12:00a.m. 23rd August 2008

| By Rae Wilson

Maleny is now firmly placed on the gourmet food trail.

A chef’s decision to open his own restaurant in the Sunshine Coast hinterland has been rewarded with a prestigious listing as one of the top 400 dining experiences around the country.

Kieran Reekie, who runs Reserve restaurant with Steve Heffernan, said he was excited they had made the cut in Australian Gourmet Traveller’s 2009 restaurant guide.

The restaurant received a wine glass which translates to “a restaurant notable for the breadth and depth of its wine selection”.

In fact, 14 of the 29 Queensland restaurants listed outside Brisbane call the Sunshine Coast home, including nine at Noosa.

No Maroochydore or Caloundra restaurants got a review but Ebb Waterfront Dining, The Wine Bar, Ba Vigo and Harry’s on Buderim rated a mention.

“We never thought we’d make a national publication, not in sleepy Maleny that’s for sure,” Mr Reekie said.

“The building we’re in, on Landsborough-Maleny Road, is a glorious old colonial Queenslander on the main drag and people have forever told me it would make a good restaurant.

“I’d like to think we’ve made the area a little more interesting. About 50% of our trade is tourist-based so all you can really hope for is that people want to come off the beaten track and stay at those gorgeous B&Bs. I’m hoping this bumps us up the list as a place to come.

“I’m proud the snapper made it in (the review). The carpaccio was a seasonal dish. They mentioned the tempura dill flowers which are apparently very fashionable.”

Mr Reekie, 35, worked in Sydney for 12 years, London for two years and has previously worked at the Fourth Floor restaurant in Mooloolaba. He said he had received various dining awards and nominations throughout his career but it was humbling to receive one at his own restaurant.

“It’s very exciting for us because these are the magazines we read, know and respect and are well known among your peers.

“I’m quite heartened by the fact that when you leave Brisbane and it becomes Queensland, the Sunshine Coast is very well represented. That’s terrific.

“It goes to show they don’t just go to big cities, they look around.”

Noosa’s Berardos Restaurant and Bar, which won the Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine’s ‘best regional restaurant’ in 2005, received a star and two wine glasses.

The star denotes “a restaurant with an element of pizzazz as well as professionalism which raises it beyond the everyday” while the two wine glasses indicate “an outstanding, well-presented selection of wine that makes a serious contribution to the overall quality of the establishment”.

Owner Jim Berardo said keeping the standard high was about paying attention to detail when it came to service, ambience, food and wine lists.

Mr Berardo said he was not surprised that so many Noosa restaurants were mentioned in the guide because the town had a “long established restaurant culture”.

“Noosa’s been at it for 35 years. Our proximity to seafood and paddocks gives us some advantages. We have new and fresh produce all the time which allows you to do interesting things.”

Coast restaurants that rated a mention

Alegria, Sunshine Beach

Berardo’s, Noosa

Blue Angel, Noosaville

Gusto, Noosaville

Harvest, Coolum Beach

Humid, Noosaville

Pilu, Noosaville

Reserve, Maleny

Ricky’s River Bar and Restaurant, Noosa Heads

River House, Noosaville

Sails, Noosa

Season, Noosa Heads

Spirit House, Yandina

Wasabi, Sunshine Beach