salix in mornington
Salix is part of the Willow Creek Vineyard, and on a recommendation of a girlfriend who just KNOWS the kind of thing I like, we booked dinner there on the Friday night to kick off our Mornington weekend of bliss.
Many vineyards in Victoria are just gorgeous – we are pretty spoilt for choice in terms of wineries on our end of the world – but Salix was particularly sublime when driving up to it just before the sunset, the glow of the sun just cast over the vast grape fields.
I’m sure it helped that it was just about devoid of any other people – we had obviously come at the right time.
We had a really lovely short walk around the vineyard and watched the sun dancing on the lovely roses around us. I know, I know, it sounds like hogwash but it was LOVELY!
prancing around in the gardens!
S showing his love for agapanthas. (he hates them with a vengeance)
aww.
After a short stroll, we sat down by our full glass window seat and enjoyed a spectacular meal as we watched the sun set, over some truly lovely conversation.
S' entree - charcuterie
my entree - oysters NOMNOMNOM
side dishes - potatoes and heavenly mushrooms
my main - the delicious duck
S chose the steak. It. Was. Amazing.
Let me just tell you. I’m no food critic, but I’m pretty well versed at the fine dining thing, and that steak, I’m still thinking about it. It wasn’t as good as my out of body Rockpool experience, but it was certainly VERY high on my list of perfect steaks I’ve eaten. I almost wrestled S for his meal but that’s not what ladies do in nice restaurants.
I kicked him in the shin under the table instead until he let me have more bites.
More gratuitous photo taking because I brought the good camera and I was determined to get better with it.
oh HAI HANDSOME MAN *shy smile*
S is getting better with the camera too!
So pleased that S loved the first outfit I put on for this weekend away – a bloody awesome steal too at AUD$10 from Kuala Lumpur. So very pleasing and comfortable (read: baggy) enough for big meals. 
And lastly:
what's not to love about a man who wants to spoil you all weekend and all your life?!
Salix Restaurant (not the bistro) was INCREDIBLY pleasing and such a gorgeous way to start the weekend after the hustle and bustle of driving up after work. Watching the sun set over great wines, luscious food and in beautiful greenery was just sublime, especially with wonderful conversation and date night excitement. HIGHLY recommended.
Go. YOU MUST GO.
And order the steak. That’s what I’ll be getting next time!
Details:
166 Balnarring Road, Merricks North 3926
Victoria, Australia (Melway Ref. 162 H9)
Salix Restaurant
12noon – 3pm daily; 6pm – 11pm Friday and Saturday
ph. 03 5989 7640
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the mornington on tanti hotel
A couple of weeks ago, S and I booked in some R&R over a weekend in Mornington to take advantage of the great weather.
We stayed at the Mornington on Tanti, which we chose mostly because it was the only decent option available at our last minute travel booking. It turned out to be truly delightful despite its outward appearance of being a sportsbar/bottle shop – the hotel section was gorgeously renovated, very quiet and classy, and really quite the haven you want on a weekend away!
our gorgeous room with a gorgeous lounging man
I also liked that it was incredibly central – Mornington town centre was a 3 minute drive away, which made for easy breakfast options and being close to convenience stores and supermarkets.
We got a spa suite – which had a lovely large bathtub (nothing worse than a tiny tub) and an impressively clean and spacious bathroom in general.
Overall, there are certainly more romantic wineries and places to stay in Mornington – but S and I were really happy with our accomodation choice because it gave us drives to wineries to chat over, and a quiet, gorgeous room with a lovely comfortable bed to chill out on in the evenings when we retired at 9pm each night.
Would we recommend it? Absolutely. You could do a lot worse for that price – and since Mornington can get pricey when you’re looking at 4star and above accomodation, we felt that it was great value whilst staying incredibly comfortably.
When we were in that neck of the woods, we squeezed in an amazing amount of activity in just 2 days, as S and I tend to do, whist finding it incredibly relaxing, and I’m looking forward to all the posts I’ve got lined up about it so I can reflect on some wonderful summer memories instead of dwelling on feeling homesick in this holiday season!
Read Moreseason’s greetingments
Happy holidays everyone, albeit a little belatedly! I hope everyone who stops by here had a wonderful silly season with plenty of great family and friends time, some relaxing, and soul food, whatever form those may take for you!
Christmas seems to have been an emotional time for many this year, with the horrible weather here in Melbourne affecting homes and cars of many that I know. However what has really affected me more is the sad family news received by a friend, and some from my own family back in Singapore. If you have had a week of feeling down at a time when everyone is celebrating – don’t feel alone. There’s been a few of us this time round.
Thankfully, I was surrounded by S’s beautiful family who plied me with lots of support and distraction, and though I’m still feeling horribly homesick for Singapore and my own family, it’s not been entirely unbearable.
Christmas with S and his gorgeous mum (and our GIANT tree!)
So anyway, back to the sentiment of this post – of wishing all of you a very happy new year, of counting our blessings, and of remembering to express to your own loved ones at this time of year that you truly care for them.
xx
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