A changing of the seasons
Emeraude grows off the back of its producers
TOOWOOMBA’s dining scene is abuzz with a new word – Emeraude.
The work of the Hinds family, the micro-regional eatery in Hampton has set tongues wagging since it opened in November, 2017.
Speaking to The Chronicle after yesterday’s lunchtime rush, head chef Amanda Hinds said their following had grown enormously over the past two months.
It’s nothing new for the Hinds, they were the brains behind the establishment of much-loved Bundaberg restaurant Indulge, which was voted most popular venue in Queensland in 2015.
After a quiet opening with minimal fanfare last year, Emeraude was booked out “nearly every night last week” and their Saturday and Sunday lunch services have been packed with patrons too.
Mrs Hinds said the restaurant had received “great support” from people as far away as New South Wales, Brisbane, the Burnett Region, the Sunshine Coast and of course Toowoomba.
But the success wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the incredible
producers in the immediate region, from whom they source their fruit, vegetables and meat.
While there are a few staples for regular diners at Emeraude, the offerings shift week by week as Mrs Hinds weaves newly arrived produce into the menu, a reflection of the changing seasons outside the restaurant’s doors.
A recent delivery of various heirloom tomatoes from Hampton’s Half Moon Farm serves as an example.
“There were seven different types of tomatoes
and I don’t think I knew one of them, but they’re all super pretty with amazing flavours,” Mrs Hinds explained.
“Over the next couple of days they’ll get written into the menu because they’re there for a second. Next week they might not be there.
“We’re working seasonally with the farmer, they tell us what to do. It feels like that’s the normal way of being.”
Emeraude is located at 8616 New England Highway, Hampton.