http://www.cooperage.com.au
Last year for the Lovedale Long Lunch 2008 I stayed at the humble Comfort Inn Cumberland in Cessnock which had simple and spacious rooms but for the Lovedale Long Lunch 2009 I based my stay at this luxury 5 star beautifully designed B&B located on the Kelman Vineyards. My choice was the Shiraz room with extra table and couch area and would also recommend the Chardonnay room which has a window in the bathroom. All three guest rooms join onto an outside patio deck where you can sit and enjoy the sunset over the surrounding vineyards.
The B&B shares the 89 acres of the Kelman Vineyards with other beautiful private properties including a large pond. It has a very large home theatre room to watch movies from their DVD collection and serves a very generous and yummy breakfast in either the dining room or on the deck depending on the weather. The substantial and tasty eggs benedict was perfectly cooked although I would have preferred the turkish bread underneath to have been toasted. The delicious light and fluffy ricotta pancakes are from a signature Bill Granger recipe and I hope to compare them soon at Bills.
Our B&B hosts Gay and Warren recommended Blaxlands Inn which I visited for a steak meal and the restaurants Leaves & Fishes and Mojo's on Wilderness for quality meals which I'll have to try and visit next time. Other luxury accommodation I spotted around the Hunter Valley which I might keep in mind for future stays are Crown Plaza Hotel, Grand Mercure Hunter Valley Gardens and Bimbadeen Estate.
Eggs Benedict
Scrambled eggs on toast with rocket
Ricotta pancakes served with fresh banana and topped with honeycomb butter
Honeycomb butter and maple syrup for the ricotta pancakes
Breakfast dining table of seasonal fruit, plunger coffee, juice, yoghurt, Bircher muesli and cereals
Dining and lounge room
Home theatre
Complimentary port and chocolates
Shiraz room
Shiraz bathroom
Large common property pond for a morning walk around
B&B amongst the vineyards
