Phoenix Farm
Gorgeous Lunch Spot
We were very lucky to be invited to lunch at Phoenix Farm by some dear friends who wanted to share this delightful gem with us. They thought we would enjoy the beautiful setting, extensive kitchen garden and delicious food. They were absolutely right!
Phoenix Farm is located at Boomer Bay, near Marion Bay in Tasmania. The farm has a beautiful outlook over the water and guests are able to wander through the gardens at their leisure. We were impressed with the wide range of plants and how they seemed to be unscathed by the local wildlife - an ongoing battle for us in our own garden. The garden is lush and full of colour. We were very impressed.
There were four of us dining and we were seated in a beautiful room with an abundance of windows to make the most of the view of the gardens. There are a number of rooms and the hosts were very mindful of organising seating to allow for privacy and Covid restrictions.
The service was warm and welcoming throughout our experience and we were interested to hear about the small but very tasty-sounding menu. Seafood was a highlight of the menu and was offered in a number of tempting ways. Our lovely host also offered options for how it was cooked such as pan fried rather than battered and fried. While we mused over the menu, we ordered a bottle of Bream Creek sparkling wine to start - it was crisp, dry and delicious. The drinks list was short and sweet, in keeping with the food menu, and highlighted Tassie wineries. We stayed local and ordered Bream Creek wines throughout the meal. As many were by the glass, we could match the wine we wanted with our meals.
John was keen to try the fish soup entree, which our host told us was in a French style. This piqued our interest even more so we all decided to order - two bowls and four spoons. It was absolutely delicious - full of flavour and umami. The tomato and saffron base was rich and savoury and filled with beautiful, fresh seafood - mussels, prawns and white fish. This matched the bubbles very well.
The soup was served with a delicious herb damper.
Our lamb was tender and tasty. The vegetables were cooked perfectly and served with sauces and toppings to complement their flavours - lemon with the cauliflower, cheese with the broccoli, parsley with the potato. The gravy once again had a depth of flavour which spoke of the chef's talents and experiences cooking around the world. A glass of the Bream Creek Cabernet Merlot went beautifully with the lamb as it was smooth, well rounded and full of flavour.
The seafood looked amazing and was fresh and cooked to be moist and full of juicy flavour. It was impressive to note that the accompanying vegetables were different to those with the lamb and were fresh and al dente in texture. A glass of the Bream Creek Riesling matched the fish beautifully.
The dessert menu offered three tempting delights - tiramisu, lemon tart or pear and apple cake. Three of us couldn't go past the lemon tart and the fourth chose the cake. The lemon tart was citrusy and tangy. It had a thin crust and a light yet flavourful filling. It was all a citrus tart should be!! The cake looked delicious too. Again servings were generous and came with cream and ice cream. We were offered coffee or tea but declined as we were all feeling extremely content.
Phoenix Farm is all wheelchair accessible with a large, gently sloping ramp up to the door, paths through the gardens, an accessible bathroom and the instructions to 'move what you want' on arrival to our table. The staff were very helpful and clearly keen for everyone to enjoy the beautiful offerings. We will certainly return - we loved the whole experience! The story behind the farm and the name are fascinating and the hosts will be happy to relay this when you visit. They should feel very proud of their achievements and gritty determination.
Phoenix farm website:
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