Culinary Hotspot Blends South–American Fire with Mediterranean Flair

IMAGES: MEGANN EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY

Tucked away in the hidden gem that is the Mount View area of the Hunter Valley and located in the award-winning boutique winery of Briar Ridge is an exciting new restaurant that blends the best of Brazil with Mediterranean and Northern Italian influences – the Estancia Osteria.

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Gabriel Rodrigues and James Orlowski opened Estancia Osteria in April of this year. They had worked together as Group Executive Chefs in Sydney before seeking a venue big enough to incorporate a smokehouse and outdoor barbeques, critical components of their innovative live-fire cooking techniques. They found the space at Briar Ridge at the formerly named Osteria.

“It was James who found the venue,” said Gabriel.

“I was in Italy studying osterias (traditional Italian eateries), and here he was at a venue previously known as Osteria. We didn’t think twice. We restyled and built all the tables and chairs ourselves out of old second-hand rustic timbers.”

Born in Brazil, Rodriques spent ten years working in French cuisine with Michelin-starred chefs and has experience across three continents.

In contrast, Orlowski grew up on a New Zealand cattle farm, which taught him the importance of the provenance of produce. The pair are supported in the kitchen by their small and well trained team, who bring passion and drive to exceed guest expectations on every front.

Together, the team have created a menu that is centred on cooking over fire, which enhances flavours. Meats take two to three days to prepare, and each dish is crafted using locally sourced ingredients.

The menu changes frequently but includes a selection of pasta dishes such as pappardelle with smoked brisket ragout, meat dishes such as the Iron Bark smoked lamb shoulder and desserts such as Tiramisu with orange mascarpone. Every Thursday, a locals pasta night includes three courses for $39. The highlight of the week is Smoky Sundays, which feature the barbeque style of different countries cooked on open fire.

Wash all this delicious food down with a glass or two of Briar Ridge wines, and your day becomes perfect. Estancia Osteria is located at Briar Ridge Vineyard, Mount View and is open Wednesday to Sunday, serving dinner Thursday to Saturday and breakfast Saturday and Sunday.

For bookings, www.estanciaosteria.com.au/book-a-table or call 4060 9048.