MICHELIN Star-rated chef Nick Whitehouse is back in Moree, with a big Mother’s Day weekend planned for Maslina Bar and Grill.
Maslina’s culinary journey, timed perfectly to coincide with Moree on a Plate food and wine festival, starts Friday with a wine degustation night featuring award-winning vineyard, Topper’s Mountain Wines.
“The five-course wine dinner should be really good, and we can still take bookings,” Nick said.
The meal, paired with Topper’s Mountain Wines, is great value at $125 per person.
“There is also the option to switch wine for beer,” Nick said.
Topper’s Mountain Wines, a boutique, family-owned vineyard established by Mark and Stephanie Kirkby more than 20 years ago, is located near Tingha in the New England region and well-known for focusing on alternative wine varieties like Tannat, Gewürztraminer, Nebbiolo and Tempranillo.
The weekend food journey continues on Saturday with Moree on a Plate, where thousands of locals and visitors will converge on Moree racecourse from 10am.
On Mothers’ Day, Nick will be back on the tools at Maslina Bar and Grill preparing a three-course roast lunch, with shared entree, shared sides and alternate drop dessert.
“Mothers’ Day will be special at Maslina,” Nick said.
“We’ll have roast sirloin of beef, roast pork loin and roast pork belly, and roast, free-range chicken breasts.
“Sides will include duck-fat roast potatoes, slow-roasted carrots and buttered greens.
“There will be plenty to choose from. We’ll also have fish on the menu as well as vegetarian and vegan options,” he said.
Mothers’ Day lunch bookings, at only $85 per person and $45 per child under 12, are limited. Seats for Mothers’ Day as well as Friday night’s five-course wine degustation dinner can be booked by calling Maslina Bar and Grill on 6751 1307.
Nick, who twice cooked for Lady Diana, is a regular visitor to Moree.
He has cooked all over the world and prepared meals for a long list of international stars and celebrities, including Kelly Clarkson and Ronan Keating, and was personal chef for the Red Hot Chili Peppers during a UK tour.
He now works as a culinary teacher at TAFE, and has just taken a role in new product development with Dari’s Kitchen, part of the Summit Group.
“Dips, soups, banana breads, slices, protein balls – you name it, I’m designing it at the moment,” Nick smiled.
He loves returning to Moree for “working holidays” at Maslina Bar and Grill, owned by well-known locals Mick and Zelch Cikota.
“I’ve known Mick and Zelch for years, and I love coming to Moree,” Nick said.
“The people up this way are lovely and so friendly, and I always get a welcoming, warm reception when I’m here – I really enjoy it.
“And I love Maslina. It’s like an oasis. Fresh bread is made a couple of times a week, the gnocchi is hand-made and the butchery is done in-house, with dry-aged meat from Reado’s – everything is a dream to work with and the local produce is amazing,” he said.
“The kitchen is such a dream to work in as well. There is a large Synergy grill and it just makes cooking a steak so much easier.”
Nick’s working holiday this weekend will be non-stop – but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Friday’s wine degustation night will be fantastic and on Sunday we’ll have the ultimate roast lunch for Mothers’ Day – we’ve got a big weekend planned for Maslina,” he said.
Maslina Bar and Grill Mothers’ Day weekend
Friday, May 8: Wine degustation night featuring five-course meal with paired Topper’s Mountain wines. There is an option to switch wine for beer. Price: $125.
Sunday, May 10: Three-course roast lunch with choice of roast sirloin of beef, roast pork loin and roast pork belly, and roast, free-range chicken breasts. There will also be fish, vegetarian and vegan options. Entrees are shared, mains with shared sides and alternate drop dessert. Price: $85 per person and $45 per child under 12.
Bookings can be made by calling Maslina Bar and Grill on 6751 1307.
