Swan Valley tends to be a convenience I overlook but more frequently misjudge. For me, the Swan Valley hype never quite kicked off but in my last visit I attempted re-kindle my fondness for this place beyond Alfred’s Kitchen. Sandalford Wineries was my first stop for some spectacular wines. Driving in to the vineyard, the lush surrounding and manicured grass gave us a great impression that money is well worth spent here. From the grand entry to the restaurant, everything was so perfectly put together. No wonder this place was highly recommended on the web. Definitely returning for lunch or dinner one day :)!
Moving on. Clearly expressed by my preference to avoid bitter foods like medicines of any sort, bitter gourd, most alcohols, coffee and so forth, bitterness has never quite been my thing. Tell me its an acquired taste and I tell you that you are a masochist :)! But that did not stop me from buying a few bottles of sweet wine back. I bought two bottles that day, one was a 2010 Sandalford Botrytis Semillon and the other was a 2010 Sandalford Sweet Red. I have opened the Semillon and all I can say is that it was very sweet. The sales person that sold me the Semillon had asked me to take note of all the fruity notes like pineapples and apricot when I drank the bottle. However, when I had a glass at home all I could taste was sweetness. Big time sweetness. So much for trying to learn about wines =.=! Maybe next time haha.
The part of my Swan Valley tour is what most tourists will think about when they look back at their trip to Swan Valley. The Margaret River Chocolate Company!
Needless to say, they re not the only ones. Coming here today, I was as happy as the kids were. While I am obviously 25 years too young, I did not had the luxury of having my lips and fingers stained with chocolates xD! Nonetheless, I had at least 5 spoons of their so-called tasters! Massive sugar overload that followed with the purchase of a White Chocolate Strawberry Truffle. It was so yums! The white chocolate was smooth, milky and very creamy. To finish it was a strawberry cream that was mildly sweet with good acidity that prevented it from becoming cloying! I have to say that the chocolates at the Margaret River Chocolate Co. are really delicious.
While XL and Yv bought some chocolates as souvenirs for family and friends, they were particularly baffled by the absence of a “taster pack”. A chocolate pack that allows your guest, recipients or even yourself to enjoy all three types of chocolates. As I had spoon after spoon, I developed a fondness for all three flavors. The white one which everyone says is not a chocolate for the lack of cocoa, was creamy, sweet and very indulgent. Meanwhile, the milk chocolate was similar but very chocolaty without losing its creaminess. But at the end of the day, it was the dark chocolate that I suspect will be the reason for my size to double. Being the least sweet of the lot, it was something I can eat handful after handful! But no concerns for me as I did not buy any. Would definitely have bought a taster pack if there was one :(!
Next up was the Golden Grover Citrus Farm just 25 minutes away from the chocolate factory. Hidden amongst the barren hills lie a plot of greenery that produces spectacular citrus fruits. How would I know? Well, I have had people buy me some oranges and juices from here last year and least to say, they were spectacular. Sweet, juicy and citrusy! Sadly, I have no accompanying pictures as the ones that I have bought from this trip now resides in my tummy :)! To be honest, not sad at all ahaha! One of the best things is that when you are here, you know exactly which sort of Navel oranges you get with the expert help of the owners. Definitely worth coming if you have a day in the valley. Also available are grapefruits, mandarins, lemons and all products derived from them ;)!
On the way back, we dropped by our final destination for the day, the House of Honey. If you are looking for lotions, honey, lip balms and all sorts of goodies which uses honey, definitely drop by! The House of Honey prides themselves for using quality honey which boasts to have high total activity (good bacteria and enzymes) due to their practice of not using any heat during the treatment process. Which means all the good stuff stays untouched when bottled!
So tempted but so shy. Damn adulthood. But I’d doubt that my head would fit in there anyway. 
Inside is an impressive bee hive encased in a glass display. Quiet freak to see their living conditions in there. But amazing at the same time. Thanks to this little fellas, we have honey :)!
And with honey, we can have delicious food. If you happen to be here early mid morning or in the evening, do not forget to grab a bite at the Sticky Spoon Café located in the House of Honey. At the Sticky Spoon Café , you can choose from a scrumptious spread of cakes, bread, cookies or scones to go along with you favourite cuppa. If you happen to need lunch, they also have a selection of savory bites made to order.
For us folks that day, we need not look further than the scones and tea set at $7 bucks each. Crumbly on the outside with a moist buttery inside, you will definitely like the ones here. Everything a scone should be. But if you had asked me whether these scones were the best, I would definitely prefer freshly baked homemade ones where it comes out piping hot and very soft. Rest is a bit under a few kitchen towels, and it hardens on the outside. Just perfect that way. But when you are too lazy to do something fancy (do not forget making your own jam and whipping the cream!), a scone at the House of Honey will do.
Scone Pic #1
Scone Pic #1The scones were served with a side of honey, cream and jam. All of which went well with the scone. Out of the lot, nothing beats the good old jam and cream. I ended up using the honey to sweeten my tea instead of the usual sugar. 
Scone Pic #2
Scone Pic #2OH! And before you leave the Sticky Spoon Café, do not forget to buy a scoop of ice cream. Lovely flavors, all honey inspired. The Honey Macadamia was top notch without the unnecessary sweetness from the one made by Connoisseur. Creamy, and fragrant with macadamia bits! :)
Its such a windy Friday today. Definitely could do with some scones and hot tea right now lol. But to all my readers, have a pleasant weekend and a good Friday. If you wake up bored tomorrow and feel like doing something, take a few hours off your day to visit the Swan Valley. Not the most interesting place on earth but there is definitely something for everyone. For the more adventurous, you can even go paintballing or laser tag. Regardless of whichever route you choose to go on, definitely get some chocolate. It’s a MUST.
WenY
