Meet the Village People - Susan Kurosawa, The Australian. August 2020

Susan Kurosawa, National Travel Editor, The Australian. August 2020

“The town that time forgot? This intriguing wording on a road sign off the A43 tells only half the story. Carcoar, in the central tablelands of NSW, is not exactly a secret but its snug location has long been fortuitous. Bypassed by railways and busy thoroughfares, and nestled in a sheltered and fertile valley, the scale is more village than town and the setting so perfect that adjectives such as picturesque instantly seem inadequate. Population is about 300, give or take a further influx of city escapees.

Kelly and Paolo Picarazzi run the delightful new Antica Australis restaurant in a cottagestyle former haberdashery. Paolo is from the central Italian region of Ciociaria and bases his cuisine on the relaxed locanda style of authentic home cooking. A crespelle with Gorgonzola, prosciutto and house-made fig and ginger jam starts proceedings on the winter menu and the wellpaced four-course meal is a triumph of regional produce and cooking straight from the heart. Kelly also runs, and hosts, Silver Compass Tours; the boutique excursions are designed around food and wine of the central west and she has several itineraries in place for 2021. So, there’s another reason to revisit this surprise-package of a place.”

Photo Credit: @photographybypip