Summer is a time for lighter dining, with thoughts turning to seafood, salads and sizzling steaks. It is also a time to broaden your culinary horizons and perhaps take a trip to a Chef-hatted dining destination near you and experience the best your region has to offer.
As we continue on our delicious drive around the country stopping in at Chef-hatted restaurants, here are five perfect for Summer dining:
Shared Food and Wine Experience
At Glenbosch Wine Estate on Beechworth-Wangaratta Road in Beechworth, it’s all about sharing the experience of fine food, wine and crafted spirits. Feel right at home among the vines while relaxing with a glass of estate wine like 2020 Sangiovese Blush, or Glenbosch Craft Original Gin – made from favourite botanicals for the smoothest gin you'll taste.
Settle in for a tasting session, accompanied by char siu pork belly, corn purée, bok choy and hoisin dressing, or butternut risotto with smoked tomato sauce, crispy basil and shaved Parmesan. Larger appetites are appeased with barramundi, pomme purée, gnocchi, molecular potato crisp, vinegar gel and tiger’s milk, or a broccoli steak, chickpeas, citrus glaze, dukkah and a side of gunpowder fries. Finish indulgently with vanilla panna cotta, strawberries and meringue.
Nestled among 200-year-old Gum Trees
Discover the beauty of McLaren Vale at Serafino, a winery, restaurant and accommodation venue nestled among 200-year-old gum trees, lakes and rolling hillsides. The largest venue space in McLaren Vale, Serafino is an ideal location for weddings, functions and intimate occasions, with an onsite winery and cellar door adding to the experience.
From a carefully crafted menu of Modern Italian-Australian fare created using seasonal produce, begin with garden beetroot and gin-cured ocean trout, kohlrabi, watermelon radish, fennel and crab crème fraiche and elderflower, or seasonal asparagus, courgette, quail egg, golden beet, saganaki, lemon and pink pepper. Move on to mains of campanella pasta with bug meat, crab, prawn, squid, tomato, black garlic oil, baby zucchini and marjoram.
Celebrate Simple Things in Life
Great food, great drinks and great company...Sydneysiders celebrate the simple things in life at Mode Kitchen & Bar on George Street in the heart of the CBD. Delivering uncomplicated, yet memorable Modern Australian dining experiences for lunch and dinner, Mode strikes an ideal balance between a casual bistro and fine dining, with a touch of glamour from surrounds of polished wood, statement pendents and banquette seating.
Take the first step towards your culinary destination with spanner crab, brioche crisp, Louis sauce and chives, before signature plates like dry-aged duck breast, chard, pear and mustard, or spaghetti with rock lobster, cherry tomato and lobster bisque. Make sure to leave room for a divine dessert of a floating espresso martini with poached meringue, Mr Black anglaise, caramel and almond coffee tuile.
French Gastronomic Journey
Embark on a gastronomic journey of fine French food at its best at L’isle de France Terrigal on Ena Street. Soak up expansive ocean views from inside and out at this classically chic venue, where a full glass frontage lets in natural light and white-clothed tables, napery and candles set an intimate ambience, ideal for lingering over dinner with someone special.
Drawing inspiration from the diverse culinary heritage of Mauritius – the French island the restaurant is named for – expect entrées such as veal tartare, anchovies, char-grilled radicchio and barbequed beetroot purée; before plats principal like roasted duck breast, glazed honey and cinnamon, braised endive, orange gel and duck jus, or roasted lobster tail, romesco purée, asparagus and bisque emulsion.
French-inspired Paddock-to-Plate Dining
La Palette Restaurant - Mount Ashby Estate on Nowra Road in Moss Vale is a boutique vineyard and award-winning restaurant hidden in the stunning countryside of The Southern Highlands. Soak up the view at this French-inspired paddock-to-plate dining destination; wander the grounds and inhale the fresh country air before heading indoors to chill out with a glass of wine at farmhouse tables and ponder a creative lunch menu.
Start by sharing a charcuterie plate with pork rillettes, brie, feta, sun-dried tomatoes, terrine, prosciutto, salami, apricot chutney, caramelised onions and salad. For the main, think of plates like trout and dill salad with artichokes and dill cream dressing, or barramundi in beurre blanc and Chardonnay, with leeks, baby new potatoes and green beans; finish decadently with dark chocolate and almond torte, raspberry coulis and vanilla bean ice cream.
