Swan Valley

Daryl's life group today had an outing in the Swan Valley and I managed to get an invite out to join them for lunch at Riverbank Estate. I haven't explored much of the Swan Valley besides heading to Sandalford for a concert last year and the compulsory visit to the Margaret River Chocolate Factory when we are entertaining overseas guests. So this time around we were having a late lunch at Riverbank Estate. I'd never heard of this place but it was a place that Dee and Phe had been to previously and they rated it. There are a few ppl who I value their culinary palate and Dee and Phe are two who are on my list. I joined the rest of the guys at the Estate just in time for lunch as they had headed in to the Swan Valley earlier to look around more.

We were seated outside under a large verandah overlooking the vineyard which was great since it was a clear spring day to be outside enjoying great company and of course food and wine!!!

We started off with a chef's tasting plate which when it came out had a large assortment of prawns, sardines, fish, prosciutto, ham hock terrine and marinated olives. Then on to the mains where there was a majority of double cooked pork belly. Luckily not everyone on the table ordered the same thing and there was also a mushroom stack pie, quail and also a steak. The food was presented soo well and it tasted AWESOME. It's food I would rate and wouldn't mind driving all that way to eat again. Well after the mains we still had room for dessert and we weren't disappointed with a ooey gooey chocolate fondant, poached pear with bailey's parfait, home made chocolate cookie and pralines ice cream and a meringue was what we ordered to finish off the meal. After the meal and so as to not fall asleep we headed over to the Mondo nougat factory to get some sugary goodness.

All in all it was nice way to spend the arvo with great company, conversations filled with many funny moments and topped off with great food!!!