Why paddock-to-plate is more than a buzz phrase
We take our food seriously, and ensure delicious cuisine is at the core of any experience at Beechmont Estate. While Australians generally care about where our food comes from, how it’s farmed and prepared, interest in sustainability and ethical farming is at an all-time high.
That’s why we’ve put the paddock-to-plate philosophy at the centre of our ethos at the Estate. But what exactly is meant by paddock-to-plate?
The idea behind the phrase is simple – minimise the steps between the producer or farmer and the consumer.
Why? Freshness and flavour mainly. But these sustainability principles mean we can support local producers and growers alike, to ensure our region thrives.
By removing the steps in between grower and restaurant, it also means fresh produce is used at its peak, rather than travelling far and losing flavour. Of course, produce starts to lose its freshness as soon as it’s picked – so why wouldn’t we collect avocados from next door, and finger limes from down the road.
Donna Dodds, Beechmont Estate’s General Manager explains why the lodge has chosen to adopt this philosophy.
“Here at Beechmont we love the idea of paddock-to-plate because we’re lucky enough to live in an extremely fertile part of the world,” said Tom.
“We know and love our neighbours and producers in the local area, and their produce is among the freshest and most sustainably grown in Australia.
“Our Chef thrives on the challenge of creating unbelievably tasty dishes centred on local produce, combined with using ingredients from our market garden,” he said.
Breeding and raising a small herd of Wagyu cattle on the Estate is another example of how close we stick to this.
“Our signature Wagyu tasting experience at The Paddock is an excellent experience for those wanting to enjoy an exceptionally tender meat experience while learning more about the farming side of things,” says Donna.
“Our Wagyu production has been running for many years and is backed by a stack of awards; but the thing that makes it really special is how fresh the meat is, combined with how we cook it over fallen timber from around the estate,” she said.
Although paddock-to-plate may sound like another buzzword in the culinary world, it’s easy to see how the simple formula works and why it’s important.
Take a look at the Wagyu experience or book a table at Paddock for breakfast, lunch or dinner to experience paddock-to-plate first hand.
