Full-on flavours
Shayne Mansfield has taken the helm as QT Newcastle’s Executive Chef.
Housed within the heritage listed 113-year-old former David Jones building in the East End, QT Newcastle first opened its doors in June last year.
Now, award-winning local favourite Shayne Mansfield has taken over as the hotel’s Executive Chef across all its dining offerings, from Jana, the hotel’s signature restaurant, to Rooftop at QT.
With a distinguished international career including a Michelin star mentorship in London and a stint at two-hatted restaurant, The Long Apron, on the Sunshine Coast, Shayne had Novocastrians salivating during his time at The Flotilla in Wickham, which earned him a hat from the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide.
“Flotilla is where I found my voice. At Jana, I will continue to build on that personal style,” Shayne said.
“Minimal food waste is a true passion, a key focus for me. It allows me to unlock new flavours through parts of produce that would often end up in landfill.”
His Smoked Heritage Carrot Tartare is a masterful example. It utilises pickled carrots and turns stems into deliciously crispy, green tinged crackers, resulting in a zero-waste dish.
“Throughout the menu, we have included my grandmother’s pickling mix,” Shayne shared. He loves to plate up modern renditions of family recipes passed down through the generations.
His quest for sustainability and superb local produce is delightfully evident in every single dish on the menu.
From Hawksbury chicken with Hispi cabbage, to Rocky Point cobia with cauliflower and tobiko, and dry aged cuts from Hungerford Meat Co, it features some of the best the region has to offer. The Margra lamb is cooked to perfection, with the crispy duck fat potatoes in rosemary salt the ultimate comfort dish.
Expect subtle changes to the menu driven by seasonal availability. What will remain a constant is the personable, insightful service, and a culinary philosophy with an unwavering focus on superb quality and sustainability to bring out the tantalising flavours and textures of premium, locally sourced ingredients.
Go to QThotels.com/Newcastle to find out more and to make a booking.
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