By KATH GANNAWAY
CHRISTMAS in December for visitors to the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges is likely to be seafood and salad, great wines, and luscious desserts.
But in winter … it’s all about traditional fare. Hot roasts and gravy with lots of vegetables. Ham off the bone, turkey, apple sauce, or cranberry and steaming plum pudding with brandy custard.
As the mercury plummets and the winter mists swirl around the tall trees or cloak the valleys, the atmosphere is set and appetites primed for the sort of Christmas fare that you really just can’t enjoy in December.
Winter in July has become increasingly popular over the years.
There are several restaurants throughout the region that put up the tinsel, dust off the Christmas CDs and prime the log fires to recreate the sort of Christmas of Northern Hemisphere Christmas cards and movies that aren’t really quite right in December.
Depending on the venue, there might be a visit from Santa for the kids, a Kris Kringle (or you can arrange your own).
If you are planning a winter weekend getaway, why not incorporate a traditional Christmas lunch or dinner … and who knows, you might even see a bit of snow on the hills while you’re digging into your plum pudding.
Local Tourist Information Centres will be able to provide details of restaurants that have Christmas in July menus.
Be sure to book early, particularly for groups, but don’t be afraid to be a bit spontaneous if you’re just travelling through.
Celebrating the festive season can be a great way to warm up to winter in the villages either side of the Great Dividing Range.
