Spicers Balfour Hotel has dished up a brilliant new addition to its accommodation experience with an onsite restaurant now open for in-house guests, private functions, dinner parties, and weddings.

The Balfour Kitchen is a bistro-style restaurant with alfresco and indoor dining and a focus on unpretentious, uncomplicated, wholesome and locally-sourced food.

The restaurant is available to guests staying at Spicers Balfour Hotel in the inner-city suburb of New Farm.

"The Balfour Kitchen is a friendly, bistro style concept which still offers fine dining but with a much more familial atmosphere," head chef Peter van Lunn said.

"The food is flavour and produce-driven but it's not elaborate, in fact there are only three to five prime ingredients per plate. There's a lot more heart and soul in it as opposed to a high-end restaurant; it's a lot more honest and simple."

Mains include market fish with macadamia, fennel and lemon crust served with a large mixed leaf, sprout and tendril salad; and a corn-fed, corn-stuffed chicken breast with smoky bacon mash. Diners can also choose from a scallop dish with pea puree, fennel and watercress salad and saffron beurre blanc.

Mains are priced from $14-30 and are designed to be consumed individually or shared.

For dessert, diners can indulge in a berry, citrus and almond trifle, a flourless chocolate pudding and an apple pizza served with homemade vanilla ice cream.

"It's hearty soul food," Peter said. "It's healthy food but it's also a little bit decadent at the same time. 

"We've also tried to keep with the theme of the old converted Queenslander - classic dishes but with a twist."

Originally built in 1901, Spicers Balfour Hotel is a grand three-storey Queenslander that once housed returned World War II servicemen.

Externally the building draws its inspiration from the historic and grand Queenslanders for which New Farm is known. However the interior reveals an unexpected contemporary design which is eclectic, quirky and comforting, offering nine uniquely designed rooms as well as a spectacular rooftop bar overlooking the Story Bridge.

Peter grew up and developed his trade in the Brisbane region in restaurants such as James St Bistro, Mondo Organics and Emporium Hotel. He also spent several years at some of the top restaurants in Paris such as La Societe and Spring. 

He recently returned to Australia with his family and brings a wealth of international and Australian experience back to Brisbane.

"The Balfour Kitchen is all about uncomplicated, wholesome food," Peter said. 

"It's a place where guests can enjoy a glass of wine and a simple, healthy meal without fuss or great expense."

Spicers Balfour Hotel is open for breakfast and high teas to the public from 7am every day. Guests have the choice of dining either in the stylish dining room or out on our Queensland wrap-around verandah.

The hotel is currently ranked number one Brisbane hotel on TripAdvisor and also took out three awards in the recent TripAdvisor 2013 Traveller's Choice Awards.

 

Media Enquiries
Brenton Gibbs
0419 828 440
brenton@crookgroup.com.au