In Short: Pebbles Restaurant located inside the Moonah Links Resort is a special part of this gorgeous estate. Whether your staying for a weekend, or driving up for the day, make sure you linger a little longer and let the team treat you to some of the Peninsula’s fantastic local food and wine.

Pebbles | Peppers Moonah Links Resort

The Mornington Peninsula is just one of those magical, must-visit places whenever you head to Victoria. We’re lucky enough to have family that live here, so this place is our regular country ‘retreat’ and we’ve spent many days exploring all the corners of this incredible part of Australia. So, how delighted were we when our good friends at Australian Good Food Guide extended an invitation to share in the special experience that is Pebbles Restaurant at the Peninsula’s premier golf destination Moonah Links Resort. Winding down the road to the beautiful estate was spectacular.  The sun was setting over the grounds, with the breathtaking colours of the winter sun in hues of gold and pink, against the backdrop of native Australian bushland.

We were spoilt with an amazing welcome by the team at Pebbles, and had our incredible host, Martin, who expertly guided us through an evening of all  things food and wine. Not missing a beat, Martin had a glass of the King Valley Prosecco at our table faster than we could say ‘yes, please’! What a beautiful drop from Victoria that kicked off an incredible evening…

As we sat toasty and warm in front of the fire, and a flush in our cheeks from the wine, we began the food adventure with seared scallops served on a bed of cauliflower purée, and dusted with prosciutto crumbs, dill oil and micro herbs. The scallops had the taste of the ocean, cooked to be succulent and soft, complemented with the delicate flavours of cauliflower and salty texture of prosciutto, it made this a wonderful starter for the evening.

Not to be outdone, the pumpkin & feta ravioli with sage butter and pine nuts was definitely one of my favourite dishes of the evening. Delicate parcels of beautifully encased sweet pumpkin and warm feta, accented with the delicious flavours of the sage butter and the crunch of the pine nuts.

With starters like that, we knew our mains were going to be equally delectable, so when the wild pepper lamb backstrip arrived, it was fellow Coco & Viner’s Steve’s moment to put down the camera (just for a second!) to take in the aromas and lovely presentation. Its always a testament to the kitchen, when any meat is cooked with simplicity but melts in your mouth with all it’s complex flavours. Partner the lamb with peninsula honey-glazed carrots, parsnip purée, and rosemary jus, and well, that’s just a little slice of heaven right there.

For the seafood lovers out there, you couldn’t go past the quintessential Australian fish?! Pebbles, saltwater barramundi fillet with crushed potatoes, sautéed asparagus, and lemon caper sauce, paid homage in all the right ways to this versatile and mild-flavoured underwater gem. The freshness was impeccable and the perfectly crusted skin gave it that layer of texture. Absolutely divine!

When there’s dessert on offer, we never say no! We found the perfect pair, that spoke to each of our sweet tastes in the spiced coconut custard served with pistachio praline and the chocolate caramel tart served with vanilla bean mascarpone. Steve and I didn’t even have to have the battle of the spoons – we were both in our happy place with this heavenly end to a delightful evening.

Whether it be winter or summer, or any other season in between, the Mornington Peninsula is a treasure trove just hungry to be explored. Whenever you head down, make sure you add a stop-over at Moonah Links and make time for a lazy couple of hours to enjoy the culinary delights at Pebbles Restaurant overlooking that magical Australian backdrop.

*Coco and Vine dined as guests of AGFG and Pebbles Restaurant. However, all opinions and photos are our own.