Features
Established in the 1930s, the McDonald family’s 81-hectare farm in Karridale boasts vineyards, vegetable gardens, fruit orchards, sheep and – as of 2017 – a cellar door. Current custodians Ben McDonald – the fifth generation of McDonald to work the land – and wife Sasha Foley are passionate about thoughtful agriculture, as demonstrated by the expressive estate wines and grass-fed lamb sold under the Glenarty Road banner.
Then there’s the restaurant, the domain of Movida alumnus Ricky Mendozzi. Between Thursday and Sunday, Mendozzi offers a tight menu celebrating the day’s picking from the gardens. Grilled eggplant and flatbread equals a spirited take on baba ganoush while potato and sheep’s curd gnocchi is typical of the strong house-made pastas. Whole-roasted Manjimup rainbow trout with nasturtium capers is a pleasure to eat while the whole lamb shoulder is built for sharing. The worn-timber dining room, mismatched furniture and outdoor tables verily say farmhouse charm. On Mondays, a smaller snack menu is served.
Visitors can also take home the farm’s surplus produce, either whole or preserved via Mendozzi’s own line of condiments.
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