Locavore Studio: Lilydale
- Written by: The Times
In the gateway to Victoria’s renowned Yarra Valley lies hidden gem, Locavore Studio. Behind a heritage façade is a space that celebrates the very best of the region, playing host to three distinct offerings – a restaurant and cafe serving dishes that showcase a steadfast commitment to seasonality; the Providore, a thoughtfully stocked larder of local produce and bottle shop; and an on-site coffee roastery and tasting room, Proximal.
Open seven days a week, the day-to-night restaurant, providore and coffee roastery was opened by Yarra Valley local and Owner, Jessie Rae Crossley in 2017, following two successful years of Locavore Catering, which caters for more than 300 weddings in the Yarra Valley each year.
“Locavore Studio has been a true passion project, labour of love and driven by the ambition to bring together the best talents of the Yarra Valley. I wanted to create a welcome space that has a place for all, whether that be visitors looking to stock up and sample the best of the Yarra Valley, or stay a while longer and join us for a coffee or dinner. Locavore Studio aims to be the perfect pit-stop and dining destination in its own right”, shares Jessie.
Stepping off Lilydale’s Main Street and through Locavore Studio’s charming ivory entrance, guests are enveloped in a warm welcome by the affable front-of-house team. Flooded with natural light from the skylights above, the 50-seat dining room is accented with earthy hues and intimate banquette booth seating bound in forest green leather, providing an inviting dining experience and seamless transition from day to night.
The menus at Locavore have been thoughtfully created by the brilliant Kitchen team, Head Chefs Kyle Noll (cafe) and Ryan Lynch (Locavore Nights), and everything starts with what can be sustainably pulled from the ground, farmed and foraged locally or caught at sea, to showcase the best produce in Locavore Studio’s locale.
Open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week, Kyle Noll’s current all-day menu includes unique takes on familiar favourites such as:
- Chilli scramble – served on fresh sourdough baked in-house alongside fermented garlic and preserved lemon labneh, oyster mushrooms, and topped with a sesame and peanut crisp and fried mint
- Loca Benny – ‘nduja spiced pork shoulder savoury doughnuts served with poached eggs, home-made jalapeño poppers, smoked corn and finished with a brown butter hollandaise
- Dark rye & chive waffle – house-cured-and-smoked salmon with pickled cucumber, finger lime, goat cheese, fresh herbs and tabasco
- Chilli caramel pork belly bánh mì – served with a home-made pepper berry pate, pickled vegetables and homemade crisps
To complement, coffee from the in-house roastery Proximal provides patrons with the perfect pick-me-up. Owner and expert Roaster, Evan Thompson’s signature daily blend ‘Best Friends’ is a crowd favourite, using seasonal and beans are sourced from sustainable farms in origins such as Colombia and Burundi. Thompson also explores innovative and rare coffees that challenge the norm, roasting lightly to highlight the nuances of terroir. For anyone wanting to deepen their knowledge, Thompson offers bespoke tastings that invite the community to sip and share and learn about the intricate world of coffee with friends old and new.
“Proximal is defined by closeness. Through coffee, we can connect, and through connection, we can positively impact those in our community”, adds Thompson.
Having cemented itself as the go-to day-time dining destination and encouraged by the local community, this May Jessie extended the offering with ‘Locavore Nights’, adding dinner to their service, Thursday – Sunday. At the helm is New Zealand-born Head Chef, Ryan Lynch, who cut his teeth under the tutelage of Michelin-trained and hatted chef Matt Bouterey (Hawker House & Bar) and highlights on the evening menu this winter include:
- Tempura enoki mushroom with lemon myrtle miso and garlic
- Kombu cured mackerel and turnip dressed with buttermilk dashi, sunrise lime and lovage
- Mountain pepper spiced quail with calamansi, blood plum, leek and currants
- Glazed pork collar with desert lime mustard, green plum and lions mane
- Baby pink snapper, safflower & finger lime sauce and sorrel
Lynch shares, “Seasonality is the driving force behind the menus at Locavore, and I’m always excited to get into the kitchen and see what each season has to offer. I love working with new ingredients and the challenge of bringing out their best to see them sing keeps me passionate. Whether that’s exploring new and complementary textures, or using different cooking techniques to enhance flavour profiles, the Yarra Valley has so much to offer and it's a privilege and a pleasure to compose its produce on our plates.”
Adjacent to the dining room sits the Providore, a charming farm-style shop with a considered larder and a newly opened bottle shop. The well-stocked larder offers locals and Yarra Valley visitors alike, a bounty of local produce such as fresh fruit and vegetables, deli meats and cheeses, home-made take-home meals from the restaurant’s kitchen, fresh pastries, bread and cakes, baked in house every day and some of the finest drops from the Yarra Valley’s vineyards. A beautiful array of artisanal homewares, artworks and ceramics from local artists and designers are also available for purchase, making the providore the perfect pitstop for those looking to do their weekly shop, a quick weeknight meal or a thoughtful gift.
About Locavore Studio:
Locavore Studio shines as a beacon of sustainability and innovation amid the picturesque landscape of the Yarra Valley. Led by a dedicated local team, it offers a seamless blend of day-to-night dining, curated retail experiences, and bespoke off-site catering for wineries and private events. Locavore Studio’s guiding principle is ‘local first’, ensuring every facet of the operation has a deep commitment to its community and region, from sourcing organic local products to collaborating with local artisans. More than just a culinary destination, Locavore Studio serves as a vibrant hub for locals and visitors, nurturing a sense of camaraderie and appreciation for the Yarra Valley.
Address: 148 Main St, Lilydale VIC 3140
Hours:
- Monday – Wednesday: 7 am – 3 pm
- Thursday & Friday: 7 am – 11 pm
- Saturday: 8 am – 11 pm
- Sunday: 8 am – 3 pm
Booking link: locavorestudio.com.au/book
Website: www.locavorestudio.com.au
Instagram: @locavore_studio
Facebook: @locavorestudio
About Locavore Catering
From the table decor, to full table service, Locavore Catering delivers stand out events in the Yarra Valley and beyond. With a plethora of venues in the company’s portfolio to host an event at, Lovacore offers a bespoke dining experience that blends rustic charm with refined dining. Whether at your home or a venue of your choice, Locavore Catering looks after each and every aspect of the event, from styling to staffing, canapes to a la carte, Locavore works with each client to create some of the Yarra Valley’s best events.
Website: www.locavorecatering.com.au
Instagram: @locavore.catering
About Proximal Coffee
With over a decade of local and international coffee experience, Proximal is an approachable yet progressive coffee roastery and tasting bar. Founded by local industry figure, Evan Thompson, Proximal was born from Thompson’s first venture Double Park, an event coffee cart mounted onto the sidecar of his vintage Royal Enfield motorcycle. The coffee cart acted as the chosen coffee events partner for many global brands including Nike and Converse, as well as the Government House. Garnering such relationships year on year, Thompson cemented his presence within Melbourne’s renowned coffee scene which culminated in his first brick and mortar specialist roastery and tasting bar, Proximal. Today, Thompson is proud to collaborate with Owner of Locavore Studio, Jessie Rae Crossley, and be housed within its heritage building. Proximal is the proud supplier to many small businesses and households in the Yarra Valley and surrounds, and with a newly opened roastery, Evan welcomes guests wholeheartedly to share honest coffee and a genuine connection.
Address: 148-154 Main St, Lilydale VIC 3140
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 8 am – 2 pm
- Saturday: 8 am – 12 pm
Website: www.proximalcoffee.com.au
Instagram: @proximalcoffee
Facebook: @proximalcoffee
