April 11th, 2021New dinner menu on offer at Chaplin’s
It’s so good to get back to our great state’s favourite pastime of heading out to sample quality food and beverages. We shucked our lockdown trackies in favour of our (now slightly dusty) evening wear and made the short but beautiful forest-laden drive from Daylesford to Trentham.
The first building you see coming into the main drag is the stately little building that houses one of my favourite cafes – now with a bar menu on Monday nights, Chaplin’s. The name’s a dead giveaway. The theme throughout is that of Charlie Chaplin’s quirk and humour, carried in spades by its proprietor Mel Thomas. (That’s Mel, below right, in Chaplin mode.)
I’ve spent decades working in the hospitality industry and Mel’s a great owner/operator. Her customer focus and eye for detail; from the art throughout to the presentation of the delicious fare, ambient lighting and the cleanliness of the amenities, is just so enjoyable and comforting after living in relative isolation.
Enough preamble, on to the main event, the food.
Juliet and I weren’t ravenous so we shared an entree of grilled saganaki with crisp leaves and pickled walnut, while situated in a comfy banquette. As a long-term lover of saganaki, the addition of pickled walnut was a revelation to Juliet and me.
Acidity has always been the key to cutting through the fats in the cheese, so why not use pickle as the balancer? Then there’s the earthiness of the walnut for an added dimension. Mel may not have invented this dish, but it was a first for me and I’ll be back for more.
On to mains. Mel’s partner crafts some excellent vegan meat alternatives and Juliet was keen to try the vegan beef patty with avocado, tomato, red onion, bio cheese and spicy orange mayo, on a vegan brioche. Not being vegan ourselves, we approached with unfounded caution. Until now, no-one’s nailed the texture of meat for me but this was bang on. Honestly, biting into it for the first time was a little surreal. If you’re a vegan, this is the Monday night dining spot for you without a doubt.
For myself, I’m always up for a good seafood chowder. This is so rarely on the menu in our neck of the woods, I had to try it. The seafood was fresh and not overpowering, with plenty of variety. The soup was the hero (as it should be), with its sweetness derived more from whole orange than lemon. This was another delightful first for me, and I was left impressed and satisfied. With entrees from $14 and mains from around $21 to $25 for the most part, it’s very reasonable.
Drinks. We were both in the mood for an ale, and Little Creatures brewery is a reliable go-to.
We shared a plum torte for dessert. Perfection. A caramelised gluten-free base and plump local plums won our hearts at $9.50. I had one of Mel’s excellent espressos while Juliet loved her tea.
Bookings are preferred, and I suggest you make one ASAP, whether you like meat or you’re all over vegan/vego good times.
Words & images: Henry Maxwell
