NEW HUNTER VALLEY RESTAURANT OPENS THURSDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER, 2013
“Villa du Pays”
Bill and Vicki Widin of Leogate Estate Wines have great pleasure in announcing the opening of their restaurant “Villa du Pays” on the Brokenback Vineyard, 1693 Broke Road, Pokolbin.
The restaurant offers both dry-aged Australian Black Angus steaks sourced from the Widin’s “Middlebrook Park” cattle property in the Tamworth district of north-western New South Wales, and a delightful array of French country cuisine.
The executive chef is Ben Armstrong who has recently returned from an eight year stint in France, working in the kitchens of the Pourcel Brothers’ up-market restaurants in Paris and Montpellier. Ben is the son of Mark Armstrong, renown former owner and head chef of “Armstrong’s” steak restaurants in North Sydney and Manly (which will evoke many pleasant memories for steak-loving ex-patrons).
In addition to the list of mouth-watering steak cuts to be cooked as desired, other courses on Ben’s dinner menu include, as an entrée, “Marinated open beetroot ravioli stuffed with base temperature cooked tiger prawns and truffled cream, spiced avocado puree, orange and beetroot reduction, mixed baby herbs, $23 ” and, as a main, “Duo of duck, sous vide cooked breast crusted with hazelnut dukka, confit of the leg on braised puy lentils, sweet potato puree and candied kumquats, $39 ”.
The beef dry-aging room as well as the kitchen are on public display. The menu is expressed in both English and French for the benefit of Anglophiles.
The restaurant interior is elegantly finished and furnished with black studded chairs. One outdoor area adjoins the fountained courtyard, and the other overlooks the vineyard.
The wine list features Leogate Estate’s trophy winning wines from the Brokenback Vineyard, including the acclaimed 2011 Shiraz Reserves “Western Slopes” and “The Basin”.
Open for Lunch 11am to 3pm, and for dinner 6pm to 9pm, Thursdays to Mondays (but closed for the official opening, being a wine dinner for members on Saturday,14 September, 2013).
Reservations are recommended. Telephone: 4998 7499; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.