God bless Victoria. No matter where you are, there's always a craft beer brewery nearby. In this…read morecase it was in the bush in the middle of Red Hill. And I mean true-blue bush - tractors, a shed and a lot of blokes talking shop. While I am not certain that you can actually do a brewery tour here (there doesn't seem to be many staff) the bar area of the Red Hill Brewery is a lovely place to stop for a paddle or two. I tried a paddle of four of their freshly brewed beers and with the exception of one (their Temptation golden ale was a bit too fruity for my palate) loved all of them. We sat out on their lovely deck, admired the giant smoker on the side and cheekily eavesdropped on some of the local conversations. We left and couldn't help ourselves... we bought a bunch of takeaways. Their Cherry Saison is currently chilling in my fridge and I plan to sip on it in just a few short hours. This would be a fun place to get rowdy with the locals on a Saturday night and if you're in the area, it would be very silly of you to not stop by.

Red Hill Brewery's beers are some of our favourite hand crafted ales. I love them all from the…read moreBelgian style to more Germanic brews, to stout. And one of the things I like about coming here is that in addition to their usual delicious range are seasonal speciality brews. If you're interested in trying a selection of their beers, try a tasting paddle. The brewery is a small operation run by husband and wife team David and Karen Golding. It's an added bonus that their hop garden and bar are located in a beautiful part of the Mornington Peninsula, surrounded by wineries and farms. This makes a visit even more of a pleasure. You don't have to be a beer lover to stop in here, the cafe food is beer friendly and not typical of peninsula venues, featuring interesting locally sourced food, from snacks to grazing plates or something more substantial. If you prefer wine or cider to beer you're still bound to find something to please. Sit out on the deck and unwind or at certain times of the year you can also take one of their beer appreciation sessions/brewery tours. When we were there last a small wedding party dropped in late afternoon while the bride and groom were having their photos taken nearby - what a great idea! The cafe can get really popular for lunch in Summer so be prepared to wait if you are a large group with kids, they'll do their best but it's not a huge venue. I don't live nearby, but thankfully their beer is also available at selected venues in Melbourne. So coming to Red Hill Brewery still remains a special treat for me.

It was the perfect half day mini break. The morning started crisp and sunny, with heat forecast for…read morethe afternoon, so we packed our bathers and set off for lunch by the beach. An hour's drive later the clear aqua waters of Dromana beach were to our right and a little further along we found a lighthouse, and opposite a white and blue weatherboard beach house set behind a small garden. This is where you find Saltwater Bistro at McCrae Beach Pavillion. To one side is a café with generous outdoor seating, where breakfast and casual lunches are served in the holidays and on weekends, but we were headed to the bistro on the other side, fronted by garden. I first met Saltwater's chef Stacy Thompson a few years ago when he was at Steer Bar & Grill at the Olsen Art Hotel. Before that he had left his native NZ for the UK and then a stint in Sao Paolo, Brazil. I knew how long and fired his enthusiasm is for cooking, his interest in sourcing local boutique produce and his personally high standards. So I kept up with his moves. He arrived at the McCrae Pavilion around 6 months ago. The bistro has had time to hit its stride and was doing a healthy number of covers over the Summer all based on word of mouth, not PR. When we were there couples and ladies in mumu's, fresh up from their nearby beach bathing boxes were grabbing a quick bite in the café and the bistro crowd were favouring the shady veranda and seats closest to the open French doors looking across the front garden. The vaguely French, shabby-chic beach house aesthetic in cool blues sets you instantly at ease. The kitchen pass can be seen from the room and the bar sits alongside. Long banquettes and clustered tables make this also a good function space, hence their wedding package with permits for beach weddings. This is not a locale where modern gastronomy is at home, so the menu is small but a well considered exploration of bistro dishes, and Victorian boutique produce makes an appearance as I would expect. The selection has been in place a while, so our lovely waitress filled us in on seasonal updates and specials. Likewise the wine and cocktail selection is small and well considered. My McCrae Seabreeze cocktail was an ideal start. Happily wines by the glass were poured at the table, a pet peeve of mine. One observation - while there are plenty of wines from the region, I would have liked to have seen some of Mornington Peninsula's own excellent craft beers and boutique ciders listed. I found artisan skills and attention to detail in a terrine that Chef has been perfecting the recipe for for 2 years, house smoked salmon using three kinds of wood chips, milk soaked eggplant and smoky babaganoush with hazelnut and red peppers. Likewise attention to detail in local heirloom apples, in produce from farmers who are providing Stacy with mini veggies, micro herbs and flowers that are sourced for flavour not just looks. Boutique items I liked included house pickled vegetables, Hart Olives and Boatshed Cheeses, and yes there is also good bread and olive oil. Importantly for the holiday population in the neighborhood at peak season, there is a kids menu too. Stacy's a dad, so his fish fingers, alphabet soup with toasties appear with a slider and mini portions of sides are available too. I honestly enjoyed everything we tried. It knocked the disappointing regional 'Good Food Guide' hatted venue I ate at recently out of the ball park for technique, produce and gentle country service. And knowing Stacy, even if he hadn't known I was there, it would have been the same. Have a look at my photos to see the dishes we had. If you're there on a hot day do what we did - go for a swim in the stunningly clear water at the beach over the road afterwards, shake the meal down and relax into your food coma on the warm, soft pale sand before heading home. You will feel nurtured, relaxed and happy....and perhaps even start to wonder if you could move there?

This is a very fun place to do a tasting. Everyone was helpful and gracious and it was a beautiful…read moreplace with great ambiance and food available.

Foxey's Hangout is simply stunning and an absolute must when travelling through the Red Hill area -…read morethe view alone should be enough to get you there! We popped in on a Friday afternoon and the place was pumping, surprising for a week day! The service was fast and efficient and while we didn't get a seat outside on the deck, we got one right in the window so were still able to take in the breathtaking hilly views of the Red Hill country side. Foxey's offers wine tastings if you are on a cheeky tour, otherwise you can grab some simply yet delicious nosh to accompany your glass of wine, with all menu items costing $12. We ordered: + Bread with olive oil and pistachio spice + Mushroom sausage rolls + BBQ quail The sausage rolls were truly a standout and an absolute must if you visit. A lot of the wine at Foxey's is award winning. Best ask the friendly staff what might go best dependent on the flavours you like.

We shared a Garlic Bread, which was tasty because it melted in our mouths but I got a Porterhouse…read moreSteak but it was just so tuff I couldn't cut it so the manager gave me a refund but I would avoid this hotel since the chef can't even cook properly.

This place is great for good cold beer and a catch up over a drink of your choice. Unfortunately…read morethe food is less impressive. Still a great environment.

Lovely restaurant to dine with friends and families. I have done a few visits with friends we all…read moreloved it. There's a solo singer that entertains your evening while you enjoy chatting with friends. Food wise, absolutely delicious. Atmosphere? Very comfy and friendly staff

The space is lovely and welcoming. The staff are friendly and helpful. It was very busy but they…read morehandled it superbly. Most of the menu is share platters and tapas style food. The fish and chips were excellent. Just about as good as you can do them, I reckon. The ham and cheese croquettes with red pepper sauce were also terrific together with the wombok salad which was fresh and zesty. A really good local restaurant. A very sound option in this area.

Came through to McDaid's this past Friday night and these nachos were the absolute MVP of the…read moreevening. ​If you're looking for a great "pub style" nachos, this is the spot. They serve them up in a heavy cast-iron skillet, which kept everything hot while we listened to the live karaoke. ​The Highlights: ​Massive Portions: These are definitely built for sharing. The toppings-to-chip ratio is elite--no "dry chips" at the bottom here. ​Fresh Toppings: I was impressed by the massive scoop of thick sour cream and the chunky guacamole. They don't hold back on the cilantro either, which added a great fresh hit. ​The Crunch: Even with the mountain of cheese and salsa, the chips stayed crunchy in the skillet. ​Perfect salty fuel for a few pints of Guinness. If you're in Rosebud and want a solid Friday night vibe with food that actually fills you up, you can't go wrong here. The staff were amazing, friendly and well informed. ​Pro Tip: Get there early on Fridays if you want a good table near the music! Put down a song with the karaoke host P.K