The best regional food spots in NSW, according to Andy Allen

It began as a cosy 18-seater café in Bronte, but has grown to be one of Australia’s pre-eminent food empires.

In recent weeks, Three Blue Ducks broadened its reach once more with the opening of a new location in Burradoo, in the heart of the picturesque Southern Highlands of NSW.

The expansive Burradoo Park Farm boasts a bakery, café and intimate 45-seat Three Blue Ducks restaurant set inside a beautifully restored 200-year-old farmhouse, making it the new hot-ticket item for foodies across the region.

While the Three Blue Ducks story comes from inner-city origins, there is an acute push for regional locations. So it stands to reason that co-owner and celebrity chef, Andy Allen, has his eyes fixed on hotspots around the state and country.

Here are his top three foodie spots in NSW.

Byron Bay

Located in northern NSW, 800km north of Sydney and 175km south of Brisbane, Byron has been a popular tourist destination since the 1960s, when hippies and surfers established the town’s now famous bohemian community.

Luxury hotels and fine dining restaurants have joined the fray, capturing Byron’s essence with their emphasis on creativity and sustainability. With a range of natural and cultural attractions to suit all travellers, it’s easy to see what all the fuss is about.

Food options include Treehouse at Belongil Beach, Restaurant Dorsia, Hotel Marvell’s rooftop bar, or No Bones and Orgasmic Falafel for meat-free options.

That said, the first stop in Byron Bay for many is The Farm Byron Bay, home to Three Blue Ducks restaurant and produce store. Dine in for a lunch of pork rack, beetroot and stone fruit sauce (there’s a ‘Ducklings’ menu for the kids), pick up picnic supplies and head for the fields or, at the weekend, head out to the barbecue area for an Argentinian-style spit roast. Children will love the many farm based activities on offer, too (check the website for school holiday workshops).

“I will say Byron is in my top three, because we were in the right place at the right time and we were able to see that explode in terms of food and beverage. It always had it beauty but there wasn’t a great deal around in terms of 12 or 13 years ago,” Allen said of the region.

“It always had the produce as well, it’s crazy that it hadn’t kicked quicker than it did. There’s some beautiful places around Byron.”

RELATED: Ultimate guide to Byron Bay

Hunter Valley

The NSW Hunter Region is known mostly for its rolling hills and vineyards, but the area encompasses and offers so much more.

Choose your own adventure for a day trip or weekend getaway, where you can make time for nature, wine, conversation, and some much-needed pampering.

Ask any Hunter Valley dweller where to go for a fancy dinner date and they’ll say Muse restaurant. The towering atrium dining room of this modern Australian marvel is perched on the perimeter of Hungerford Hill Winery. The celebrated kitchen offers a seasonal menu marked by ingenuity and its championing of local produce.

Not surprisingly, this is where Allen takes his inspiration – he grew up in Newcastle.

“I’ll give a shout-out to the Hunter Valley as well. I grew up in Maitland, and just to see it do it for so many years. Troy from Muse has been two hats for an absolute eternity, I feel like now there’s a really good scene in the Hunter Valley, and creeping into Newcastle as well,” he said.

It’s not just Muse that draws foodies to the Hunter Valley; other highly commended options include Circa 1876 Restaurant, Hunters Quarter, and Oak & Vine Cypress Lakes – all close by to Pokolbin – as well as Bistro Molines in Mount View.

RELATED: Ultimate guide to the Hunter Valley

Southern Highlands

People have always been drawn to the Southern Highlands as a paragon of natural beauty, but lately the region is relying less and less on its looks to attract tourists.

The region’s one-hour proximity from Sydney has made it an increasingly popular getaway destination.

From its quaint villages to the thriving townships of Bowral, Mittagong and Moss Vale, the Southern Highlands has stepped up its offering for visitors, with trendy cafés, some great accommodation options and no shortage of things to do.

Existing fine dining options include Eschalot in Berrima, Paste in Mittagong, the Monaco Bowral Restaurant, and the new French outlet, Lucette. For a casual option, you can’t go past the Press Shop in Bowral. 

The food offering has broadened once again with the expansive Burradoo Park Farm, located about five minutes’ drive from Bowral.

“I have to say here. This is one of the most exciting food precincts in Australia at the moment, and I’m so keen to see what it’s like in five years’ time,” Allen said.

Asked what prospective visitors should expect upon their arrival at Burradoo Farm (and within it the Three Blue Ducks precinct), Allen said: “I think I would like people to be able to close the whole loop: be able to see where it’s grown and then especially coming to the restaurant, being able to experience every dish with something off the property.

“I want them to really think about the loop a little bit more – not education, because that’s a bit preachy – but just walk out thinking about where their food comes from and what they’re eating. That’s the holy grail.”

RELATED: Ultimate guide to the Southern Highlands