Bannisters, the hotel and much praised restaurant on the South Coast of New South Wales at Mollymook is to have a new chef as from 1 October, Rick Stein. Rick who has the famous Seafood Restaurant in the Cornish fishing village of Padstow is bringing his recipes, and seafood knowledge to Australia to make use of the fabulous fish and shellfish to be found in the waters south of Sydney

“Ever since a memorable weekend eating Pambula Oysters and flathead in Merimbula in the sixties I’ve had the image of the clean blue sea and sweet seafood of the South Coast fixed in my head so when I was introduced to Mollymook about six years ago I knew that one day I would open up a restaurant celebrating local fish and shellfish but keeping it really simple. Bannisters was the relaxed seaside hotel that I was looking for, so when they asked me if I’d be interested in cooking there I jumped at the opportunity.”

The menu will feature many of the dishes that work so well over in Padstow but will also pay tribute to local ideas on the best ways with a fillet of flathead, a plate of pippies or platter of local oysters and prawns. Rick’s senior sous chef, Julian Lloyd, will also come over from the restaurant in Padstow. Rick’s fiancée, publicist Sarah Burns will be working in partnership with Rick.

The menu will be almost entirely fish based though there will be a vegetarian and meat lover’s option every day. The wine list will concentrate on great fish wines but there will always be one or two dishes that would be well accompanied by a light fresh red like a Tasmanian Pinot.

Example of a few of the dishes:
    Crab with Wakame Salad and Wasabi Mayonnaise.  
    Provencal  Fish Soup with Rouille and Parmesan.
    Hot Lobster with Parsley, Chives and Tarragon
    Indonesian Seafood Curry with Blue Eye Trevalla, Calamari and Endeavour Prawns
    Fillet of John Dory with Fresh Summer Truffle  Slivers of New Potato and Wild Mushrooms

For restaurant bookings please phone 02 4455 3044

Open 7 nights a week for dinner, Saturday and Sunday for lunch.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 0412 492062