5 Mod Oz Chef Hat Awarded Restaurants to Indulge the Senses.

Ever wondered where the term Modern Australian or Mod Oz comes from in reference to dining?

Mod Oz cuisine draws inspiration from Australian history, including all of the different cultures that have helped shape this country into what it is today – it is the result of a collision of cuisines from around the world. 

As we search for a unique food culture to call our own, we have embraced this term to describe menus that take inspiration from many avenues to produce food that can only be described as ‘extraordinary’.

Here are five Chef Hat-awarded Modern Australian restaurants we think you need to visit:

Expect relaxed dining from a serious food menu and extensive wine and craft beer list at Chef-hatted Charred Kitchen & Bar on New Street in Orange. Step into a warm and welcoming vibe, ideal for intimate dinners with your special someone, or celebrating a family occasion; there are well-stocked wine racks and softly glowing Edison bulb lighting indoors, while on balmy days, take to the alfresco area to soak up the sun.

 

Those seeking a bar snack can pair triple cheese stuffed zucchini flowers and rosemary honey with a glass of local Chardonnay; or delve into the tasting menu and indulge with market prawns, burnt onion, coconut and shellfish XO, coriander, purslane and lime, before lamb rump charred over coals, with rosemary and honey glaze and sheep’s yoghurt.

Located alongside the stunning Noosa River, Lanai on Gympie Terrace in Noosaville embodies the elegance of the region as an ideal venue for extended lunches, afternoon snacks or romantic evenings. Presenting an array of shareable dishes emphasising sustainably sourced seafood, native ingredients and locally-crafted artisan products, Lanai offers stylish alfresco dining on banquettes under market umbrellas; indoors is a coastal haven of white, with splashes of colour from cushions, floral displays and accents.

 

Those peckish opt for choices like a charred lamb skewer with radish, feta, Szechuan chilli and curry leaf, or Fijian-style kingfish with coconut, cucumber, chilli, coriander and matchsticks; larger appetites opt for Wagyu beef cheek, with loco moco, pepper gravy, toasted rice and sides of fried kipfler potatoes and roasted eggplant.

Serving hungry and thirsty locals for almost 150 years, Tinamba Hotel on Tinamba Seaton Road is one of Gippsland’s finest dining destinations. From the first-class ambience of the dining room, lounge and conservatory, to the relaxed atmosphere in the Amba Bar and outdoor verandah, this hotel exudes country hospitality to all who enter.

 

Using the finest, locally grown produce and working with the most talented Chefs in the region, expect to find dishes such as char-grilled lamb cutlets, chilli jam and Tinamba salad; before mains like wild venison leg, roasted shallots, broad beans and blueberry jus, enjoyed with a glass of Pinot Noir.

Take in scenic views of Lake Burley Griffin while dining at Waters Edge restaurant on Parkes Place in Canberra. Located in the middle of the international flag presentation on the shores of the lake, this tastefully furnished venue allows diners space to unwind, sinking into plush upholstered chairs under elevated vaulted ceilings, whether joining friends for lunch or enjoying an evening in warm surrounds.

 

A menu of innovative dishes is inspired by Modern Australian cuisine, begin an indulgent meal with salmon tartare, wasabi stracciatella, pickled vegetables and black lumpfish caviar; then delve into the likes of Hawkesbury duck breast, cauliflower purée, apricot gel, semi-dried strawberry, maple and coffee jus.

Explore an abundant harvest gathered from port to wilderness at Grain of the Silos on Lindsay Street in Invermay. It’s a bit off the beaten track, but this dining destination sits proudly in a patch of Tassie brimming with good food and people – from Flinders Island wallaby to Boomer Bay oysters and the creamiest Dutch potatoes, expect perennial favourites and seasonal treasures on a carefully curated menu.

 

A meander around Tasmania’s wine regions accompanies the menu, think dinner temptations of locally caught grilled octopus, smooth and crispy potatoes and fermented green chilli sauce to get the party started; move onto memorable mains such as perfectly cooked steak, King oyster mushrooms and mustard jus.