RESTAURANT CUVEE

Darren Ho has embarked on a new and exciting adventure and is tackling the challenge of being executive chef and restaurant manager at Restaurant Cuvée.

Starting at the restaurant located at Petersons Champagne House in August 2007, Darren wanted to bring his Asian influenced cuisine and blend it with the classic sandstone building. This is where the blend theme that is Restaurant Cuvée comes into its own.

“As the winemaking method Cuvée is a blend of wines and I myself am a blend, I’ve incorporated this theme into my menu and restaurant design,” explained Darren during the first week of Restaurant Cuvée being opened. “Petersons Champagne House has that image that is the original classic representation of the Hunter Valley and I’ve blended that with Riedel glassware, fine crockery and fresh local produce. Bringing my ‘Asian fusion without confusion’ style of cuisine to Restaurant Cuvée gives diners the opportunity to indulge in the dining room or relax on the terrace.”

Restaurant Cuvée is open for casual terrace dining for lunch and on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights offers a degustation menu of 7 to 12 courses.

“The menu gives me the scope to play with local fresh produce and if one of our local suppliers calls up and says they have something for me, I can put it on the menu, which keeps the dishes ever changing,” Darren said.

While a smaller kitchen than Terroir challenges Darren and juggling the role of executive chef and restaurant manager presents him with daily exciting prospects, Darren finds it difficult not to be enthralled by this new adventure.

“I’m working on the wine list and looking ahead to the future,” he said. “The potential here is endless. There are plans of extending the restaurant, terrace area and kitchen, and I have the ambition of leasing the restaurant from Petersons Champagne House in the future.”

Dining in Restaurant Cuvée gives visitors and locals in the Hunter Valley the opportunity to truly experience the delightful product that comes from when two things are blended together.

Open for lunch every day and for dinner Thursday to Sunday nights.

Phone: 02 4998 7881

www.petersonhouse.com.au