Sydney Escapes: Nanna Kerr's Kitchen Hunter Valley
Blogging about Sydney is what I love yet whenever I get the chance, I will escape to the country. That’s exactly what I did this week when I was invited to check out Nanna Kerr’s Kitchen in the Hunter Valley. Now I have to be upfront here, I could be really biased because I know Matty & Jimmy who own the restaurant, and as always, I say it as it is; if I don’t like something I’d rather not write about it than say something bad. In this post I am going to sing praises to these two boys because the food is wholesome, delicious and organic! Friends or not, Nanna Kerr’s has something quite unique about it so please do read on.
I wasn’t there for breakfast but I can share what’s on the menu.
Chia Pudding with Cashew Caramel and Berries
Chia Pudding with Apricots and Maple Syrup Nuts
Eggs Benedict with locally cured ham, sautéed spinach in house preserved lemon dressing and cashew Hollandaise (our Hollandaise is vegan)
House Baked Beans with Cacao & Cinnamon
All the bread at Nanna Kerr's is Morpeth Sourdough (owned by Steve Arnott - of the biscuit family)
House made hash browns with almond milk
I actually arrived at lunchtime and as soon as I pulled into the carpark I couldn’t wait to check out what the boys had done with Nanna Kerr’s. Of course I had a big warm welcome from Matt and Jimmy and then I joined some other people for lunch on one of the larger tables who I had not met before. It felt like I was with old friends once we all started chatting, and it was great to learn from the other guests about the local produce, which is grown in the area.
Now on to lunch!
Souper Model Chicken Bone Broth – Confession I don’t know the last time I had tasted bone broth, or if I ever had so this was new to me. When I took my first sip, I was hooked! Now this is exactly what you would expect nanna to make for you when you are unwell, except this broth is super tasty!
House made Liver & Love Pate and pickles – Sensational!
Cheeses from Hunter Valley Cheese Company – We are in the Hunter Valley so you would expect excellent cheese and of course these were. My favourite was a soft blue I totally pigged out on that one.
Steak and Porcini Mushroom Pie (Miranda's childhood Favourite) – Do not tell anyone you heard this from Sydney Chic….Yes Miranda Kerr (Matty’s sis) Shhhhh. I’m not surprised it’s Miranda’s favourite! Nothing beats a homemade pie!
Wattle Seed and Coconut Sugar Chocolate Brownie – What can I say? The photo says it for me.
Lunch was served with organic wines
Dinner
Roast Chicken, Pumpkin and Feta Salad with Pine Nuts and Balsamic Reduction – A healthy and delicious starter and filling enough for me that I could have probably stopped at that!
Pa's Pot Fruity Lamb with Spiced Cous Cous & Pickled Ginger – A winner! Quite spicy and cooked to perfection.
Old Fashioned Caramelised Oranges with Juniper and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Mulberry and Coconut Semi Freddo – Yes – two desserts! No I couldn’t finish them both, I just had a taste of each. Delicious! Any dessert with caramalised orange will win me over!
WINES AT LUNCH
Macquariedale Nothing But Grapes (red) & Matthew Merlot, Liquid Christmas Cake Muscat
Tamburlaine Reserve Semillon (white)
OTHER WINES By Emma’s Cottage Vineyard
Nanna Kerr’s Kitchen uses:
Chickens from Little Hill Farm
Beef and lamb from Hunter Natural which is also sold at Morpeth Butchery
Fruit and vegetable is from Organic Feast in Maitland and small 'off the grid' local farmers and our own garden.
Eggs are from Idle Wilde Farm
Milk and cream is from Udder Farm
Soft drinks are from Parkers Organic in Sydney
Wherever possible Nanna Kerr’s use organic ingredients and replace refined white sugar with coconut sugar or raw sugar
All stocks are made on the premises.
Emma's Cottage Vineyard, 438 Wilderness Road, Rothbury NSW 2320
FYI Nanna Kerr’s Kitchen is shared with Emma’s Cottage Vineyard, so I stayed the night and you can read about Emma’s Cottage Vineyard in this post. The drive from Sydney CBD took me 2.5 hours and it was worth it! The restaurant has two seating areas so diners can enjoy their food outside or if prefer sit inside and enjoy the country ambience.
Matty and Jimmy (my hosts) are hands-on with their business and the service was excellent…thanks also to Declan who was super efficient!
02 4998 7333, 0434 234 144 or 0403 938 262
Thursday - Monday Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner from 8am until late CLOSED Tuesday & Wednesday
DISCLAIMER: I dined as a guest of Nanna Kerr's Kitchen