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Brisbane has long been associated as the culinary hub of Queensland's fine dining, but are the recent Brisbane Times Good Food Guide Awards for 2016 a sign that things are changing? With 14 of the 32 regional hats awarded on the Gold Coast, and 6 regional hats awarded on the Sunshine Coast, perhaps there are new hubs developing.
Set between some of the best beef farms in the country and on the shores of prime fishing regions, coastal Queensland restaurants are making their mark on the global food scene. Once reserved for the city, Queensland's best restaurants are branching out and new foodie hot spots are appearing. While great dining can be found right across Queensland these days, the two regional areas making waves today are undoubtedly the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are meccas for internationally recognised chefs looking for a sea change. Take award-winning chef Ash Martin for example. Fed up with the long, busy hours in Melbourne, he set about creating a new life at the Spicers Peak Lodge in Maryvale. His reason? He wanted to spend more time with his wife. The result? He now has the Sunshine Coast's 'paddock to plate' Homage Restaurant and another Good Food Guide hat under his belt. Chef Sam Moore is another, arriving on the Gold Coast fresh from Sydney and Melbourne to take on the kitchen at the Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach's Room81. It too carries a coveted Good Food Guide hat and is one of the Gold Coast's most awarded restaurants.
As the 'paddock to the plate' concept grows, perhaps great dining is moving away from the cities and settling down in new, more relaxed environments? Places where spectacular views are aplenty, produce is at its freshest and chefs at their most relaxed.
These new food paradises are well worth checking out.
Of the 14 hats awarded to the Gold Coast region, there's three that couldn't have gone to more deserving winners.
Within this opulent restaurant lies distinct areas for teppanyaki, sushi and private dining, each with their own elaborate menus. No matter what you choose you'll be treated to high-quality ingredients prepared with great precision. Ten is the perfect combination between good food, art and skill.
Ten is an incredible lunch stop, offering a choice of a 3, 4 or 5 course set menu. For the food you get it's unbeatable value and the smile will remain on your face for some time. For dinner try the 8+ course Omakase, 5 course degustation, or order from the extensive menu delights such as the plump fillet of black cod which has been lovingly marinated in saikyo miso for three days.
As mentioned above, chef Sam Moore has been lucky enough to work in some of Europe and Australia's best-loved kitchens, including Greg Doyle's upscale Sydney restaurant, Pier, and Melbourne's prestigious hotel restaurant, No35. His style is predominantly European-influenced, although he loves experimenting with modern techniques, such as smoking guns, liquid nitrogen and sous vide methods. His kitchen promotes a localised collection of micro-seasonal tastes.
Take a gastronomic journey and enjoy dishes such as smoked eel, pea, and king brown mushroom in broth or sovereign lamb saddle with jerusalem artichoke, pine mushroom and brussel sprouts. Order from the A La Carte menu and enjoy dishes like market fish with ruby grapefruit, jicama and broad beans or indulge with a valrhona sphere, smashed in front of you to reveal chocolate soil, homemade honeycomb, orange jelly, chocolate ice cream and orange sorbet.
This stunning, multi award winning Gold Coast restaurant boasts unrivalled Pacific Ocean views from every table. With Executive Chef Steve Szabo at the helm, dishes feature technically brilliant combinations of taste and texture, with innovative touches of "molecular gastronomy".
The restaurant decor is the epitome of Gold Coast glamour and the acclaimed menu is complemented by an intimate wine tasting room, private dining room and bar. Lunch favourites include seared scallops with andalouse sausage and pea puree, and a mouthwatering 8 hour pork cheek served with homemade potato gnocchi, broad beans and shaved pecorino. Dinner delights include white sturgeon caviar and freshly baked bread and braised lamb belly with sweetbreads, white polenta, caramelised yoghurt, peas and dehydrated milk foam. For dessert, try the semolina marinated sponge on a whipped yoghurt carpet with fresh pomegranate and pistachio halva.
Our favourite picks from the Sunshine Coast winners deservedly display their hats based on surprising flavour combinations, impeccable skill and a bold style that's unique to the area. Each restaurant has a beautifully elegant yet casual feel that's perfect for an evening of sharing.
The Long Apron restaurant offers a unique taste of Europe and is the Sunshine Coast's only two hatted restaurant. Chef Cameron Matthews has established a stellar reputation in the tranquil Sunshine Coast hinterland, delivering innovative, distinctive food created from local, seasonal produce.
A tasting menu is available from $125 and must be seen to be believed. The menu has been likened to an evening at the theatre, with multiple acts of surprising flavour combinations and conversation-stopping presentation. When choosing from the seasonal A la Carte menu, you'll find exquisite dishes such as butter poached chicken with kingaroy peanuts, puffed rice, lemon puree and wild bee honey or confit suckling pig with whey onions, cheese broth and roasted kale oil.
Breakfast is also available and makes for a special way to start the day.
Set within the Spicers Tamarind Retreat in Maleny sits Tamarind, a Modern Asian two-hatted restaurant that effortlessly combines sweet, sour and spicy flavours with fresh local produce. It's the perfect combination of traditional meets new and the blend of relaxed Sunshine Coast living and the vitality of Asia works perfectly.
Chef Rory Thorpe has always had a fascination with Asian food despite his classic culinary training. The result is flair and finesse and a passion for spice. The degustation is a must at just $95 and includes dishes such as Hervey Bay scallops, mushroom and soba noodles, miso cured salmon, pan-seared lamb and smoked yoghurt with apple. A banquet meal is equally as special and includes dishes such as Tom Yum bisque, beef salad, pork curry and chocolate and coconut pudding.
Located on the Esplanade at Hervey Bay, COAST enjoys spectacular views and beautiful ocean breezes from the expansive outdoor deck. The atmosphere is ideal for sharing and the menu is designed for middle of the table dining where you can eat, drink and relax.
The kitchen at COAST is headed by world traveller Nick Street-Brown and menu favourites include pork scratchings with fennel and chilli salt, herbed cauliflower risotto with goats cheese and curried almonds, and bourbon glazed beef short ribs. If you fancy something sweet, you'll love the pumpkin cheesecake with maple custard, pecans and candied ginger ice cream.
All of the above restaurants are not only the proud winners of hats in this year's Brisbane Times Good Food Gift Card Awards but they are also partners with the Good Food Gift Card, making the card an excellent gift for any occasion. You can purchase yours here.
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