Food: You’ll want to start your great southern food adventure in Katanning; an amazingly multicultural town. Known as having the best satay in Australia you can dine in or takeaway from the following:
- South African: visit White Gum Cafe and ask Anilda what delights she has on offer. Inside Regional Retailers, Austral Terrace, 9821 2211
- Malaysian: the Haramain Food Van is at 5 Taylor Street, satays with heavenly peanut sauce, noodle and rice dishes. For delicious golden curry puffs, go to The Daily Grind on Clive Street. They also have a range of lunch specials including beef rendang. Owner Alep Mydie is always happy to speak about the local Mosque and the Cocos Malay community in Katanning.
- Vietnamese: the Vietnamese Café & Pho on Clive Street has traditional street food including beef or chicken pho, noodle salads, rice paper rolls and much more. They also have a great range of bubble teas.
- Thai: the newly opened Wan’s Thai and Aussie Take-away on Clive Street has something for every palate, from Tom Yum to Pad Thai.
- Chinese: Fuxing Family Chinese Restaurant on Austral Terrace has a great range of rice, noodle and dumpling dishes. Hung Wins Cantonese restaurant is located in a beautiful old church on the corner of Carew Street. It’s hard to go past their satay beef or cashew chicken.
- Karen: Hidden in the Asia Groceries Supermarket on Austral Terrace you can get a heartwarming bowl of genuine Karen noodle soup. Call in to see what’s cooking.
While out and about in the region there are so many delicious gems, here are some our favourite discoveries:
Katanning: Cinnamon scroll & great coffee on Saturday morning from the Emu Lane coffee van (next to Katanning Furnishings on Clive Street).
Tambellup: Butter chicken and great falafel wraps from the Tambellup Store.
Mt Barker: On Lowood Road, the Mount Barker bakery is a must stop with a great range of sweets and savories, including multi award winning pies (try the Wagu Beef made from local Albany grown beef).
Porongrurups: For a truly unique experience you cant go past Maleeyas Thai. Maleeya cooks her authentic Thai dishes with Asian herbs fresh from their own organic vegetable garden. Accommodation also available.
While exploring the area, call into The Porongurup Inn for lunch. They are famous for their Devonshire Tea and Scott’s beef & burgundy pie.
Tenterden: For a delicious breakfast wrap try the Tenterden Top Up Roadhouse.
Nyabing: enroute to the Silos at Pingrup, the Nyabing Hub has a great range of lunch and dinner options. The onion rings are to die for…
Kojonup: For a really tasty burger, get the signature ‘Black Cockatoo Burger’ from the Black Cockatoo Café with a wagyu beef patty, fresh salad and crunchy chips on the side.
Wine: The Great Southern region is known for its fine, cool climate wines. Riesling and Shiraz are the cornerstones of an environment that produces a wide range of distinctive wines from classic and emerging varietals. The region includes Mt Barker, Frankland River and Porongurups.
To taste a great selection of Great Southern Wines all in the one place, pop on some heels and head to the very cool Cordial Bar at the Premier Mill Hotel, Katanning for a fun night out. They have local wine on tap, great southern spirits and homemade mixers.
The Cordial Bar is a great starting point to sit down with a glass, some tapas and plan your exploration of the Great Southern Wine region and its fabulous cellar doors.
Many of the wineries have cellar door by appointment and a number of wineries offer food. Be sure to call ahead to check opening hours and food options as these may have changed within the last few months.
