A WRAP UP OF NEWS AND HAPPENINGS IN OUR REGION

B Y E D I T O R I N C H I E F, S A M P R I D M O R E

Welcome to the July edition of Lost and my first month as Lost’s new editor in chief!

I thought long and hard about how I was going to kick off my first edition, but it only feels right to start by saying a big thank you to previous editor and dear friend Sarah Lang. Sarah has spent just shy of two years building Lost into the fantastic high-quality publication that it is, and I feel honored to have been given the opportunity to carry on Sarah's legacy. I spent the past month immersing myself in the world of Lost, and I very quickly began to appreciate and identify with Sarah's love for the people and places that make our region so unique. With help from well seasoned Lost veteran Richard Cornish who is staying on as our Editor-at-large; I and the rest of the team here at Lost are so incredibly excited to continue Sarah's work and unearth the hidden gems that make the Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges region so special.

Now I know what you're thinking; July - we're in the depths of winter, the weather forecast is looking dismal, and the last long weekend for the foreseeable future is over and done with... life is looking pretty bleak. Well, I'm here is to tell you otherwise. We are so lucky to live in such an incredible part of Australia, so magically beautiful all 12 months of the year. In fact, Winter has got to be our absolute favourite season here in spa country. Whether it's a cold night spent by the fire with a glass of local pinot, or waking up on a frosty morning with the landscape shrouded in fog; there really is no better place to get Lost in Winter.

With this in mind, I share with you my reasons to get Lost in July with a gin masterclass at Animus Distillery in Kyneton and a unique experience at the Castlemaine Theatre Royal for the Documentary Film Festival. We enjoy some footy and a feast at the Inaugural Pride Cup in Daylesford, before taking a visit to new kids on the block, Musk Lane Urban Winery. Then, a night to remember at The Davidson Brother's 20th Anniversary concert in Woodend, before all our Christmases (in July) come at once at a very festive Daylesford Cider.

In this edition, Richard sits down with new owners and publishers of Lost, accommodation powerhouse Tony & Theresa to talk all things "houses", and learns of the passion that drives their success and commitment to our region.

After, a chat with Lake House Owner and culinary icon Alla Wolf-Tasker at her Lake House kitchen garden ‘Dairy Flat Farm’ reveals that you really can’t beat fresh vegetables.

With freshness at the forefront of our minds, I share with you my secret recipe for the best winter mussels and the boys at Animus introduce us to The Martinez before new contributor Anthony then tells us all there is to know about the Saffron Milk Cap mushroom.

Richard then meets with the crew behind Das Kaffeehause in Castlemaine for an indulgent afternoon of coffee and sweets with Elna before heading back to Daylesford as we welcome the regions newest resident designer, fashion icon Tiffany Trelour as she opens up shop in Vincent Street.

Finally, we strike a different kind of gold when we visit Sue and her expert truffle finder Abbie at Truffle Treasures in Spargo Creek. Sue shares with Richard her knowledge of garden prospecting and what it takes to produce good truffles, and how you can enjoy them while visiting our region.

So grab a coffee, find a comfy nook and join us as we discover this July edition of Lost.

SAM PRIDMORE
Editor-In-Chief