June 2008

With the cooler temperatures setting in don't be afraid to go out at night! When you dine with us on Wednesday or Thursday evenings in June, you will receive a complimentary cheese or dessert platter for 2 with every 2 main courses purchased. Tables by the open fire are in high demand, so book ahead and request a table by the fire.

Over the long weekend we will be open as usual and we will be open for lunch on Monday. The Chardonnay Room is quite often booked out for private functions. It is ideal for dinners, breakfasts, training days or seminars. With the End of Financial year creeping up, it is a great time to book your work function. Mid year functions are a great way to "regroup" after a busy period and to be able to relax and enjoy the company of friends when the social demands associated with Christmas functions, is not so daunting! We are offering a $68 Winter Function special for group bookings from May to September see our website or phone Jeynelle for further details.

And, don't forget to start organising your Christmas Function now! We still have dates available and an offer discounts for mid-week bookings. For those who know anyone planning a wedding, we still have January and February 2009 dates available.

Dining Out Etiquette

Recently, a hideous mobile phone ringtone, resulting in an even louder mobile phone conversation conducted whilst pacing around the restaurant, evoked a lengthy discussion amongst not only some customers at a neighboring table one afternoon, but also our staff. We would like to share with you some thoughts on restaurant etiquette over the next few newsletters:

1. Mobile Phones: Please turn mobile phones off or to silent when dining in a restaurant. If you do have to have a conversation on the phone, excuse yourself and go somewhere less inconspicuous…outside maybe?
2. Reservations: When making a reservation, it is equal to making an appointment with someone. It is courteous to all parties concerned to arrive on time, and if running late please advise the restaurant. We will always try to hold your reservation for up to half an hour, but please understand that during peak times, our bookings are taken at set intervals to ensure the best possible level of service is offered. If you are unable to make your reservation, please ring and cancel. Quite often during peak times, we cannot take further bookings and turn customers away, only to have a booking not turn up. Spare a thought for those customers.
3. Cleanliness: whilst all staff are trained how to set tables with correct and clean glasses and cutlery, we appreciate customers bringing to our attention politely when this is not the case.
   Toilets: it is impossible for staff to be aware of the cleanliness of toilets throughout a busy night. If you see that the toilets are less from satisfactory, again, please advise the staff so that we can rectify it.

If you would like to add your thoughts, please email us.

Contact Us

Email Us Here
ph: 03 5964 3694
fax: 03 5964 2505
473 Warburton Hwy
Wandin North, VIC, 3139

PO Box 302,
Wandin North, VIC, 3139

You may like to forward this eNewsletter to a friend.

WE ARE OPEN

Lunch:
Wednesday to Sunday
Dinner:
Wednesday to Saturday

Chef's Table Dinner #7

We had to rename the Pie & Beer dinner Chef's Room, as we didn't have a table big enough for all of our guests! It was a great night, and everyone was pleasantly surprised by George's "pies" and the flavour combinations…who would have thought to put horseradish in cream Chantilly to serve alongside apple pie? Thanks again to Hargreaves Hill, Coldstream Brewery and Colin from Brewers Choice* for his selection of international beers: it was a refreshing change from wine matching and again, we hope you all learnt something new from the night!

Chef's Table Dinner #8 will be Roast Dinner... It will coincide with an August promotion of Sunday Roasts. Watch this space for further information!

Brewers Choice shop in Woori Yallock is well worth a visit if you're a beer connoisseur... check out Brewers Choice

Wedding and Events Expo

On Wednesday June 25th Yarra Valley Special Events will be holding a Wedding and Events Expo at Rustic Charm from 6pm to 9.30pm. Entry is free and if you register on line at Yarra Valley Special Events, you go in the draw to win a luxurious Dinner Bed & Breakfast package along with a day spa treatment. If you have an upcoming wedding, birthday, corporate function or are planning any kind of special event, do not miss this night! Information on cakes, photographers, printing and stationery, bonbonniere, decorating, flowers, transportation, celebrants and honeymoons. Wine tastings and door prizes will be given away during the night.

Cellar Door News

With the advent of lower temperatures the vines are starting to lose their leaves and enter a dormant period. The main task is pruning at this time, which will continue into July.

At the winery, they are preparing for 2008 bottling. More news in regards to that next month!

Be sure to visit the Cellar Door over winter to enjoy a glass of red by the open on weekends. The 3 pack special is still on offer: choose any 3 wines for $50. Other specials include ½ dozen Cabernet Merlot (2003) for $50.

Visit Wild Cattle Creek for more wine information.

Winter Cellar Door Nights

Guests have enjoyed the casual atmosphere of our Cellar Door nights. Join us on the first Friday of the month and enjoy some tasty dishes from our tapas menu while you taste our wines by the open fire. Great wine buys available along with the range of Yarra Valley Preserves.

Recipé

We served these scallops at the Pie & Beer night... they were eagerly sought after! Try the recipe for yourself & see why!

Orange Marmalade Scallop Parcels

Finger food to serve 6

Ingredients

• 12 scallops, cut in half
• 2 tbsp marmalade
• 100ml dry white wine
• Chives & coriander - chopped
• 1 pkt filo pastry

Method

1. Sauté scallops in butter for 15-20 seconds only. Remove from pan
2. Add wine and marmalade to hot pan and reduce over high heat for 3-5 minutes
3. Add scallops, chives & coriander and cook for 1 minute
4. Take 3 sheets filo pastry, brushing each with melted butter and layer on top of each other. Cut pastry into 6 squares. Repeat with another 3 sheets of filo pastry
5. Place 2 scallop halves on each pastry square, then bring each corner together and scrunch up to form a little "bag"
6. Place on a lined oven tray and bake in 200° oven for 6-10 minutes, or until pastry is browned and crisp

Coming Events

• Fri June 6th - Plug and Play and Cellar Door night
• Sun June 8th – Mainstream play pop and rock
• Wed June 25th – Wedding & Events Expo 6pm to 9.30pm Free entry
• Fri July 4th - Plug and Play and Cellar Door night
• Sun July 13th – Mainstream playing pop and rock
• Sun July 20th – Cheek to Cheek playing jazz
• Sundays in August – Roast lunch!
• Sun Sept 7th – Fathers Day - $45 for 2 courses and local beer. Chance to win private Golf Lesson at the Heritage.

Wednesday and Thursdays nights in June and July - Buy 2 main courses and receive a complimentary cheese or dessert platter

Visit our websites for further information.

• Wild Cattle Creek Winery & Vineyard
• Rustic Charm Restaurant
• 'The House' at Wallace Historic Homestead
• 'The Suite' at Wallace Historic Homestead
• 'Merlot Cottage'
• Yarra Valley Special Events