only won 3 chef hats, but is ranked number 44 in the world this year. A restaurant which has only been opened for 4 years, Dan Hunter’s baby, Brae. 

The degustation offered at Brae costs $240 per person and you have a choice of matching wines or non alcoholic drinks. Mr Burberry and myself got the matching non alcoholic drinks and they put the same amount of effort in these as they do with the alcoholic drinkies. The menu changes throughout the year and we got the Autumn menu (yep, late write up I know!). Anywho, the variety of courses came out with some dishes which were outstanding, others which were average.

Autumn peas & lemon aspen tart

For those who love to be adventurous, the green ants with pickled cucumber will sure tickle your fancy. A touch on the acidity side, it leaves a tangy taste on your taste buds.

Cucumber pickled with green ants & lemon myrtle 

Globe artichokes, chilled broth of pressed chives & desert lime

One of my favourite dish was the prawn. The little package was AMAZEBALL and it popped with flavour when you bite into it.

Prawn, nasturtium, finger lime

The smoked eel doughnut needed a touch more seasoning and it was quite soft and squishy on the inside.

Smoked eel doughnuts

Barbecued beetroot seasoned with Brae farm honeycomb & rainbow trout roe

Have you ever had oyster flavoured ice cream? Well, it is TOTES AMAZEBALL and the oyster flavour was quite subtle with no fishy after taste.

Iced oyster

Now I’m a huge fan of bread and butter and when they popped that in front of me telling me that it’s churned butter and looks awesomely fluffy like cheese, I knew I was in heaven. We spread the whole thing onto our bread, boy oh boy, it was soft, it was flavoursome, it was just AWESOME SAUCE!

The broth was subtle and you could smell the blue mackerel. For those who aren’t good with seafood, perhaps let the restaurant know. Those who love fish and seafood, this is the dish for you!

Calamari & black lip abalone, broccoli & blue mackerel

I found the lamb smell to be quite strong but Mr Burberry quite enjoyed the dish.

Eggplant & salt grass lamb washed with sweet onion juice, fragrant & acidic plants

My other favourite dish, love the meat broth with the egg yolk. It was just magnificent. Loved LOVED LOVED this dish!

Crayfish & shiitake with Brae farm egg yolk, meat broth & seaweeds

I found the short rib needed a bit more seasoning and I didn’t find it to be as tender as I thought.

Short rib of beef cooked overnight, barbecued carrot, fermented & fried onions

Morning harvest salad

I’m not a fan of sheep’s milk anything but I could not taste the sheep milk at all (BONUS!). It was refreshing and the quince was so smooth with a punch of flavour.

Quince gently cooked with vanilla, honey & sheep’s milk ice

The final dessert for our meal was the parsnip and apple and this was awesome. Never thought parsnip could be part of a dessert but it was beautiful. Everything was well balanced.

Parsnip & apple

Black figs, rhubarb & pistachio, blood & preserved blackberry

The service was impeccable, the presentation of the food was on point and the dishes, well, there were outstanding dishes and others which were great but didn’t have the WOW factor. The downside, it’s located right next to the cemetery (which freaked me out a bit but totally forgot about it once I stepped inside). I will definitely love to return to check out the other season’s menu but I may wait for Spring or Summer to come by.

4285 Cape Otway Rd, Birregurra VIC 3242
Tel: (03) 5236 2226
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