Life is good for Hunter Valley chef and restaurateur Frank Fawkner.
He won the 2018 Food Fight this month, EXP. restaurant is continuing to thrive three years down the track, Fawk Foods is making a name for itself and, on Monday, he officially opens Fawk Foods Kitchen & Bakery at Pokolbin.
The fact that we are open every day from 7am with a more casual service style has been welcomed and we are looking forward to building a loyal local following.
- Frank Fawkner
Of particular interest to Hunter Valley residents is the fact that Fawk Foods Kitchen & Bakery will open daily from 7am. The news was greeted with a round of applause when Fawkner mentioned it during his acceptance speech at the Food Fight in Lovedale.
“Since announcing the opening of Fawk Foods Kitchen & Bakery we have had a huge response from local residents,” Fawkner tells Weekender.
“There is no shortage of top quality restaurants in the Hunter Valley perfect for a long lunch or indulgent dinner, but good quality, reasonably priced food can be a challenge to find early in the morning or when you’re on the run throughout the day.
“The fact that we are open every day from 7am with a more casual service style has been welcomed and we are looking forward to building a loyal local following. We are also serving Newcastle’s own Sprocket Coffee, Branxton Quality Meats and plenty of other local favourites.”
Hunter Valley chefs Grant Muir and Danielle Latham, who previously ran Nulkaba cafe Simply Divine, will be running the kitchen side of the business.
“Their breakfast was legendary among Hunter locals so having them on board is a real win for Fawk Foods. The full bakery will open in the next couple of months after final upgrades are completed,” Fawkner says.
The dine-in and take-away business will offer baked goods and cafe meals, potentially filling a gap in the local market for accessible high quality food and drinks for locals as well as tourists.
The menu is based on locally sourced products, foraged ingredients, Hunter Valley bacon and free-range eggs as well as Fawk Foods’ own popular black garlic range. Staples such as bacon and eggs, melts, toasties and soups can all be found on the menu, as well as bacon and egg rolls, banana bread, muffins and other “grab and go” items.
For customers wanting to attempt the dishes at home, a new range of Fawk Foods artisan products will be available for purchase.
Fawkner says Fawk Foods Kitchen & Bakery will be the only bakery in Hunter Valley wine country catering to wholesale and retail customers.
Fawk Foods Kitchen & Bakery is located at Pokolbin Village, 2188 Broke Road, Pokolbin, adjacent to Blaxland Inn. The complex also houses Pokolbin General Store, Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop, Pokolbin Bottle Shop, Pokolbin Chocolate and Jam Company and Tempt & Vixen.
