This gem on the outskirts of Ballynahinch has a genuine wow factor. It is a stunning venue for many reasons; the grounds, the gardens, the buildings but the food and drink are of major appeal, so much so, that The Café at Montalto is now open from 9am offering a selection of delicious breakfast options.
This Café offers many fresh, locally inspired options created by their Head Chef, Paul Ferguson. Showcasing the produce of local, artisan suppliers and incorporating it into their dishes has enabled Montalto to nurture strong relations with them. Paul uses many suppliers including Springmount Farm, Ewing’s Seafoods, Draynes Farm, and Leif’s Brot Bakehouse in the weekly menu and daily specials. The reason for this is simple; supporting these producers as well as growing their own produce, not only helps to sustain the local economy but also ensures they use as much fresh, high quality, naturally grown ingredients, as possible.
Speaking about the new menu, Paul said: “By opening from 9am, I have been able to create what I feel is the perfect breakfast menu. I took inspiration from local influences along with my years spent working and travelling around many regions of Australia. I wanted to produce dishes that I love to eat and wanted to create menu options that are both mouthwatering and delicious. Options will include firm favourites such as French Toast and Pancakes to the slightly more on-trend Citrus Smashed Avocado with Poached eggs and Double Cheese Scrambled Eggs.”
Montalto takes the concept of food provenance to its heart. There are areas on the 400 acre estate where the gardening team, led by Head Gardener, Peter Harris grows quite a bit of produce for use in their café.
Because no meal is ever complete without some sweet indulgence, you might want to top a visit to the estate off with a delicious dessert from the eye-catching patisserie counter all baked in-house by the estate Pastry Chef.
For those who prefer to eat outdoors, The Café of this 5* rated visitor attraction offers an attractive seating area in the perfectly manicured Café Garden. Booking is not required to visit their café as it operates a walk-in service.
The estate opened its doors to the public for the first time in 2018. The property offers a wonderful visitor experience including a café, shop, visitor centre, gardens and an exciting natural play area for children as well as a newly developed history trail where visitors can learn about the estate’s rich history including the location of the Battle of Ballynahinch. This now means there are over 7km of stunning walks to take on the estate. Membership is excellent value and is the favoured option by many locals who like to come to the estate regularly.
For more information visit www.montaltoestate.com