Hi everyone,
Well I can't quite believe I'm back at work already, those 2 weeks have just flown by. We had an eventful time - hubby had a cycling accident with a kangaroo and came off second best - broken collarbone which needed to be plated! So he's had surgery and is healing really well now. He's mastering the use of his left hand which I keep telling him is great for his brain integration ... it doesn't seem to motivate him for some reason! The day after his accident my Nanna in NZ passed away which was expected but still a lot to process in one weekend. Thanks to technology I was able to watch the funeral service online which really helped with working through the grief.
Amongst all of that we still managed to get away to Port Elliot for 3 nights. We've been there before but never stayed overnight and we had such a great time I wanted to share my highlights with you incase you are tempted to go - even for a day trip.
I can highly recommend the Brooklands Heritage B & B - it's set on a farm with lovely gardens around the cottage and very private outdoor sitting areas. They leave full breakfast provisions in the kitchen and it's only a 5-10 min drive into Port Elliot for shopping and eating so no need to cook :) Ignore the outdated website - have a look on the Stayz website for better photos but book it direct as it's cheaper. It is an old stone cottage with plenty of character and lots of little extras like port, chocolates and marshmallows to toast on the log fire!
We had lunch one day at Pipi at Middleton. A great little cafe with everything from cold pressed juices to wine and plenty of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. A big supporter of local produce which is always wonderful to see. They had some beautiful looking sweet treats in the fridge too but I was too full to try them...ahhhh well I'll just have to go back.
Flying Fish Cafe is a bit of an institution in Port Elliot - I knew it had a great reputation but was unsure how they would go for a vegetarian who's also allergic to garlic....answer - fantastic! They offered a Malaysian broth bowl with tofu for vegetarians and were able to turn it into a delicious stirfry without the garlic for me. Winner winner chicken dinner, well no, obviously no chicken for me but they did also offer chicken and steak so it's not all seafood. And of course you get a brilliant view - even if you sit at the back there is a mirrored wall so you get to see the sea too!
Hotel Elliot is a lovely family friendly pub with great food - including pizzas. They offer gluten-free bases and again were able to adapt to no garlic for me. We ordered a pizza each (and a Guinness mmmmm) and there was plenty leftover for us to take home for lunch the next day. Simple, delicious and really friendly service even with Miss Awkward over here.
Our final dinner was at the Blues Restaurant in Middleton. It was recommended by our B & B but I was a bit unsure as most of the photos on the website were of the restaurant set up for functions or weddings. However when we arrived it was a lovely interior and even though it was a large space it was set up so it didn't feel cavernous. It was very popular even for a Wednesday night so it had a good buzz. Again the menu and the staff were great and very capable of adapting to dietary requirements. I would definitely go back :)
So we definitely ate our way around Port Elliot and Middleton and enjoyed every bite of it. We also nosed around the shops and I couldn't resist a pair of green shoes from Elliot & Me!
Overall a great place to get away for a few days and so close to the city (even closer if you live near McLaren Vale!) - leave home at a leisurely 9am and you'll be there for coffee. We are so lucky to live here with so many wonderful places to visit - get out there and enjoy them :)
Happy eating your way around SA,
Carla :)
