James Viles
It’s the result of a radical rethink of how he wants to live and eat. Biota’s James Viles tells delicious. why he’s gone back to nature with his new venture, Barn, in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Biota chef unveils his Barn project.
Consider it the “wild sibling” of its older sister, Biota. Barn by Biota is a new concept in regional dining, brought into being by chef James Viles. Well known for his existing Bowral venue, and his inextricable connection to the land he works on, Viles has seized the opportunity to transform an unused barn in nearby Kangaloon into a rustic, agrarian-style restaurant.
The converted space, which sits on a 40-hectare property, evolved from a recent revelation the chef had about his place in the restaurant world. “I don’t want to be a victim of my own creation anymore,” the chef told delicious. as he prepared to head off on a road trip exploring Australia’s food landscape in his role as a Land Rover ambassador. “We’re [now] creating restaurants around how we want to live, and how we want to eat.”
The unique destination-dining offering, which is topped by a chic two-bedroom loft for rent, will host just two dinners a month. And the experience? Viles sums it up this way: “We want it to be experimental and immersive. Everyone is itching to be in touch with nature; we’ve just decided this is how we are going to do it.”
With a primal, back-to-roots approach to cooking, Viles, alongside head chef Ryan Kovac, will cook everything over fire, from home-grown vegetables to Holmbrae chickens to roast lamb done asado (Argentinian grill) style. Guests will arrive in the afternoon to enjoy sunset drinks and snacks, and have the opportunity to roam the bucolic property. They’ll then sit down to a shared meal of the best local produce, including cheese from
delicious. Produce Awards winner Pecora Dairy and beef from Wildwood Hill. “Locals are already bringing us so much produce, and it’s all small-batch stuff,” says Viles. “We’ll only use what we have, so nothing goes to waste.”
As the chef pulls a full yabby trap from the property’s creek and delights at his score, it’s clear he is thriving in this untamed environment. “No rules, no bulls**t! I just want to have fun and have some wild dinners.” Strap yourself in!