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Bunnies Restaurant
Closes - But Wedding Bells Chime For Phil & Casey
-
 29th April 2005: Hot on the heels of my recent stories about
Steve Gudzinski leaving the region (April 20th); the death of Sir
Joh Bjelke-Petersen (April 23rd) and the closure of Barambah Ridge
(April 26th). I'm sorry to have to report yet another unexpected sea
change in the gastronomic lay of our land: the closure of Bunnies Restaurant
at Wondai. A few days ago owners Ruth and Bunny Walters
elected to shut the doors of the eatery (which they were leasing from Up
Country Bed and Breakfast owners Phil and Casey Russell - pictured
at right). This followed several months of very successful trading and thumbs-up
reviews from just about everyone who ate there. While the reasons for the
closure aren't clear, one thing certainly is clear: Wondai now has one less
restaurant and we're all much the poorer for it. I understand that Ruth is
now running the kitchens at a Kingaroy motel and her equally talented husband
Bunny is turning his hand to local musical gigs. Phil and Casey, meanwhile,
(who recently formalised their long-standing relationship with marriage)
say they have no immediate plans to re-open the restaurant and/or seek new
lessees. The sudden closure of Barambah Ridge had left the facility without
cellar door stock and the restaurant really needs full-time personnel to
operate it at capacity. So Up Country will be returning to its principal
function of focussing on bed and breakfast operations for the immediate future.
But if this changes, then you can expect to read about it here first.
Photo Phil and Casey Russell of Up Country Bed and Breakfast at
their recent wedding.
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Barambah Ridge To
Close Down
-
 26th April 2005: I'm very sad to report that one of the South
Burnett's pioneering wineries - Barambah Ridge at Redgate - will be
closing its doors this coming Mothers Day, May 8th. Barambah Ridge
was one of the earliest wineries established in the South Burnett (it first
opened to the public in 1995) and it helped kick off the spectacular growth
of the region's wine industry around Redgate and Moffatdale. While it's no
secret the Ridge lost money heavily during its first few years while it
established its vineyards and acquired wine-making contracts, in recent years
the company appeared to have really turned the corner and was making very
good progress indeed. In addition to the Redgate vineyards, for instance,
the firm also operated two cellar doors at Maryborough and Noosa and supplied
two more in the region (Pottique at Coolabunia and Up Country
at Wondai). It had also picked up a swag of state, national and even
international awards for its wines and was running regular events at its
premises every Sunday. In the latter quarter of 2004 it had also undertaken
a complete rebranding campaign, unveiling a stylish new logo and labelling
and fully refurbishing its Shaking Grape Cellar Door. So the sudden announcement
in November 2004 that it had gone into voluntary liquidation took everyone
by surprise. All the same, the company had initially hoped to trade out of
whatever difficulties it had. And that was the case until just recently when
the firm decided that rather than trade on while it waited for a buyer to
emerge it would shut up shop completely. Right now (and up until Mothers
Day) the winery are clearing out their remaining stock at bargain basement
prices (eg: $55 to $77 per carton). But after this the Ridge will be
shutting its gates until either a buyer emerges or asset-strippers come in
to tear the place down piece by piece. Personally, I'm very sorry to see
the Ridge go and I sincerely hope a white knight who'll buy the premises
lock, stock and barrel will emerge to re-open it soon. Until then, though,
we'll all have to say a sad farewell...
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Sir Joh and Pumpkin
Scones: My True Story
-
 23rd April 2005: In the early nineties I was employed as pastry
chef at Brisbane's former Beaufort Heritage Hotel. One morning the General
Manager told me former Queensland Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen
was coming for a morning tea function. The manager insisted that I make freshly
baked pumpkin scones - apparently Sir Joh's favourite. My wife was
born in Joh's hometown of Kingaroy and I prayed she'd know the recipe but
she wasn't at home when I phoned. So I desperately begged the Manager not
to make me do it - I'd never made them and knew I couldn't possibly compete
with Lady Flo's famous scones. But my boss sternly roared "You WILL make
those pumpkin scones. And they'd better be good!" And since he was a seven-foot
tall German I wasn't about to tangle with him. Terrified out of my brain,
I tried in vain to make the scones and stuffed them up three-times. The first
batch were flat as Frisbees; you could've played golf with the second batch;
and the third attempt was just ugly. With only half an hour left until Joh's
imminent arrival I gave my wife one last phone call and found to my relief
that she'd just got home from shopping. "Not a problem! I've got Flo's recipe
right here in the kitchen", she said. I frantically wrote it down and then
(delirious with panic) gave the scones a fourth attempt. And to my utter
amazement, they actually looked like real scones. Fresh from the oven, the
bright orange beauties were raced off to Sir Joh's table and as the manager
served them up with jam and cream, he thought it would be a riot to tell
Joh about my scone-induced anxiety attack. Sir Joh graciously responded "Well,
you go and tell the pastry chef… don't you worry about that!" The scones
came back only half eaten but his comment really made my year. We'll miss
you, Sir Joh. Footnote: Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, 94, passed away
at the South Burnett Community Private Hospital at 6:00pm this evening after
a long illness.
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Steve Gudzinski Heads
For The Gold Coast Hinterland
-
 20th April 2005: With great sadness I have to officially announce
that award-winning chef Steve Gudzinski will be leaving the South
Burnett at the beginning of May. After an eventful 3½ years cooking
in the region, the respected 27-year-old culinary whiz will be moving to
Tamborine Mountain Winery near the Gold Coast. "For the last 12 months my
partner and I have held a long-distance relationship and I've made the decision
to follow my heart and live closer to her" he told me this week. Steve's
tour of duty in the South Burnett region has really been quite extraordinary.
During his time here he ran the kitchens of three of Kingaroy's best eateries
- The Bell Tower Restaurant, the Red Earth Restaurant and (most
recently) Explorers Restaurant. Two of these restaurants received
rave reviews in the Courier-Mail's Restaurant Guide during his term at the
helm. In September 2003 he also featured on the cover of the Courier-Mail's
Good Life magazine when they profiled regional chefs. And the same year he
was part of team of four local chefs who competed in the LifeStyle Channel's
Australian Regional Culinary Competition in Adelaide. He's also taken out
the PCA South Burnett Culinary Competition's grand champion award for an
unprecedented three years running. And he's steadily become not only
one of Queensland's best recognised chefs, but has built up a bit of a cult
following in our own region as well. The Cuisine team would like to thank
him for his tireless efforts in helping establish the South Burnett's reputation
as Queensland's premier food and wine destination - and we're sure we're
not alone in wishing him continued success in the future. Photo above::
Steve Gudzinski at the 2005 PCA Regional Cuisine Culinary Cook-Offs (photo
by Clive Lowe, courtesy of the
Peanut Company of
Australia)
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Sylvia Comes 5th
In State Barista Competition
-
 17th
April 2005: South Burnett speciality coffee maker and Kingaroy TAFE
hospitality teacher Sylvia Parsons has just come fifth in the Queensland
finals of the 2005 Australian Barista Championships. The competition
- put on by the Australasian Speciality Coffee Association (AASCA) - was
held at Dibella Coffee House in Bowen Hills, Brisbane recently. Competitors
had a tight 15 minutes to brew-up four espressos, cappuccinos and signature
drinks. Sylvia impressed the judges with her exciting new signature beverage
'"Café Mimi". The drink (which was designed specifically for
the occasion) consisted of chilled espresso, minted mocha ice-cream, chocolate
sauce, whipped cream and a choc mint crisp. Sylvia told me that competitors
at the competition came from all over Queensland. "Some were from Townsville
and others from Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast", she said. The winner
of the competition was 24-year-old Daniel Millane from Costa Noosa
Espresso on the Sunshine Coast who's since gone on to compete at the
National Finals in Melbourne. Sylvia told me she's very happy with the outcome
of her first Barista competition. "Competing gave me automatic membership
in National Barista Guild," she said, "not to mention a great personal challenge
and a learning experience. I'm looking forward to the next competition and
hope I can go further".
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2005 PCA Regional
Cuisine Cook-Off Recipes Now Available Online
-
 14th April 2005: Hello everyone! South Burnett Cuisine
is resuming normal operations today after a 6-week break. I'd originally
planned a shorter period away from the desk so that I could recover from
organising the Regional Cuisine Cook-Offs at this year's
Wine & Food In The Park
Festival. But several other things (like recuperating from a virus
that laid me low for a week and the need to do some university exams) conspired
to extend things a little bit longer than anticipated. All the same, rumours
that I've died and gone to heaven are premature. And a big thankyou
to the many readers who phoned or emailed me to ask what was going on - I'll
make sure that next time I take a break there's a note about
it here on the site. All the same, South Burnett wine and food news hasn't
stopped while I've been away and I have a huge number of stories for
you over the next few weeks. Today's one, though, is a wrap-up of where we
last left off. The 2005 PCA South Burnett Regional Cuisine Cook-Offs
which were held at Wine & Food In The Park last month were the largest
yet - both in terms of competitor numbers and the crowds looking on. If you
were there I'm sure you had a great day out and I'd like to congratulate
the winners. Steve Gudzinski (for the third year running!) took out
top honours for the best overall dish. Ruth Walters won gold for most
innovative use of peanuts. Ramon Whitten took line honours for the
best wine and food match. And Tyler Perkins took out a special award
for the most outstanding apprentice. The good news I have to break today
is that if you want to get the recipes you saw at the Cook-Offs, you
now can. They're
available online from PCA's web
site. I'd also like to thank PCA for sponsoring this increasingly
important event and our two guest judges - Alastair McLeod and Nick
Bray - who made it such a fun day out for everyone. Next year's Cook-Offs
are going to have a different slant to this year's. But I'll
have more to say about that at the appropriate time. Photo: Three
time PCA Regional Cuisine Cook-Off winner Steve Gudzinski - photo courtesy
of Clive Lowe
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2005 Cook-Off The
Biggest Yet
-
4th March
2005: Last week I jumped the gun a little bit and let it be known that
the 2005 PCA Regional Cuisine Cook-Offs were shaping up as the biggest
yet. I was 100% correct about this, even though a surprise pull-out by Brad
Clark from the Bell Tower Restaurant (due to other commitments that
unexpectedly emerged at the last minute and knocked him out of the running)
has reduced the field of contestants to nine. All the same, fans of
this annual competition - where each chef has a bare 20 minutes to whip up
an innovative dish utilising South Burnett produce and peanuts, matched with
a local wine - look like they're in for a special treat this year.
The complete programme will run from 10:00am in the morning right
through to final summations from judges Alastair McLeod and Nick
Bray at 4:00pm and then the presentation of the 2005 awards at
4:30pm. Some of the most talented chefs from right around the region
will be taking part and I'll be doing a lunchtime demonstration of how to
prepare a Peanut and Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Fresh Fruit Salsa
(pictured) at around 12:30pm to provide a bit of a break. If
you want to come along and barrack for a particular chef you'll find the
full schedule for this year's Cook-Offs on the
Wine & Food In The Park web
site very shortly (just print off a copy and bring it along with
you). I'm sure it's going to be one heck of a good day for foodies and I
look forward to seeing you there! (PS: You can get my Panna Cotta
recipe in PDF format
by clicking here - but
come to the Cook-Offs and you can see a hands-on demonstration of how it's
actually done)
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Wondai Gets A Little
Pasta and Opera
-
1st March
2005: Last month I was privileged to be a guinea pig for Graham
Mitchell, the man responsible for the Wondai dining phenomenon Dimities
Cottage. Graham is arguably the shyest chef in the South Burnett and
has refused to let me take his photo for years (it's nothing personal:
he does it with everyone!). But that hasn't stopped Dimities' regular
smorgasbords, fortnightly Sunday lunches, fortnightly Saturday
breakfasts and special events (like Christmas In July) becoming
a South Burnett legend. The reason I was invited to be a guinea pig - along
with about 30 other people - is that Graham wanted to test another new dining
experience that I'm certain is going to be a big hit. From this Friday 4th
March onwards, Dimities will be holding regular Pasta Under The Stars
nights on the first Friday of the month, kicking off 6:30pm and running
right through to late in the evening. Guests at these BYO events can get
to enjoy alfresco dining in Dimities new courtyard (they'll move indoors
in the colder months); a wonderful atmosphere (checkered tablecloths, candlelight
and Italian opera playing in the background); and a three-course menu of
freshly-cooked Italian foods that was simply breath-taking on the night I
attended. The first Friday of the month is also opening night for the Wondai
Art Gallery's regular exhibitions, so if you really want to have a big
night out you can easily combine both (eg: visit the Gallery for a knees-up
opening, then cross the road for a thumping Italian finish). Like everything
at Dimities, the prices are inexpensive; the food is terrific; the service
couldn't be friendlier; and bookings are highly advisable if you want to
be sure of a seat. You can book your own seat for this Friday's Pasta Under
The Stars by phoning (07) 4168-5744. Photo: Pasta Under The Stars
kicks off at Dimities Cottage in Wondai this Friday night, March 4th.
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