The Merivale team have joined forces with Elsa Marie and Julian May of Chez Dominique to take up residency at the Whale Inn in Narooma later this month. There’s plenty to do on NSW’s South Coast already from taking in the stunning scenery to getting down with some of the best oysters in the world and now we’re excited to add one more. Chez Dominique is set to showcase some of the best produce the region has to offer and has sustainability and deliciousness at the forefront.
An intimate paddock-to-plate bistro pop-up, Chez Dominique at the Whale Inn, will draw inspiration from classic French recipes with creative seasonal cooking that celebrates local South Coast produce. Quail salad, brussel sprouts, caramelised walnuts, rolled pork shoulder, roasted carrots and chards with mustard sauce and terrine of pork, pistachios and apricot are just some of the dishes you can expect to find. The French-Australian chef couple have built close relationships with neighbouring farmers, producers and artisans to create fuss-free dishes that let the ingredients speak for themselves.
Marie and May have spent the last decade honing their skills in kitchens around the world and at home (anyone who’s eaten at 10 William Street during their tenure will know these two mean business) and more recently have thrown themselves into the world of organic and sustainable farming, practices that will shine at their pop-up for the next few months.
Vegetables come from four nearby farms, fish and oysters are to be caught locally, and grass-fed pork and beef are raised and butchered just down the country road in Martin’s Ridge. It doesn’t stop there though, their ducks are from a regenerative farming program called Tathra Place and all the dairy is sourced from the South Coast. Even the eggs come from the chef’s own chickens.
“We have fallen in love with all of the incredible ingredients the Eurobodalla Shire has to offer. We have a strong passion for local, high-quality, sustainable produce and wine, and can’t wait to share our cooking with the local community,” says Marie.
The best part is, accommodation at the Whale Inn has undergone a massive overhaul, so why not make a weekend of it?