Du Fermier in Victoria

"Dined for lunch. Our 4 course menu consisted of cauliflower appetiser, pork terrine entree, duck leg main with serving of potato & I had the cheese dessert whilst hubby opted for the meringue. Special mention to the homemade bread Annie bakes as it was wonderful on its own with butter & also to soak up the sauce from the duck main. All the food was beautifully presented & tasted delicious. We got to meet Annie also as she bought out the appetiser. A very lovely & talented woman. I had a few homemade lemon cordial drinks also which was refreshing. Service from the wait staff was very welcoming & friendly. Loved the special take home gift also, such a beautiful touch & a perfect way to end a perfect lunch. I've wanted to do this lunch experience for a long time & was delighted when we finally got a booking. Recommend as a wonderful way to enjoy a fine dining lunch experience in Trentham & hope to return again in the future."

"Annie’s restaurant offers a delightful home dining experience. First served with her freshly baked sourdough bread and butter, setting the perfect tone for the 4-course meal (btw, the bread is constantly topped up when emptied). The first course entrée was pork terrine. The second course was spaghetti pasta made from duck eggs and a simple sauce with fresh peas and broad beans and olive oil. For the main course, braised and roasted beef was accompanied perfectly with roasted potatoes, steamed cauliflower, and a creamy parsnip purée that complements the dish beautifully. The dessert was a masterpiece, featuring meringue, lemon curd, and strawberries poached in blood orange, topped with a refreshing crème fraîche ice cream. Overall, Annie’s provides a memorable culinary journey with each dish thoughtfully crafted and beautifully presented."

"Not many venues do it so well and so consistently. You need to experience De Fermier at least once. The food and service is outstanding, with a wine list to compliment. I’d suggest letting the experienced team match the wines for you. I’m looking forward to my next visit in a few weeks time."

"Long lazy lunches on Sunday couldn't be more perfect than at Du Fermier, which, as the name suggests are farmed produce by the culinary artisan herself, Annie Smithers. Delicate flavours enhanced by fresh goodness make the meals a celebration on their own. Coupled with my favourite wines and a sprinkling of good company makes the afternoon a blissful affair. Aside: we took the Daylesford route from Castlemaine and you really couldn't ask for a more scenic route."

"what an amazing restaurant! not only beautiful food, but beautiful staff and beautiful service. the staff are so warm and inviting, it really sets du fermier apart. the freshness of the food and how considered the menu is really impressed us! huge drinks menu, the few we tried were phenomenal. couldn’t recommend more!"

"I had heard so much about Du Fermier and how good the food was, and I was STILL blown away! I love the farm to table structure and the quality of the seasonal food is exceptional. Case in point - one of our favourite dishes was actually the salad - so simple with just fresh leaves and a vinaigrette but we couldn't believe the flavour. We also enjoyed the best roast chicken any of us had ever tasted and I am still thinking about it a month later. Annie was incredibly accommodating with my fructose intolerance (one of the most annoying intolerances for a chef!). Her sommelier was kind, knowledgeable and perfectly paired the wines to our dishes. Du Fermier has all the qualities of a fine dining restaurant with none of the pretention. If you are a foodie and want to experience old school hospitality and warmth, this is the restaurant to try. Can't wait to return again!"

"We enjoyed our 4-course lunch at Du Fermier, but I don't really see why they were awarded two 'hats'. At $130 (and soon $150) it is rather pricey for what you get. The food was good, but by no means exceptional or even memorable. Paying these prices for a pork pate, a pasta, a chicken main course and an (excellent!) dessert, is not great value at all. The bread was very average. Wines are pricey as well, with only a few options available by the glass."

"My partner and I went here last night and can’t express our appreciation for Annie and the staff for making our experience so memorable. For a fine dining restaurant, the atmosphere was incredibly welcoming, humble and authentic, which was consistent with the delicious and unfussy food. Everything here is done with love and respect for quality ingredients and the community that provides and consumes them. We will definitely be back."