This was published 7 years ago
Where to eat on the Tweed coast: Chef Ben Devlin
Whole soft shell crab
Ben Devlin has been the Head Chef at Paper Daisy, Halcyon House's poolside restaurant since the boutique resort opened in May 2015. He was awarded the Brisbane Good Food Guide young chef of the year in 2014 and spent the previous three years as chef de cuisine at Esquire which, under his watch, was awarded three hats by the Brisbane Good Food Guide. Previously he worked for Rene Redzepi at Noma, in Copenhagen.
Celebrated chef Guillaume Brahimi will join Devlin in the Paper Daisy kitchen as guest chef August 12-14. See halcyonhouse.com.au
FAVOURITE TABLE
Ben Devlin.
Fleet in Brunswick Heads is making the best and most innovative food for sure, and the service is the most personal and professional experience you could ever hope for. (No website; Shop 2, 16 The Terrace, Brunswick Heads.)
MUST-TRY DISH
Grab some fish and chips or a picnic and find a beach or headland no one else is sitting on – there are plenty to choose from to find your own special spot. I'd usually go to the Stunned Mullet in Cabarita and walk up to the headland from there.
BEST-KEPT FOOD SECRET
I would say the multitude of fantastic seafood shops and co-ops away from the major touristy areas, like the Brunswick Heads Fish Co-op, Tweed River Seafoods at Chinderah and Stunned Mullet in Cabarita and Kingscliff. Also, for me, Izakaya Potts in Pottsville was an amazing find. They have a great sushi counter, yakitori and tempura. Considering its in a small strip of shops in such a tiny town, it was just so out of the blue but such great quality.
See facebook.com/izakayapotts/; www.tweedriverseafoods.com.au; thestunnedmullet.com.au.
FAVOURITE INDULGENCE
Generally sitting by any number of great waterfront parks and having a snack and a beer. Try Milk Bar in Brunswick heads and the park at Torakina. Also, Hotel Brunswick is a quintessential 1920's Aussie pub complete with a beer garden overlooking the river. See milkbarbrunswickheads.com.au; hotelbrunswick.com.au
BIG NIGHT OUT
I feel like the area is more of an early-to-bed early-to-rise kind of place, so for a big day out I'd say wander Brunswick, go to table view cafe for a coffee and some Scandinavian inspired snacks, go to the Bruns pub, relax in the park, have a cocktail at Fleet.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
This area has great weather and food all year pretty much, however May and June are the start of our off season. There is only the slightest chill in the air at night, the weather is still stunning and it's a time when we have more varieties of citrus fruit, seafood and vegetables. It's my favourite time of year.
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