GIANT STEPS

336 Maroondah Highway, Healesville giantstepswine.com.au It’s been a fixture in the town for more than a decade but since Phil Sexton sold the winery’s Innocent Bystander brand to concentrate on Giant Steps, the cellar door has undergone a refurbishment and become a more elegant outfit. Sit at the bar and nibble on small snacks and charcuterie (there’s now a dryageing room on site) before moving on to a pizza from the carefully curated selection or a bigger plate – anything cooked on the wood-fire grill is a good bet. Executive chef Jarrod Hudson has incorporated into the menu elements of the Thai cuisine he’s known for, with dishes such as clams in coconutand-galangal broth and pork belly with flat rice noodles. Fresh sourdough arrives every day from Habituel bakery and coffee shop, Sexton’s newest venture, just up the road.