The full 2012 program for The Mildura Writers' Festival

mwf_program_final.pdf Download this file

We hope you can join us...

A fabulous Winter program is lined up for this year's Mildura Writer's Festival from the 19th July - 22 July.

2012 Guests include:
Liz Moore, Barry Hill, Evelyn Juers, Peter Rob, Morag Fraser, Anna Goldsworthy, Drusilla Modjeska, Robert Gray, Les Murray, Paul Kane, Chris Wallace-Crabbe, John Wolesly

Even more reason to visit our beautiful part of the world!

Mda_Tourism_7071_Age_Traveller_v4_proof.pdf Download this file

Another fabulous festival coming up....

Media_Release-_Esteemed_poet_to_be_judge_at_Mildura_Writers_Festival.doc Download this file

I'm looking forward to a fabulous 2012!

Wishing you all a fabulous day!

Thank you for all your support!

We are very happy to have received 2 hats in The Age Good Guide and a rating of 17 points, which makes us one of the highest ranking Italian restaurants in the state.
We wish to thank all those friends who have sent us messages and good wishes. It feels nice to be supported by so many people!

The result coincides with the departure of Peter Webley who has been with us for the last 12 years. Peter started at The Grand at the tender age of 17 on Boxing Day (what a day to start an apprenticeship!) and was thrown into the deep end from the word go. For many years he has been the main support pillar in the kitchen at Stefano's seeing the restaurant through many awards and accolades. During that time he has sustained a terrifying car accident and has experienced severe health problems, but throughout his ordeals he has remained dedicated to his job with an unusual level of care and commitment.

 Peter has now got into the local TAFE system with a significant job in the hospitality department. We wish him well and we pity those students that will come into his sight for not pulling their weight!!!

 Peter has been succeeded by Jim McDougall who also started at The Grand some years back. Jim went on to cook at Vue De Monde and for their café, which he set up, for the last five years. It is a bit of a home coming for him and we know he will bring his own take to Stefano's with his creativity and care. Stefano's is not about to change direction all of a sudden, but it will be interesting to see how the food will evolve under Jim's influence. He has a great tradition behind him and the support of the entire team at Stefano's.

 Early in 2012 Stefano's will enter its 20th year. That's a long time for any restaurant. There are not many that have survived under the same leadership for that long. That is something else to look forward to with some excitement and considerable pride.

Mildura Palimpsest. Here is the full program

Thank you

Mildura_Palimpsest_Program.pdf Download this file

Mildura Palimpsest Lunch with Stefano at Old Mildura Station Homestead Sunday 11th Sept 
Stefano's Cafe & Bakery -Dinner on Sat 10 Sept

Mildura Palimpsest Lunch

Hope to see you there.

MilduraPalimpsest8.pdf Download this file

Mildura Palimpsest Lunch with Stefano at Old Mildura Station Homestead Sunday 11th Sept 
Stefano's Cafe & Bakery -Dinner on Sat 10 Sept

 

The 2012 Age Good Food Guide is out!

Here are the reviews from the latest Age Good Food Guide. My restaurant retained it's 2 hats, getting 17 out of 20 points. A wonderful achievement by all.

Stefano’s Restaurant

If Stefano de Pieri didn’t exist, Mildura would have to invent him. His storied, elegant basement dining space, a wing of which stretches deep into the old hotel cellars, pays homage to the region’s history and rich immigrant heritage while showcasing wonderful local produce. Five nights a week, locals and pilgrims mass for five courses set ‘at the whim of the chef’. Over a languid evening they enjoy professional, country-friendly service, an extensive wine list – which can be matched by the glass with the menu – and seasonal food with its heart in the north of Italy but infused with global flavours. An autumn menu might offer rich baccala quenelles on polenta, battered zucchini flowers, gloriously robust local quail ravioli with sage butter sauce and braised beef cheeks served with vegetables chosen from the Sunraysia Farmers’ Market by the very real Stefano himself.
 
Stefano’s Cafe Bakery

There’s always an exotic egg dish at Stefano’s casual breakfast and lunch diner, provedore, gallery and sometimes bar; maybe Calabrese – with Italian pork sausages and Peperonata – or Middle Eastern. There may be gooey Belgian waffles, wonderful house muesli, plus local fruits and preserves. The lunch board changes daily, offering pastas, frittata and Panini to enjoy with Stefano-label wines.

Great news tonight!

My Restaurant has retained it's two chefs hat status and was scored 17 out 20 in The Age Good Food Guide.

More to come......

You make the choice- if you can, go local.

My restaurant is proud to support Australian farmers. Margot Maitland and her family are wheat farmers in Clare. These are the farmers I much admire: they grow durum wheat and have decided to produce their own brand of hard wheat pasta, called Pangkarra. It is dark and chewy, it holds in the cooking process without turning to an unpleasant texture. Farmers who value add accomplish three things: they engage in import substitution, hence doing a patriotic thing, they enrich the area they live in by creating variety and a strong sense of place and contribute to general well being and local pride.

Give them a go. And, of course, whilst European manufacturers have EECU subsidies, we have nothing. So in Australia goods are more expensive. You make the choice – if you can, go local.

Click here for more details about Pangkarra foods.

Pasta Fagioli made with fresh local Borlotti Beans

The restaurant has just received its annual shipment of Borlotti beans from our favourite local supplier.
We only have a two week window of opportunity with the beans, so head up or down to Mildura for Pasta Fagioli made with our fresh local beans and our handmade rough cut pasta.

Did you see me on TV this morning?

Cooking School Coming up. Yalumba Harvest Market 2011

Yalumba.PDF Download this file

To continue reading please see my website
http://www.stefano.com.au/
Please like my Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stefano/154075457955486
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/StefanodePieri
For more on my Restaurant "Stefano's" :
http://www.stefano.com.au/docs/restaurant.asp
For more on my Mildura Brewery: http://www.mildurabrewery.com.au/
My personal blog: http://stefanodepieri.tumblr.com/
http://stefanodepieri.posterous.com/

Please get in touch
Ciao Stefano

Another order for my Pilsner from Dan Murphy's

Thank you to everyone who has bought my Pilsner

To continue reading please see my website http://www.stefano.com.au/
Please like my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stefano/154075457955486
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/StefanodePieri
For more on my Restaurant "Stefano's" : http://www.stefano.com.au/docs/restaurant.asp
For more on my Mildura Brewery: http://www.mildurabrewery.com.au/
My personal blog: http://stefanodepieri.tumblr.com/
http://stefanodepieri.posterous.com/

Please get in touch
Ciao Stefano

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Upcoming tastings this week in and around Melbourne

Join Greg at the following tastings coming up this week.

Dan Murphy's In Watergardens on Wednesday 23rd Feb - 3.30pm to 6.30pm
Ritchies in Wantirna on Thursday 24th Feb- 3.30pm to 6.30pm
Dan Murphy's in Brighton on Friday 25th Feb - 3.30pm to 6.30pm
Dan Murphy's in Preston on Saturday 26th Feb - 12 noon to 3.30pm

A great cause...

Please support this great cause.

http://fernandezjessica.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/stefano-de-pieris-donation-k...

Another fully booked event!

It's the kind of weather that makes you thirsty and it's Friday afternoon. Great chance to taste some of my beers at Richies in Emerald. Greg will be there until 7pm tonight. So if you are in the area, go and try some.

Another fully booked event!

Lyndall Vandenberg's second Thai Banquet at Stefano's Cafe & Bakery. People will enjoy the delights of Thai food as Lyndall Vandenberg presents an array of delicious Thai inspired food matched with Stefano's Wines and Mildura Brewery Beer.