CARS: EPICUREAN EXPERIENCE
Indonesia Tatler was honoured to travel on a journey across Western Australia to experience Lexus’ superior performance and brand values
Cruising down under to Western Australia with Lexus to enjoy good food and wine
With an unwavering commitment to bold,
uncompromising design, exceptional craftsmanship, and exhilarating performance, Lexus has been manufacturing premium automobiles for its affluent customers since 1989. Moreover, in the words of David Nordstrom, Vice President of Lexus Asia Pacific, “Lexus is dedicated to curating amazing experiences beyond luxury automobiles: experiences that are designed with intent, offer a heightened attention to detail, and ones that anticipate the guest’s desires.”
To showcase these underlying philosophies, Lexus proudly held “Escape to Amazing”, a series of epicurean moments curated exclusively for its guests that was set in the heart of Western Australia’s Margaret River Region in November last year. The region was picked as the setting because it provides an experience that represents the Lexus brand pillars, not to mention that it is home to 217 vineyards and 187 wineries. In fact, Margaret River is ranked as one of the world’s most famous wine regions. The experiences in the journey were specially chosen to be unique and memorable each in its own. Lexus constantly seeks to surprise and delight guests in new and exciting ways as Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation once said: “We don’t just transport people, we transport senses.”
The journey started when guests from all around the world arrived in Margaret River and had lunch together at the Pullman Bunker Bay Resort. Later in the evening, they had dinner at Vasse Felix, a modern winery and multi-awardwinning restaurant as well as a pioneer wine estate of the region that was founded in 1967. Guests were first led by Virginia Willcock, Vasse Felix’s Chief Winemaker, as a judge for a fun wine-blending competition. Chef
Brendan Pratt later presented a delicious dinner that further emphasised Lexus’ brand pillar of “Pioneering and Brave Design”.
On the next day, guests were given the chance to enjoy a first-hand experience of driving Lexus vehicles on both a circuit at the closed-to-the-public Busselton Margaret River Airport and also on the open road before having dinner later at Larry Cherubino. The establishment is
set in an exclusive private location with towering rows of handcrafted wine barrels surrounding diners who enjoyed Thai-fusion menus prepared by celebrity chef
Palisa Anderson, who has honed her craft through years of extensive travel to perfect her skills, which is seen through the menu which she presented to the guests that evening.
Her culinary skills and craftsmanship recalls the “Takumi Craftsmanship” ingrained in Lexus’ vehicles.
The journey continued the day after, starting with an immersive and exhilarating afternoon at the annual Western Australia Gourmet Escape’s Gourmet Village. The village was situated in the beautiful grounds of Leeuwin Estate Winery, offering the best of what the region has to offer: wineries, distilleries, cideries, breweries, as well as makers of chocolate, honey, nougat, tea, truffles, preserved produce, and more.
The day—and the memorable trip—closed with a modern gastronomic dinner that represented the last of Lexus’ brand pillars: “Imaginative Technology”. It took place at Fraser Gallop Estate and was prepared by Chef Nelly Robinson of nel. Restaurant in Sydney, who brought together innovation and imagination for a truly theatrical dining experience, bringing the trip to a perfect end.