Michelin Stars

[Roxy]

Is there an Australian rating system that is the equivalent to Michelin.

In the cities (I assume) you have access to good food (and maybe even good service as well) I daresay you also have more than your share of rubbish but, I imagine, a bit of trial and error will locate the places worth a return visit.

In the country things are, on the whole, dire. While all rating systems have their flaws they do seem to give ambitious chiefs and restaurant owners something to work towards. I find most places here are delusional, they really believe they are great and anyone who dares to disagree gets ‘the look’, generally followed by the argument, then followed by the ban.

I have found no matter how bad things are, making even the most careful comment (don’t even think about complaining) has no useful outcome and, as I don’t want a fight when I go out for dinner, it’s generally easier (and safer) to just pay the bill and put it down to experience.

The other problem could be the local population, most of them think wholemeal bread is the work of the devil, and they are so used to the ‘customer is always wrong’ attitude they believe that is normal and acceptable.

If all you know is takeaways or pub food (mind you I have to say Australian pub food is on the whole good for what it is, my complaint is about the places with pretensions to ‘fine dining) people do not develop a pallet for anything else. Out here quantity is important (I could talk about obesity but I won’t) as for quality – what’s that and do we want it.

Also I think the ‘Australia is the greatest country in the world’ and, we live in the greatest town in Australia, creates the rose coloured glasses effect, and to even consider everything in their country and their town is anything but wonderful is tantamount to treason, outsiders who arrive without rose coloured glasses can, of course - ‘go back where you come from’.

Having lived here for 3 years now when I do travel and find myself in a quality restaurant, with professional service standards and good fresh food, I am quite taken aback and it takes me a while to re-adjust.

[James]

Hi Roxy,

I think the Michelin Star ratings are international, so if Australia had somewhere good enough (and posh enough) we could have one. But I think Australia just doesn't have the population to support restaurants that are so expensive, and especially so outside the major city centres.

What we do have is the Age Good Food Guide in Melbourne and the equivalent Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide in Sydney. Both of these award "Chefs Hats" to the best restaurants they find each year, and they're relatively exclusive with only a handful of venues getting the highest rating of 3 hats.

Rural and regional locations do relatively well, so there are some places out there that provide great food and service, you just have to search them out.

From the times I've visited Yarrawonga I've had the impression that theres a number of city folk moving to the area, buying big houses on the lake and making it a popular holiday spot. Rest assured that as this happens more the quality of the local cafes and restaurants increases to match the demand - that's certainly what I've observed happening here on the coast in the last ten years.

Anyway, thanks for your continued interest in reviewing your local restaurants and I hope you get something there soon that will earn five stars from you!
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“Blessed are the Cheese Makers!” - Jesus, in the Life of Brian

[Roxy]

Hi James

Sure there are a few waterfront homes but little real wealth around here. To put it in perspective the most expensive (lake front) home I have seen sold here was around $1.2 million, the serious money is on the coasts and in the cities I think.

This is basically a low socio-economic area with limited employment and low wages. I think a few years ago, when there was a bit of a property boom here, the locals got carried away and their delusions grew, this area has now been hit with a reality check far greater than many areas are presently experiencing.

Echcua looks to me like they had more of an idea, they seem to have targeted a more up-market and sophisticated clientele, which brings higher quality restaurants, shopping and accommodation. Here they stayed back in the 60’s, continuing to go for the ‘pensioner’ brigade who's wants are more simple (pokies, fish and chips, cheap accommodation and $2 shops) now they are paying the price.

A lot of the small business people are arrogant, lazy and smug, most should have retired years ago. They haven’t upgraded their own skills or businesses for decades and it shows. They fear anyone who challenges their blinkered view of themselves and the world, there is plenty of self-esteem around here, most of it misplaced.

Technology and efficiency are shunned, the village fete approach rules and if you don’t like it you can leave, the ‘customer is always wrong’ in Yarrawonga. I think the locals are comfortable being poor, turn up here in a Jag or Mercedes and the locals will immediate fear, dislike and distrust you. Some of the younger ones are better of course, its the over 50’s who hold this place back and they make up the majority at the moment.

The good thing about the current credit squeeze is it will get rid of some of the riff-raff, so those who do ride things out should have a better opportunity to move forward. There are a few of us who are making an effort to improve services and attitudes and, I think, with some of the old timers out of the way we will have a better chance of moving things forward.

Anyway enough of that, back to food .....

I am often at a loss why so many places get some of it right – for example the food at All Saints is excellent but when I went there for lunch in the summer I couldn’t wait to leave, we were covered in sweat within a few minutes, making it impossible to relax and enjoy the food.

The climate around here is fairly predictable, scorching hot in summer, very cold in winter, how hard is it to get the dinning room temperature sorted out. People want to be cool in summer and warm in winter.

Tuileries has a very pleasant dinning room, the staff are a bit dim, like most younger staff they have no ability to listen, but they are bearable, unfortunately I found the food a bit average but at least it looked and felt like a restaurant so I will give it another go.

[Gooner_Singe]