What we’re famous for
When it comes to business, your success really will depend on how well you know your purpose, know your product and know what your customers want – and how well, and consistently, you deliver on your promise. It’s a hungry market out there. When you’re in the hospitality game, you need to impress with quality and taste, to receive positive reviews. In this showcase we feature restaurants and bars that are committed to delivering excellence every day.
Patrick Senent – RSL Award-winning Chef
Born in Casablanca, Morocco, Executive Chef Patrick Senent began cooking at just 14 years of age after being inspired by his mother’s home cooking. He refined his craft working in restaurants throughout south of France, and has established Townsville RSL as a destination for quality, comfort foods that draw on his European influences.
You know a dish is good when you remove it from the menu and almost cause a riot. For Lavaracks Restaurant at Townsville RSL, that was the Anchovy Lamb. [Truth: there was no riot, but high volume of customer requests to return the lamb to the menu asap.]
The slow roasted anchovy-studded lamb, with potato puree, roasted carrots, braising juices, tapenade and aioli first appeared on the RSL’s menu in 2002. “We did remove it from a couple of menus,” recalls Patrick, “but customers kept asking for it to be brought back. It has been out signature dish since.
“Lamb and anchovies go extremely well together. This dish has beautiful flavours and is what I’d call a ‘comfort food’. “While a lot of Club members and guests want a low cost, quick, quality meal, the majority are still looking for a dining experience and this is what our catering team aims to achieve day in day out,” says Patrick, who describes his menus as having an European influence, and adds that part of the RSL’s goal is to remember the little details that create a memorable dining experience. “In Lavaracks, we try to refer to our members by name, seat them at their favourite table, and remember their special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries.”
AWARD WINS
• Restaurant & caterer winner Best Restaurant • Restaurant & caterer winner Best Function Caterer • Restaurant & caterer winner Best Wedding Caterer • Restaurant & caterer winner Caterer of the Year • Club QLD Chef of the Year • 4TO winner Best Restaurant • Townsville Food Magazine people choice award, Best steak.
SUKI – POKÈ bowls and sushi burritos
Since opening its first store in April 2017, SUKI has dramatically changed the Brisbane dining scene, combining the unique flavours of Hawaii, with the freshest Australian produce to create a unique offering which has sold more than 214,000 poké bowls to date. SUKI offers a modern take on the traditional Hawaiian Poké bowl (pronounced Poh-keh), a curated mix of sustainably sourced fish and other proteins with veggies, rice and tasty toppings paired with their own range of sauces. It is also known for its Poké Roll – a large-sized sushi hybrid, featuring fresh ingredients, which can be made to order. The brand has been at the forefront of innovation in this food category having broken the traditional mold of raw fish offering only SUKI has a wide range of cooked options from beef, chicken and fish as well as tempura vegetables. The brand continues to innovate through winter with the release of traditional KatSuki (Katsu) Curry and Karrage popcorn chicken to add to its winter warmer menu.
The brand recently brought its food flare to North Queensland under the ownership group of Cowboys player Gavin Cooper and businessman Shaun McCarthy, opening in Fairfield Central Townsville. The store’s seventh location will be launched in mid-August in the newly redeveloped Smithfield Shopping Centre dining and entertainment precinct.
The brand has also recently released a new menu which has been rolled out across all stores, and public feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s the first of its kind and features a variety of nutritionist-approved keto, vegan, and low sugar bowls and rolls so know it will be a hit amongst the health-conscious state of Queensland. “As we grow we have a clear vision of the people growing with us. We look forward to creating opportunities for internal talent to rise as well as attracting external talent to continue to refine the brand to take it national, and eventually international,” says SUKI Chief Executive Officer Kim Toovey. For more information on franchise opportunities, please click here.
Cowboys Leagues Club – Player of the match
When it comes to selecting a restaurant famous for its food, surely you can’t go past the club named 2018 Best Dining in Queensland. We check out the menu at Cowboys Leagues Club’s a la carte Match Restaurant & Grill where you can always lasso a deal. When it comes to dining, Cowboys Leagues Club is the likely contender for the ‘best overall’ award. The CBD-located club includes a range of dining and bar venues: from signature a la carte restaurant Match Restaurant & Grill; Australia’s most popular coffee franchise The Coffee Club; Sidelines Sports Bar; Next Lounge Bar with its signature jam jar menu; and the Club’s latest addition, relaxed dining outlet Star Graze.
“We aim to ensure that no matter who walks through our doors, there is a dining option available which will appeal to their taste,” says Cowboys Leagues Club’s Business Development and Loyalty Manager Helen Smyth.
“We also strive to provide a range of great value dining options, in order to be the best value dining in the CBD. Members can enjoy our 12 for $12 Lunch Menu seven days a week with 12 items available for only $12 each, or our Club Classics Menu with 12 Club favourites only $14.90 at Lunch or Dinner every day. Members can also enjoy five items for $5 on Wednesday nights, and a cracking $19.90 Steak Night every Sunday.”
The proof is in the pudding though, as they say, and with a long list of awards including 2018 Best Dining in Queensland, Cowboys Leagues Club has its proof. Of all the clubs that were entered in the 2018 Clubs QLD Awards for Excellence, Cowboys Leagues Clubs received the most combined finalist and award titles. In 2017, the Club was also awarded the Best Club Café/Coffee Shop in Queensland and People’s Choice Best Restaurant in NQ.
WHAT ARE WE FAMOUS FOR?
Chicken & Butternut Pumpkin Salad
“At just $14.90 the Chicken & Butternut Pumpkin Salad has been a Match staple for over three years now. Diners love the fresh combination of tender chicken breast, butternut pumpkin, baked cherry tomatoes, toasted walnuts, feta and baby spinach – the house made honey mustard dressing seals
the deal.”
To lasso yourself a dining deal, visit the Cowboys Leagues Club in Townsville’s CBD for a range of dining and bar outlets.
Hot & Cold Seafood Plate for One or Two
“This has been one of our most popular options since we opened Match Restaurant & Grill – it’s never not been on the menu as our members would be up in arms if we took it off!” confesses Helen. “Members love how fresh this dish is
and the local produce with fresh beer battered fish, local wild caught prawns, salt and pepper calamari, marinated mussels, Kilpatrick oysters and half a bug; it is every
seafood lover’s dream.”
400g Porterhouse
“On a Sunday night, this dish tops the list – at only $19.90 every Sunday night for a North Queensland raised Angus 400g Porterhouse steak, it represents amazing value for our diners,” says Helen. “Our Executive Chef Thomas guarantees the absolute best in flavour, tenderness and value.”
