Restaurant
Du Fermier
42 High St, Trentham VIC 3458, Australia
Find Du Fermier
42 High St, Trentham VIC 3458, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Book NowAbout Du Fermier
Trentham’s take on cuisine du terroir cuts straight through white-tablecloth stiffness—just forty seats around an open hearth, with vegetable crates stacked right by the door. Chef Annie Smithers prints no menu and runs zero table turns. Each seating brings a surprise four-course farmhouse lunch dictated entirely by what leaves her garden that morning. Weekend drivers describe the room as an effortless country dinner party, losing whole afternoons to warm sourdough, slow-roasted lamb shoulder, and cheese soufflé paired with regional pours.
- Farm-Dictated Surprise Menu: Chef Annie Smithers curates an unannounced four-course set lunch built entirely around harvests from her local farm.
- Unhurried Fireside Dining: A forty-seat dining room warmed by an open hearth with generous pacing and zero table turns.
- Country Hospitality & Matched Pours: Front-of-house hospitality pairs generous regional wines with comforting French farmhouse standards like slow-roasted lamb and gougères.
What's On at Du Fermier
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
No events or specials listed right now.
Why Gastronomes Make the Journey to Du Fermier
Experience Annie Smithers’ restorative farmhouse hospitality and seasonal harvest dining—reserve your table well in advance.
Hatted Finesse Without Fine-Dining Pretense
Annie Smithers and her team pair chef-hatted culinary rigor with unpretentious hospitality, trading stiff formality for down-to-earth farmhouse warmth.
Du Fermier has all the qualities of a fine dining restaurant with none of the pretention.
ellen Douglas Authentic Hospitality That Centers Comfort
The dining room delivers genuine country warmth and attentive care, creating a grounded atmosphere where guests feel thoroughly looked after.
For a fine dining restaurant, the atmosphere was incredibly welcoming, humble and authentic, which was consistent with the delicious and unfussy food.
Bethany Schoer A Surprise Farm-to-Table Four-Course Menu
Rather than choosing from a fixed commercial menu, diners enjoy a spontaneous four-course meal shaped entirely by morning harvests from Babbington Park farm.
Food is delicious, there is no menu, you get whatever is fresh and seasonal, straight from the garden.
Gail Jones Curated Pairings for Regional Daytrippers
Each seasonal course is thoughtfully complemented by expert regional and French wine selections poured seamlessly throughout the lunch.
We had the 4 course set menu with matched wines and it was spectacular.
Suzzanne May Intimate Dinner-Party Ambience by the Hearth
With only 40 seats centered around a glowing open fire, the dining room captures the cozy intimacy of an elevated private dinner party.
The restaurant itself is intimate and the 40 seat capacity makes you feel like you’re at someone’s house for an incredible dinner party.
Ed Pitts An Unhurried Escape From Daily Rush
Tables are kept unhurried with zero commercial turnover pressure, allowing diners to completely unwind and savor an entire afternoon.
Annie and staff have this sorted and make you feel welcome without any rush.
Danielle Benson
Most popular items
Beloved seasonal French farmhouse highlights and curated wine pairings at Du Fermier.
Matched Wines
We had the 4 course set menu with matched wines and it was spectacular.
Suzzanne May Four-Course Seasonal Set Menu
A seasonal set menu delivers an elegant, earthy and wholeheartedly enjoyable meal that satisfies again and again.
Andrew Wilcox Braised Beef
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.
Tom B Cheese Soufflé
The food from Annie was beautiful, particularly the cheese souffle (yum yum yum) and the braised beef.
jo wilson
Other favorites
Seasonal accompaniments, desserts, and cellar selections that complete the farmhouse table.
Freshly Baked Sourdough Bread
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).
Tom B Lemon Delicious Pudding
Dessert was lemon delicious pudding, a gentle reminder of my mum who has passed away.
Suzzanne May Fresh Garden Salad
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.
ellen Douglas Matched Wine Pairings
We also recommend letting them choose the matching wines if that’s your thing.
Danielle Benson
Beyond the menu
From personal tableside visits to parting gifts, every detail at Du Fermier turns an intimate farmhouse lunch into a memorable occasion—secure your booking well ahead.
Tableside Service from Chef Annie Smithers
Chef Annie Smithers frequently presents courses directly to the dining room, bridging the connection between the kitchen and the seasonal produce harvested from her own farm.
Thoughtful Farewell Gift
Guests depart at the end of their unhurried lunch with a curated parting gift to bring the countryside experience home.
Personalised Pre-Dining Care
Hospitality begins well before arrival with attentive pre-dining contact, followed by a warm greeting by name as soon as you step past the roaring hearth.
Accommodating Dietary Tailoring
Despite operating as a surprise seasonal set menu, complex dietary needs and food intolerances are accommodated with precision alongside tailored cellar pairings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the menu work?
Du Fermier serves a set four-course seasonal menu that changes based on what is fresh from chef Annie Smithers' farm, served without an advance menu reveal.
Do you need to book well in advance?
Reservations are strongly recommended well in advance, as tables frequently book out months ahead, though weekday lunches can occasionally offer easier availability.
Are wine pairings available with the meal?
Yes, Du Fermier offers curated wine pairings tailored to each dish on the set menu, alongside an extensive drinks list.
Can dietary requirements and intolerances be accommodated?
The kitchen can cater to specific dietary needs and intolerances when arranged, though dishes center around a fixed seasonal farm menu.
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