Tassie eateries lauded

FIVE Tasmanian restaurants have made the cut in a prestigious list of Australia’s top 100 eateries, with one scoring the coveted Best Newcomer gong for 2018.

The Australian Financial Review’s annual gourmet guide, peer-voted from a list of 500 eateries nominated by critics and editors, was revealed in a gala event in Sydney on Monday night.

New Norfolk’s acclaimed Agrarian Kitchen Eatery debuted at number 32, also scoring the national Best Newcomer Award for its work under young chef Ali CurreyVoumard.

Earlier this year, the New York Times travel section listed the Agrarian Kitchen Eatery and Store among the best things to do in Tasmania — describing the state as “a devilish island attracting Australia’s best chefs”.

Founder Rodney Dunn said the number of Tasmanian restaurants on the list proved there was a change in the state’s culinary scene, which he put down to local produce.

“It shows a certain level of maturity [and] Tasmania once upon a time didn’t have that representation and that variety of places,” he said.

It was also high on the itinerary of celebrity chef Nigella Lawson during her recent visit.

Four other Hobart restaurants also made the list: Franklin (Tasmania’s Top Restaurant) at number 14; Templo on Patrick St at 45; Fico on Macquarie St at 76; and Brooke St Pier’s Aloft at 89. Cleaning up at the awards was Victorian eatery Brae, from the regional town of Birregurra 130km southwest of Melbourne. The restaurant claimed best restaurant, best Victorian restaurant and top service team.