Tasmania’s Launceston continues to surprise, lifting its food cred even higher with Peppers Silo Hotel ‘Grain of the Silos’ restaurant winning Gault&Millau Australia’s New Restaurant of the Year award.
Located in the $25 million luxury-by-design Peppers Silo Hotel redevelopment which transformed once unused grain silo barrels into a state-of-the-art contemporary new hotel, ‘Grain of the Silos’ restaurant focuses on local Tasmanian produce and supporting local farmers and producers.
It’s a claim many a restaurant makes, but few live up to the strenuous task of meeting each farmer, each maker, and each talented Tasmanian involved in the restaurant’s ever-changing list of dishes.
“Grain of the Silos sits proudly in a patch of Tasmania which is brimming with good food and people who truly care,” said Peppers Silo Hotel General Manager, Paul Seaman.
Heading up the kitchen is Head Chef Peter Twitchett and Food Director and TV personality Massimo Mele. I met both Peter and Massimo when I attended the opening of the restaurant and I am not surprised they have won this award. The food that day was outstanding.
The current dinner menu starts with unctuous pork shoulder with wagyu beef meatballs, tomato, basil smoked mozzarella and chargrilled calamari with roasted tomato, radicchio, chilli, lime and a squid ink dressing.
What’s on the menu?
Hero dishes include unbelievably delicious potato gnocchi, slow roasted heirloom tomato, smoked ricotta, basil oil, garlic crumbs and grilled flinders island lamb with fried polenta, wilted greens and pepperonata.
The restaurant’s wine list was carefully curated by Tasmanian Wine Educator Curly Haslam-Coates, which features award-winning wines from regions across Tasmania and afar.
Grain of the Silos, which opened along with the hotel in June 2018, is open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The annual Gault&Millau awards are now in their sixth year. Last year Gault&Millau Australia’s restaurant reviewers evaluated more than 850 restaurants across all Australian capital cities and major regional areas.
Peppers Silo Hotel
Located in a prime position on the edge of the Tamar River and close to the beautiful Cataract Gorge, the ten-level hotel features 108 guest rooms, including 52 inside the barrels of the former silos. These are rather individual rooms with thick, curved concrete walls.
The Grain of the Silos restaurant and cocktail bar is complemented by private dining rooms and a function centre. There is a fully-equipped gym, day spa and an integrated lobby and reception space.
Australia’s first Canine Hotel Ambassador
The other star at Peppers Silo Hotel is Archie, the hotel’s official Canine Ambassador and one of the first hotel dog greeters in Australia.
Archie is an ex-guide dog who didn’t make the grade because he was too friendly. His bed is in reception and guests can take him for a walk around the grounds.
I miss my dog when I travel and loved the chance to chat with Archie.
Getting there
Find Grain of the SilosGrain of the Silos on the first floor of Peppers Silo Hotel at 89-91 Lindsay Street, Launceston, Tasmania.
What else should you do in Launceston?
See where much of the produce used at Grain of the SIlos comes from with a wander around the Launceston Harvest MarkeLaunceston Harvest Market.
Disclaimer
Ed+bK was a guest of Grain of Silos and Peppers Hotels for the opening of the hotel.
