Restaurant & Bar Awards 2024 | 47 For those seeking a delicious and wholly ethical dining experience, guests need look no further than Watervale Hotel. Situated in Watervale, South Australia, the exquisite hotel offers Epicurean Experiences and a variety of menu styles for every occasion. Founders Nicola Palmer and Warrick Duthy are regenerative farmers and low waste warriors, passionate about healing the earth, one delicious meal at a time. In the wake of its win at this year’s Restaurant and Bar Awards, we take the opportunity to find out more about this Epicurean oasis. Most Sustainable Restaurant 2024 South Australia In addition to the hotel and rustic accommodation, Watervale’s integrated businesses include the Watervale General Store and Providore. Watervale General Store is a bistro and café, home to gourmet breakfasts, everchanging flavours, and comfort food to heal the soul while the Providore sells a rejuvenating range of local produce and surprising delights. The restaurant kitchen supplies the General Store with a number of delectable baked goods including sandwich bread and rolls, cakes, pies, and pastries. Warrick Duthy says, “We are low-waste warriors, choosing our suppliers and practices to minimise packaging, by creatively using everything (nose to tail, root to flower), and reusing bi-product. The compostable waste from the Hotel and Store goes back to Penobscot Farm each day.” The Watervale Hotel puts sustainability at its heart to create a tangible impact on the health of its community and the environment. The business's ethical approach and 'no waste' objectives are a testament to its dedication to environmental sustainability. In recent years the Hotel redesigned its menus to decrease waste, reduced its energy usage with a Solar Power investment, and completed a $400,000 investment in a cutting-edge wastewater system. Nicola and Warrick have established a network of sustainable businesses to revitalise the town and promote ethics in the community. The magnificent Watervale Hotel has become world-renowned for its epicurean experiences, country hospitality, and farm-to-table service. Supported by a dynamic team, the Watervale hotel will continue to excite guests with fresh local food and exceptional dining experiences for years to come. Explore the unique experiences on offer at www.watervalehotel.com.au. Contact: Warrick Duthy Company: Watervale Hotel Web Address: https://watervalehotel.com.au/ atervale is located a short drive north of Adelaide and Barossa Valley, enroute to adventure attractions such as the Flinders Ranges and Eyre Peninsula. Since 1847, Watervale Hotel has been a vibrant hub for the community’s farming community. The hotel is only one of several integrated businesses with accommodation available at the six-bedroom Watervale Hotel Guesthouse and rustic one-bedroom Penobscot Farm Cottage. Each stay can be elevated with exclusive packages from educational farm tours to degustation dining and wine masterclasses. Nicola and Warrick go beyond sustainability to regeneration with organic and bio-dynamic farm practices that breathe life into the food they grow. Watervale Hotel’s fresh produce and seasonal menu come directly from ethical suppliers, including Nicola and Warrick’s home, Penobscot Farm. The farm works in collaboration with the Ngadjuri People, custodians of the land for 40,000 years, learning from their sustainable land management, inspiring the farmers to create indigenous bio-dynamic treatments. The hotel prides itself on offering a wide range of casual and formal eating and drinking experiences including individually plated degustation dining and its evolving a la carte menu. Watervale Hotel also offers premier culinary experiences such as a Penobscot Farm tour followed by a sixcourse dinner at the Chef’s Table and a Clare Valley Wine Masterclass. Since taking over the business, Warrick and Nicola have established the hotel as an agriculture learning hub where Chefs and Front of House staff congregate from all over the world to share their wisdom and insights with the local team. A prominent member of the team is Frankie, Nicola and Warrick’s blue Staffy, who has been working at Watervale Hotel as Maître D’og since he was eight weeks old. Frankie is the inspiration behind the hotel’s Canine Canapé menu, which utilises leftovers to provide Doggy degustation for four-legged guests. The Watervale Hotel offers many private dining spaces such as the Hell Hole, the old pub jail, where guests can immerse themselves in history whilst sampling the contemporary cuisine. The spacious beer garden is another hidden gem where guests can enjoy a full range of local beers, wine, and coffee. W
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