Renowned chef, Raphael Martinez will return to the kitchen at Esca, the flagship restaurant at Bimbadgen Estate in the Hunter Valley.
His appointment as Head Chef marks a homecoming for Martinez, who first worked at Esca in 2018 as Chef de Partie before honing his craft at prestigious venues like Spicers Guesthouse and Brokenwood Wines.
He will oversee all culinary offerings at the estate, including weddings and events at Bimbadgen Palmer’s Lane, Emma’s Cottage, and food services for A Day on the Green concerts.
“I’m dedicated to ensuring that every dining experience at Esca Bimbadgen is exceptional, with an emphasis on flavour, technique, and presentation,” Martinez said.
“The Hunter Valley has been my family’s home since 2018 and we enjoy everything about wine country life – the people, the stunning landscapes and the exceptional local wines.”
While maintaining its signature five-course dining experience, the Head Chef’s new summer menu reflects an inspired mix of flavours, with dishes such as Korean-style grilled pork belly with ssamjang butter and handmade spanner crab ravioli with caviar.
Dessert enthusiasts are in for a treat too with plans to introduce a number of chocolate-based creations to complement Esca’s current offerings including fallen apples with mascarpone gelato and berry coulis tart paired with coconut gelato and rosemary.
To see the full menu and find out more about Esca Bimbadgen visit bimbadgen.com.au/dining.
