salix @ willow creek, mornington peninsula

a couple of weeks back i headed down to mornington peninsula for the first time and while the wineries don’t hold a candle to margaret river’s, our lunch at salix (willow creek vineyard, 166 balnarring road, merricks north 03 5989 7448) was pretty damn impressive.

when we asked for a table the waiter informed us that they were working off a 2 course set meal for $50, where you chose either an entree and main or main and dessert. this style of dining doesn’t really work well for me and k, because ideally you’d share an entree and dessert with your partner and be able to enjoy what is essentially a 3 course meal. however the day that k and i choose entrees and desserts that match each other’s picks is the day cows start producing chocolate milk. this time was no different and so we both ordered an entree and a main each. we were treated to some lovely plump olives and freshly baked bread rolls while we waited.

apologies for not taking a picture of my own entree, trout done two ways. there was a beautiful, slightly spicy crispy confit cake with white gazpacho as well as a Woodbridge smoked trout with a herb salad. perfection. but wait til you see k’s seared scallops with jerusalem artichokes, ruby grapefruit & ginger dressing and watercress.all photos stolen from PT’s camera, thanks!

don’t you just want to pop a juicy scallop in your mouth??? i definitely do! and because i was a bit slack and didn’t manage to take a shot of my own entree i’ll show you another close up of those amazing scallops…

argh. i just ate dinner and i’m still hungry.

the only thing i’d change about the dish was the ginger dressing, which i found slightly overpowering. but you don’t need anything to accompany those scallops anyway.

k ordered a rare chargrilled eye fillet, pommes Anna (a sliced potato cake concoction), duck liver pate and jus.

i went for the rabbit two ways as well (pretty clear i go for variety!). the first was a roasted saddle and leg rillette with a wild weed and fetta parcel, cauliflower puree and game jus.

k didn’t end up eating his duck liver pate so it became a fantastic accompaniment for the weed and fetta parcel! i am so developing a taste for liver pate at the moment. the saddle was okay but the rillette actually went better with the cauliflower and jus.

while i slightly regret not being able to sample the chocolate and turkish delight mousse (!!!) with balnarring moscato jelly and honey pastry (!!!!!) i think that the trout and scallop entrees pretty much made up for it. but if you can finish it, a third course sets you back another $15.