Valley's gourmet icon makes Tassie history

THE Agrarian Kitchen at New Norfolk has been named Restaurant of the Year by the Gourmet Traveller, becoming the first Tasmanian restaurant to claim the national title in the award’s 45-year history.

Owner and chef Rodney Dunn accepted the award at a gala event at Catalina in Sydney, alongside his wife and business partner Séverine Demanet and head chef Stephen Peak. 

The team was celebrated by the country’s leading chefs and restaurant personalities, marking a milestone that was more than a decade in the making.

Presenting the award to Mr Dunn, Gourmet Traveller editor Joanna Hunkin said the Agrarian Kitchen had followed a remarkable trajectory – from a small farm and cooking school in the Derwent Valley to what is now a global dining destination. 

“The work Rodney and Séverine have put into transforming the property and its gardens, and establishing a truly sustainable food system, is extraordinary,” she said.

“Tonight’s honour recognises that thoughtfulness and commitment and is testament to the fact that good things take time.”

The Agrarian Kitchen was founded by Mr Dunn and his wife in 2008. Together, they launched a small farm and cooking school in the Derwent Valley.

In the years since, Agrarian Kitchen evolved into a restaurant that opened in 2017.