RACV TRAVEL - 18 OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN REGIONAL VICTORIA

The Garden Room at Blackwood Ridge, Blackwood

Pull up a chair overlooking the lake and the extensive manicured gardens at Blackwood Ridge. The innovative restaurant is the nexus of this stunning five-acre oasis, once a derelict strawberry farm, where seasonality and locality have inspired the paddock-to-plate ethos behind the creative, modern Australian menu.

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BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS TV - MELISSA KING VISITS ‘BLACKWOOD RIDGE GARDENS’

 Blackwood Ridge, Blackwood

Melissa visits Blackwood Ridge in the Macedon Ranges-Daylesford region of Victoria, just over an hour Northwest of Melbourne. With over five-acres, the property features a restaurant and a spectacular collection of garden rooms. A deep dive with the owners reveals exactly what they’re growing during Autumn and Melissa even gets a taste-test of the edible flowers.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS MAGAZINE - MAY 2023 - MAKE AUTUMN AWESOME ‘BLACKWOOD RIDGE GARDENS’

 Blackwood Ridge, Blackwood

You may as associate autumn with brilliant burnt coloured foliage floating to the ground to create a kaleidoscope carpet, but the season also sees a surge of the spirited, flowering plants playing up the softer seasonal light before winter puts them all to bed. Blackwood Restaurant and Gardens located to the Northwest of Melbourne , shows you how to steal the march on spring and summer and be more glorious in a gentler glow.

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AGFG - CHEFS HATS AWARDS 2023 ‘BLACKWOOD RIDGE’

 Blackwood Ridge, Blackwood

Awarded for the first time in 2023.

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OFF THE GRID ‘BLACKWOOD RIDGE’ DAYLESFORD MACEDON LIFE MAGAZINE

 Blackwood Ridge, Blackwood

Set in the Wombat State Forest, Blackwood Ridge featuring a modern restaurant nestled with almost 360-degree views of their productive kitchen garden. It is an oasis amidst the tall eucalypt forest.

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FROM THE KITCHEN TO HORTICULTURE AND BACK – CHEF CHAT WITH BLACKWOOD RIDGE’S JAMES PETHYBRIDGE.

 Blackwood Ridge, Blackwood

Fun and adventurous food showcasing unique garden ingredients are the hallmark of Blackwood Ridge Head Chef James Pethybridge.
 
Growing up in the Central Victorian country town of Kyneton, James’ first job was as a kitchen hand at the age of 14, leading to an apprenticeship at a local bistro. After working in the area for several years once qualifying, he gave it all up to work in horticulture, running plant nurseries.
 
"This gave me the knowledge and intense interest in growing my own produce leading to the creation of Blackwood Ridge. After a few years, we opened a restaurant and eventually closed the nursery to focus on the farm-based restaurant and gardens,” he tells AGFG.
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4 WAYS TO DO A DIGITAL DETOX ‘DAYLESFORD MACEDON LIFE’ MAGAZINE

 Blackwood Ridge, Blackwood

Where to enjoy a relaxing tech-free meal: 

  • Blackwood Ridge: savour the manicured gardens before enjoying a meal in the off-grid restaurant. It doesn’t get fresher than this, with produce grown onsite. 
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RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHER ‘SIMON GRIFFITHS’ @ BLACKWOOD RIDGE

 Blackwood Ridge, Blackwood

We commissioned the renowned Photographer ’Simon Griffith’s’ for a shoot in early March 2023, Simon bringing his artistic touch to ‘Blackwood Ridge’ as he has done for ‘Paul Bangay and Annie Smithers’

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AUTUMN IS OUR FAVOURITE COLOUR ‘BLACKWOOD RIDGE’ DAYLESFORD MACEDON LIFE MAGAZINE

 Blackwood Ridge, Blackwood

Drive down a winding forest road through the tall eucalypts of the Wombat Forest, and as the forest opens, you’ll find the Plantsman’s Garden at Blackwood Ridge This carefully landscaped and manicured two-acre garden  boasts an incredible collection of ornamentals, exotic and rare garden planttsBlackwood Ridge is the only 100% completely off-grid restaurant in Victoria – a great place to unwind, plan your dream garden and share lunch while enjoying a local wine or beer.

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