24 November 2008
Sue Dyson & Roger McShane
95 Rosevears Drive, Rosevears (north of Launceston), Tasmania, Australia.
+61 3 6330 2388.
The outdoor terrace at Daniel Alps commands majestic views across the vineyards to the middle reaches of the Tamar River beyond. This is a perfect place to relax and enjoy one of Tasmania’s best lunches. The big attraction for astute food lovers is the seasonal food Daniel Alps sources from surrounding farms and suppliers, especially the delicious herbs and tiny vegetables from nearby Yorktown Organics. He has good produce to work with all year round, but there’s an absolute abundance in summer, with Yorktown Organics’ meaty heirloom tomatoes a particular treat. These dishes are matched to the Kreglinger Estate, Pipers Brook and Ninth Island wines, some of which are made from grapes that grow metres from the terrace. You might graze on a vineyard platter or try a more substantial dish featuring local lamb or chicken. Whatever you choose, it will be a perfect fit with the surroundings.
Open: lunch daily. Licensed. Mains $32.
Source: Qantas The Australian Way December 2008
Sunday lunches go with Sunday drives and, just a 20-minute drive north of Launceston in a picture-perfect riverside setting, Daniel Alps’ eponymous restaurant is an obvious choice. Alps has a close relationship with Yorktown Organics, a nearby organic vegetable farm, which gives him access to fresh produce. He uses it to prepare classic, satisfying dishes such as Spring Bay mussels with basil cream, slow-roasted trevalla with cherry tomatoes, and roasted venison with glazed dutch carrots. Even the sides (always herbed roasted potatoes as well as a seasonal dish such as green beans with basil) are appropriately delicious.
Open: lunch daily. Licensed. Mains $34.
Source: Qantas The Australian Way March 2010