The Beautiful Life: Margaret River Eats

What foodie blog would be complete without an entry on food? This time round I want to thank the wifey for whipping up at least two tantalizing meals a day, with the simple ingredients we managed to source. And she's supposed to be on holiday too!

This year we had a taste of restaurants that are famed around this region.

Clairault Streicker Estate

First up, lunch at Clairault Streicker Estate. I love their specialty of the day cheese bread. Don't be fooled by the platter for "two". It can easily feed a battalion (okay, not a battalion; but it definitely takes more than two to finish it).

Rose, light and refreshing.
As good as Ruinart from France.

Yup, that's the sharing platter of battered prawns,

pulled pork fillets, mushroom tart, and grilled asparagus.

It was all so good! The salmon with risotto was smoked to perfection;

with just a hint of ash and not too salty.

What made them really stand out was the service. The lil muchkin decided to throw a fit. What do you know, the staff came over with a colouring book and colour pencils. From the half finished pages, you can tell it's not the first time they had to deal with unruly children. Thumbs up!

Simmo's Ice Creamery

I've mentioned this in the previous entry, but this deserves a second mention. We drove up the thirty odd kilometres the very next day to have another go at it. Excellent ice-cream. It was a challenge to keep the giant scoop from dripping over. Great place for kids to release their pent up energy.

Don't let her sullen expression fool you.
Mine's one unique kid who only wants the cone
without the ice-cream. And she got one for free.

Paul's Rump Steak

Also available in Singapore at a very high price.

Olio Bello

Olio Bello is known as much for its organic olive oil products as its lakeside venue for glamping. It also hosts a restaurant with excellent food. We had grilled fish, strawberry salad (seasonal) and venison pizza. I especially enjoyed the salad. The sweetness of strawberries was an excellent contrast to the tartness of rocket leaves, resulting in a burst of freshness on your palate.

Dad's usually not a fan of Italian food, but
he took a few servings of this venison pizza.

The lil muchkin's favourite, fresh strawberries.

Miki's Open Kitchen

Located right smack in town, this is the place to see and be seen. It supposedly serves some of the best Japanese food around. No doubt the offerings were exotic and the food memorable, I feel it shouldn't command the price tag that came with it. At AUD85 per person, I expect to be surpised and tantalized. What I enjoyed most was the salmon shabu shabu. Points awarded for the showmanship, but I've had better in Singapore.

Exceptional service. By far the most expensive meal we've had here so far. Verdict: skip this one and save the cash.

Cheeky Monkey Brewery and Cidery

No pics of food but if you happen to pass by, drop in for the wings and fish and chips. The wifey originally intended to skip this place, but she was glad we were here. Excellent place to chill and have a beer, while taking in the sight of the lake and the vineyards beyond.

Capri Restaurant

Although strictly not located in Margaret River, I feel it deserves a mention. This is the third time in two years we are here. We were just in time to secure a lunch table; that means joining the queue before the restaurant opens at noon. Reservations are needed during dinner as it frequently maxes out its capacity. We purposely made a detour to Frementle to give our parents a last good meal before the flight back to Singapore. You can never go wrong here.