Eat, drink, browse and be merry at Stonefields Open Garden

The stunning garden is not the only drawcard to Paul Bangay’s Stonefields Open Garden on 17 and 18 November, the major fundraiser for the Kitchen Garden Foundation.

As well as exploring seven acres of breathtaking gardens, guests can enjoy local food and beverages on the lawn and browse unique items in the vibrant Community Market.

Dele will be serving up tasty pasties, frittatas and salads using local and ethically sourced produce.  Café Sidra will be offering delicious lunchboxes featuring poached chicken sandwiches and roasted vegetable baguettes – gluten-free options and glasses of 321 Heritage Cider will also be available.

In the cheese marquee, guests can select a platter of cheeses from Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese, L’Artisan Cheese and Shaw River Buffalo Cheese, to be enjoyed with a glass of wine from De Bortoli or Wombat Forest Wines.

Those looking for caffeine-free and alcohol-free thirst quenchers can enjoy refreshing drinks from Daylesford & Hepburn Mineral Springs Co.

Icecream Social will be on-site in their 1980s ice-cream van, serving up a range churned from the best local and backyard produce. Flavours will include quince and brown butter, apple crumble and olive oil and thyme, rosemary brulee and hard cider sorbet.

Renowned local chef Annie Smithers, from Trentham’s du Fermier, will be cooking up her famous scones for the weekend, to be served with jam (made with berries from Annie’s garden!) and cream.

Rafael’s Coffee will be serving brews made with their freshly roasted beans, as well as cold-filtered ice coffee and locally produced chai. Oscar Vintage Coffee Van will also be at hand to satisfy caffeine cravings, serving up fair trade coffee, Lindt hot chocolates, teas and treats from their cute restored 1960s caravan.

With food and beverage needs sated, visitors to Stonefields Open Garden can browse the vibrant Community Market for unique items to treat themselves, or buy as gifts.

There will be the chance to buy some of the rare plants seen in the Stonefields garden from Drewitts Bulbs, hellebore specialists Post Office Farm Nursery,  The Diggers Club and Antique Perennials. And F.D. Ryan will be selling their traditional Australian-made garden tools.

Visitors to the Community Market can also shop for a range of beautiful jewellery, leather bags, wallets, jewellery, sunglasses, other accessories, apparel and footwear from Elk.

Over in the book-signing marquee there will be a full catalogue of Stephanie Alexander and Paul Bangay’s books for sale, with Stephanie and Paul on hand all weekend to sign them.

Guests at the open garden weekend will also be able to find out more about ULR Jaguar Land Rover, sponsors of the Premium Car Park, and Ross Garden Tours, sponsors of the weekend’s private tours with Paul Bangay.

• Paul Bangay’s Stonefields Open Garden is from 10 am–6 pm on 17 and 18 November, near Daylesford.  Click here for tickets and more information.