Cheffields set to open ‘The Store’ this Saturday
After supplying quality Gippsland meat to the hospitality industry for the past 20 years, the team at Cheffields is proud to announce the opening of its new retail outlet ‘The Store’ this Saturday. ‘The Store’ at 24 Masterson Court, Warragul (off Hazel Drive) is an exciting development in the company’s history, the origins of which trace back to Andrew and Kristi Smith’s farming and cooking careers.
As operators of a beef farm at Tonimbuk, a passion for the land and experience as chefs, Andrew and Kristi had developed a knowledge of what chefs were looking for in the kitchen.
The paddock to plate concept grew in their minds and Cheffields was born in 2001 – ‘to the chef from the fields’ – Cheffields. Managing director Andrew and the team at Cheffields are passionate about regenerative agriculture (or Regen Ag) which is a collection of farming practices that result in happier, healthier soil, food, humans, farmers and the planet. Regen Ag supports better life produce which seeks to attain a better life for the farmer, animal and consumer.
This is a core principle of the Cheffields philosophy and is at the heart of everything they do.
‘The Store’ will support quality Gippsland growers and farmers and will connect these growers and farmers with West Gippsland locals. “It will not only be a scotch fillet steak, it’ll be a scotch fillet steak from a known source. We want to be able to tell a story about all our produce – it’s about provenance, we want our customers to know the origins of the produce they consume,” said Andrew.
‘The Store’ will tell a story of how and where its quality produce and products came to be. As a consumer you will know more about the product you are to consume than ever before.
The enthusiasm doesn’t end there. Andrew, through Cheffields and a group of West Gippsland based farmers, growers, chefs and business owners are looking to put West Gippsland on the food map through the newly formed West Gippsland Progress Association.
Many regions around Australia are known for their produce but West Gippsland, one of the nation’s best and most fertile farming areas, needs an identity according to Andrew.
“We need to create brand West Gippsland to provide our fantastic local farmers with the edge they deserve when selling their produce. The West Gippsland brand will celebrate our farmers and the quality of our local produce in years to come,” said Andrew.
With provenance and quality at the heart of everything they offer, the team at Cheffields will provide an incredible range of produce and artisan products. This will include Bacchus beef from Tonimbuk, Gippslamb lamb from Buln Buln, chicken fresh daily and local venison and trout. ‘’Our delicious range of inhouse made sausages and burgers will have a secret ingredient in them – MEAT”, said Andrew jokingly. Pork will of course also be available.
Caldermeade Farm (Caldermeade) milk, butter, cream, goat milk (and in the future cheese) will also feature as well as Tarago Valley Organics (Longwarry North) yoghurt. Weyhill Farm (Ranceby) garlic granules and garlic salt, Come Fly With Me Beekeeping (West Gippsland hives) raw honey, Fat Cat Coffee Roasters (Newborough) coffee beans and down the track delicious Gippsland Country Pies – in a collaboration with Warragul’s famous Aperloos Bakery – will also be available.
A range of Prom Country Cheese (Moyarra/Bena) and Maffra Cheese Co (Maffra) cheeses will also feature at ‘The Store’. In addition, eggs, bread and smallgoods will round out the quality offering at ‘The Store’.
If you are into ‘low and slow’ cooking then you must visit ‘The Store’. They have everything you need to create that mouthwatering, uniquely flavoured ‘low and slow’ meal including a large selection of rubs and spices from Stagg and Co as well as their own Cheffields range of rubs and spices created in a collaboration with Warragul’s own String and Salt.
Monthly market days will be held on the third Saturday of each month. The market days will feature great specials and an opportunity to meet the farmers and suppliers whose produce and products are available at ‘The Store’.
Keep your eye on The Gazette and Cheffields social media channels to keep up-to-date with what is happening at the monthly market days.
Cheffields wants to continue to support community organisations and Baw Baw Food Relief is one of the key charities it assists. Cheffields ‘The Store’ will hold its grand opening celebrations this Saturday from 8am to 1pm. Make sure you call down and enjoy the festivities and see what ‘The Store’ is all about. Ongoing trading hours will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8am – 4pm, Thursday 8am to 7pm and Saturday 8am – 1pm. Cheffields ‘The Store’ can be reached
by phone on 1300 854 299.