Southern Tasmania’s culinary scene reached new heights last night as The Agrarian Kitchen in New Norfolk was crowned Tasmania’s Restaurant of the Year at the prestigious Gourmet Traveller 2025 Restaurant Awards.
The announcement was made at a historic ceremony held at Hobart’s Henry Jones Art Hotel – marking the first time in the awards’ 45-year history that the event has been hosted in Tasmania.
A Historic Win for Tasmania
The Agrarian Kitchen’s recognition represents a significant milestone for both the restaurant and Tasmania’s broader culinary landscape. Located in the heart of the Derwent Valley, the restaurant has become synonymous with exceptional farm-to-table dining and sustainable food practices.
Chef-owner Rodney Dunn and his business partner and wife Séverine Demanet accepted the award, celebrating alongside head chef Stephen Peak and their dedicated team who have helped establish the restaurant as a must-visit destination for food lovers from around the world.
“This recognition is a reflection of the passion, dedication, and care of our entire team – in the kitchen, front of house, and out in the garden,” the restaurant shared following the announcement.
From Cooking School to Culinary Destination
The Agrarian Kitchen’s journey to this prestigious recognition began in 2008 when Dunn and Demanet established their original cooking school in Lachlan, Tasmania. Their vision was simple yet profound: to create a space where authentic food could be grown, prepared, and shared with others.
In 2017, they opened The Agrarian Kitchen restaurant in New Norfolk’s historic Willow Court precinct, housed in the beautifully restored Bronte building. The restaurant quickly gained acclaim, earning two hats and being voted Best Regional Restaurant in Australia by Fairfax just four months after opening.
A True Farm-to-Table Experience
What sets The Agrarian Kitchen apart is its unwavering commitment to local, seasonal produce. The restaurant sources over 90% of its ingredients from its own extensive one-acre walled kitchen garden, located just metres from the dining room. The remaining ingredients come from local suppliers within a 100-kilometre radius, creating a truly regional dining experience.
The restaurant’s approach encompasses whole-animal butchery, artisan cheese-making, fermentation, smoking, wood-fired cooking, bread-baking, and charcuterie – all practised on-site to create what Gourmet Traveller described as “dining with deep-seated integrity, at the height of its aspirational powers.”
Community and Regional Impact
The Agrarian Kitchen’s success reflects the broader strength of Southern Tasmania’s food and tourism sector. As a member of Destination Southern Tasmania, the restaurant exemplifies the region’s commitment to showcasing exceptional local produce and providing world-class visitor experiences.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to work with such thoughtful, talented individuals who bring their heart and soul to everything they do,” the restaurant noted, acknowledging their team’s contribution to the achievement.
The restaurant has also been a strong supporter of the local New Norfolk and Derwent Valley community, sourcing ingredients from regional producers and contributing to the area’s growing reputation as a food and tourism destination.
Looking Forward
The Agrarian Kitchen continues to evolve, with the cooking school relocating to Willow Court in 2022 and the addition of an outdoor kiosk offering casual dining options. The restaurant’s comprehensive offering now includes dining, education, and retail experiences, all centred around their productive kitchen garden.
This latest recognition from Gourmet Traveller cements The Agrarian Kitchen’s position as one of Australia’s premier dining destinations and highlights the exceptional quality of Tasmania’s culinary scene.
The restaurant operates Thursday through Monday for lunch service, with reservations essential due to high demand. Their set menu, priced at $220 per person, changes daily based on seasonal availability and what’s fresh from the garden.
About Destination Southern Tasmania
Destination Southern Tasmania (DST) is the regional tourism organisation for Tasmania’s southern region, working to grow tourism visitation, increase yield, and support regional dispersal across 11 local government areas. DST is proud to support exceptional businesses like The Agrarian Kitchen that showcase the very best of Southern Tasmania’s food, produce, and hospitality.