History: Executive Chef Stefan Paul joined the expanding winery / restaurant in 2008. His flare and influence over the popular restaurant is being widely appreciated. The “Modern Australian” menu has now been nominated as a Gold Plate finalist. He believes his passion for local produce, and innovative take on cuisine comes from his Greek family who just love to cook. This obviously had a profound influence on him and has naturally guided him towards a career and passion for great food. “My mother and grandmother taught me the love of good quality food,” confirms Stefan.
Stefan started his cooking career in a local, wildly successful organic whole food café in Busselton, Bay Organics, which he ran with his sister and brother-in-law. He was then offered the opportunity to move to Victoria and join The Merrijig Inn Port Fairy under the tutelage of two hat Head Chef, Ryan Sessions. This experience fostered his passion for eastern Mediterranean food and also many French cooking techniques. However, the call of the West was too strong and in 2008 Stefan returned to Western Australia to become Executive Chef at the popular Margaret River winery Wills Domain.
Here he has combined his food passions; organic produce, local ingredients, French and Mediterranean style cooking to develop his very own and extremely popular Modern Australian cuisine. He believes that the freshness of local organic produce allows a certain purity and intensity of flavour, whilst having improved nutritional content as compared to the conventional produce. “It is easier to let the produce speak for its self when cooking with organic produce. The flavour is that much better,” states Stefan.
Wills Domain Restaurant currently sources many organic products: Bio-Dynamic Yallingup Wood Fired Bread, Bio-Dynamic Flour from Dumbluyung, and Organic Spelt. “I am always on the look out for as much organic meat and vegetables from our local producers as I can,” he confirms. According to Stefan Paul generosity is also a key ingredient so you will certainly walk away feeling very satisfied. This is just what Stefan aims to achieve – pleasure through great food.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Price: Entree $17.50 to $19.50, Main $27.50 to $39.50, Dessert $15.00 to $26.50
Address: Wills Domain Winery, Lot 341 Brash Road (Cnr Abbeys Farm Rd) Yallingup WA
Wills Domain Winery in Yallingup has a new cellar door restaurant offering panoramic views of the vineyard and Gunyulgup Valley. You could go so far as to say that their alfresco deck is one of the top spots for lunch in the entire wine region. On the menu you'll find a sumptuous selection of modern Australian cuisine, the result of the Executive Chef’s passion for organic produce, local ingredients, and French and Mediterranean style cooking. Generosity is also a key ingredient so you will certainly walk away feeling very satisfied. Wills Domain Cellar Door Restaurant offers a relaxing ambience and the staff are helpful but not too intrusive. Overall the venue offers an excellent balance of elegance and relaxation.
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