Two acclaimed chefs head for the hills to steer Scenic Rim restaurant The Paddock into a new era
Award-winning Scenic Rim dining spot, The Paddock at Beechmont Estate, is being ushered into an exciting new era by lauded culinary duo Chris and Alex Norman, who were recently appointed to helm the hatted hinterland restaurant. The husband-and-wife team honed their skills at Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels across the world, and bring a fresh new vision to Beechmont Estate’s coveted fine diner, which, as its name suggests, is all about hyperlocal paddock-to-plate gastronomy.
The talented tandem was most recently overseeing the kitchen at Albion’s Hervé’s Restaurant and Bar – and now they’re headed for the hills to curate a new culinary experience for Scenic Rim diners. Chris has assumed the role of executive chef, with Alex appointed executive sous and pastry chef, and together they are bringing to life an innovative a-la-carte menu that’s bursting with the region’s finest ingredients, all sourced sustainably from the 75-hectare Beechmont Estate’s on-site garden and the surrounding areas.
“The region is incredibly diverse in its offering and there is an abundance of phenomenal produce to choose from, from unique products like Summer Land Camel’s award-winning fetta and Sarabah Estate’s cheeses, to stunning produce from Valley Pride, Pikes Creek and Greenlee macadamias, and we are thrilled to now be living and working here and able to create more dishes that shine the light on local flavours,” says Chris.
Armed with a collective passion for local flavours and native produce, the duo’s debut menu features dishes like farm asparagus with whipped tofu, sweetwater cray with brandade croquettes, dry-aged wagyu rump with local beetroot, and desserts like Pikes Creek diamond plums with pistachio frangipane and finger-lime-leaf ice-cream.
Alongside the new farm-to-plate menu, Chris and Alex will also be driving a calendar of soon-to-be-announced culinary events at The Paddock, including guest-chef collaborations, winemaker weekends and sophisticated high-tea experiences.
The Paddock is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, welcoming both the public as well as guests of the luxury Beechmont Estate (formerly Hazelwood Estate), which offers five-star accomodation on the edge of the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park.
For bookings at The Paddock, head to the Beechmont Estate website.
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