If fine food and wine are on your getaway menu, then we’ve found a great escape for you in the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula is a mecca for foodies, with wineries, restaurants, markets, art galleries, boutiques and beautiful gardens easily accessible and just one hour from Melbourne.
Georges Culinary Retreat has been conceived to create a unique Australian version of the live-in cooking schools made popular in Italy and France. Throughout the year, Georges’ run weekend cooking classes with top chefs, combined with degustation dinners, wine tastings and trips to farm gates. However, if cooking classes aren’t your thing or time doesn’t permit, relax and use Georges as your base for exploring the peninsula.
We arrive at Georges Boutique Bed & Breakfast Culinary Retreat, perched high on Arthurs Seat affording spectacular views of Port Phillip Bay and are immediately greeted by gracious host Peter and escorted to our room. Georges features four beautifully appointed suites, three on the upper level and one on the lower level. The lower level is also home to the lounge, dining area and small wine bar, bursting with excellent local wines to quaff by the open fire in winter.
The three upstairs rooms are beautifully appointed, incredibly spacious with king size bed and comfy couches inviting you to curl up and take in the stunning views of the bay. Each suite has a private balcony and our tip - upgrade to the premium suite for your own fireplace. On my visit, a group attending a wedding occupies the upper level rooms and we manage to miss them completely, making it feel like we have the whole retreat indulgently to ourselves.
The lower level room, while smaller and without the views is no less luxurious and means you can pad out to the bar and lounge at any time with ease. Cleverly designed, the suite features an enormous king size bed, dining table for two and a row of wardrobes inviting you to move right in. Décor is contemporary (no death by doily bed & breakfast here) with a colour palette of red and burnt orange and smattering of colourful artworks available for purchase. There are bright red mugs perched on the table for your T2 tea tempting you to settle in with the food-focused reading material including Mornington Peninsula’s ‘Produce to Platter’ thoughtfully left for your perusal. The bathroom is all white and grey tiled simplicity with rain head shower and luxurious Molton Brown amenities. If you’re having a quiet night in there is a TV, DVD and access to a mammoth movie collection.
We are not here for a quiet night in however; we’re here to experience Mornington Peninsula’s finest restaurant - Ten Minutes by Tractor, which is…well ten minutes from Georges. It’s a pleasure to dine at this welcoming, comfortable space where hospitality rules, led by a team of savvy service professionals. The large picture windows overlooking rows of vines are a peaceful view as we sip Champagne and peruse the menu. Of the courses we indulged the highlight of the dining experience was definitely the roasted quail with spiced rhubarb, black rice, charred onion and macadamia nuts. Our only complaint is that meals came out rather efficiently and we would have liked to linger longer with a glass of wine matched to each course.
Next morning, we’re up early for breakfast, so no sight of our fellow guests, likely sleeping off post-wedding hangovers. We’re presented with an extensive a la carte menu including items such as George’s Thick Pancakes, Toasted Organic Muesli and I opt for an indulgent French Omelette – soft centred, folded omelette filled with tasty cheese, mushrooms and fresh garden herbs which is delicious, particularly with a side of locally made beetroot relish. Pete makes a mean coffee using Schibello beans and there’s T2 tea if you prefer. As Georges’ is a contemporary take on a bed & breakfast they’ve moved away from daily newspapers, instead guests can catch up on all the news on the mini iPad provided.
Georges’ has some exciting plans for more hosted dinners and we look forward to a return visit for a long weekend of sumptuous meals and great hosting. Georges’ is a cosy culinary retreat with warm hospitality, central to the region’s best food and wine offerings and makes the perfect base for a gourmet getaway.
Georges Boutique B&B Culinary Retreat, 776 Arthurs Seat Road, Arthurs Seat from $295 per night.
The writer was a guest of Georges Culinary Retreat.You Might Also Like: Top 10 Gourmet Getaways
