Hats off to our chefs

October 1, 2019

The 2020 Good Food Guide has been announced, with Spicers Retreats earning a combined three hats for the year. Hosted in Brisbane for the first time, the guide was launched at a gala event at Howard Smith Wharves. Widely regarded by the industry as the foodie bible, ‘hats’ are a prestigious and sought after recognition of the hard work put in by kitchen and restaurant teams around Australia.

Our restaurant teams are humbled and honoured to be awarded a hat at three Spicers Retreats restaurants – Homage Restaurant, The Long Apron and The Tamarind.

The Long Apron in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

All three restaurants are vastly different in their identities, styling and flavours, yet all three combine the relaxed luxury and dining experiences that a Spicers Retreats restaurant has become known for.

Homage Restaurant is a true paddock to plate experience located in the fertile Lockyer Valley, just an hour west of Brisbane. Led by Head Chef Ash Martin, the past five years have seen a dramatic change for this regional restaurant, embracing fire as the main method of cooking and cultivating an extensive market garden to make it a true dining destination. 2019 was a big year for Homage Restaurant which saw Ash holding a master class on MasterChef Australia. It is no wonder the team earned a hat this year. Well done to the entire hardworking team of Homage Restaurant for their amazing win.

Ash Martin, Head Chef of Homage Restaurant in the Lockyer Valley.

Nestled among the rolling hills of the Montville in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland is The Long Apron. This modern French inspired restaurant, led by Head Chef Chris Hagan has long been a leader in experience dining in the hinterland. Congratulations to the team of The Long Apron for maintaining the high standards set in the kitchen and the restaurant.

Head Chef Chris Hagan of The Long Apron, Montville.

Hidden in the rainforest of Maleny in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, The Tamarind is a modern Asian restaurant that combines sweet, sour and spicy flavours from across Asia with fresh local produce – the perfect meeting of traditional and new.

Head Chef Dan Jarrett is renowned for his passion for Asian food within South East Queensland and he masterfully incorporates so much punch and flavour into his cuisine. Well done to the entire team of The Tamarind for their tireless work to regain their hat for the 2020 guide.