Mavis’ Marvellous Kitchen

It’s lunchtime when I arrive at Mavis’ Kitchen, Uki, a glorious 25 acre property at the foot of Mt Warning in northern NSW. I’d hoped to arrive a little earlier, but had made a mistake and driven  straight into the quaint old town of Uki. A local hippy pointed the way and I retraced my path 4.5Km, turned onto the Mt Warning Road, crossed the trickling Tweed River, turned right, and there before me stood a brilliantly white, grand old Queenslander. Walking up the nasturtium-strewn path, I noticed one of the chefs (Jenni Jones) picking salad greens from the stunning kitchen garden. She later told me that they use excess nasturtium leaves, and also mustard greens, to make different varieties of pesto. Upstairs, I’m greeted by one of the friendly staff and shown to a table on the white-trelissed verandah overlooking wide-sweeping lawns, a pretty dam, and Mt Warning, a powerful presence in this area. A long blackboard menu features the dishes of the day which might include creamy egg and potato salad, halved roma tomatoes (that taste just like they did when you were a kid) and rich crimson wedges of home-grown beetroot. Or it might be a tender beef Wellington drizzled with a light wine sauce, or perhaps baby carrots, spring onions and goat’s cheese which have been artfully arranged on a crispy pizza base, scattered with fresh rocket and a splash of balsamic dressing. Many of the dishes include organic salads fresh-picked from the  garden, farm eggs, and local products such as Tweed Valley cheeses (fetta, ricotta, brie, haloumi), Northern Rivers olive oil and olives and fresh goat from a nearby farm at Roberts Bridges. I opted for Mavis’ fetta and spinach pie, which proved to be a very generous serve, followed by cheesecake and a cup of local organic coffee.  Delicious, simple and unpretentious. A range of organic wines (including Rosnay, Tamburlaine, Richmond Plains and Thistle Hill) is also available, some by the glass. A stroll around the garden after lunch before being shown to my accommodation left me gobsmacked.  Set out in a double-shamrock pattern, the vegetable and herb garden boasts a wide range of greens including chervil, mint, mustard greens, Cos lettuce, radicchio and parsley.  They grow in deep organic soil which is contained by upright terracotta tiles which come to about knee-height. Lush citrus trees such as ruby grapefruit, cumquats and oranges stud the centre. “Mavis’ Kitchen is about giving people a connection to where their food comes from,” explains owner Charlie Ebell. “It’s about connecting back to the earth, to our planet, to nature.  We want people to come here and to relax.” Charlie attributes his passion for food to his mother, Mavis, and named the property after her. Having catered for many years in the fast lane at Harley Street Brasserie in Labrador, this business is a real change for Charlie and partner Peter Clarke. “The garden keeps me sane,” says Charlie, beaming. Accommodation on the property includes a charming log cabin, an old dairy and a stunning modern three-bedroom Balinese-style house, perfect for groups.  You won’t be in any hurry to leave. If you decide to stay overnight, the fridge will be stocked with all you need for breakfast (farm eggs, bacon, milk, orange juice) and fresh coffee and bread supplied.  Peter and Charlie’s attention to detail is admirable. Mobile phone coverage is intermittent which means you can really drop out for a day or two. It’s the perfect place to kickback. Open for lunch Wednesday to Sunday; and for dinner on Friday and Saturday night. Stay overnight and explore the beautiful Tweed Valley on your way home the next day. Lunch prices range from $15 to $21 for a main course; for dinner,  a set $29.50 for two courses or $34.50 for three; an overnight stay is $210 per cabin, including breakfast. Mavis’ Kitchen and Cabins at 64 Mt Warning Road, Uki (10 minutes from Murwillumbah). Phone: 02-6679 5664.