Three Blue Ducks expands restaurant empire to Bellingen

Bellingen, inland from theNew South Wales Mid North coast has a new gourmet destination. 

A new outpost of Three Blue Ducks opened for meals this week. 

Since opening the flagship Three Blue Ducks restaurant in Bronte, the team has opened dining venues in Byron Bay, Rosebery, Melbourne, Kallimicat and now Bellingen.

The recently renovated restaurant is set in 16 acres of manicured gardens at The Lodge, and enjoys views across the surrounding Dorrigo National Park.

The 80-seat dining room spills outside onto an undercover, heated terrace which seats another 100 people, making it a suitable setting for weddings and functions.

The Three Blue Ducks team of Darren Robertson, Mark LaBrooy and Andy Allen, along with head chef Julien Vasseur, who has previous experience in Byron Bay, have created a menu highlighting local producers and farmers. 

These include Levenvale Farms who grow organic, grass-fed beef and is also home to The Patch Organics, producing organic free-range chickens and vegetables.

Other local suppliers providing organic produce for the sustainably and ethically driven menu are Promised Land Organics, Coffs Coast Mushrooms, and Nautical Wholesale Seafood.

Think smaller dishes like beef tartare with fragrant chilli oil, local oysters in ponzu sauce and smoked eggplant, tofu and macadamia potstickers; with mains including steamed barramundi with white soy and green shallots, and dirty duck with citrus and sour plums. 

The beverage list will have a NSW wine focus, including Jilly Wines from nearby Clunes, and feature brews from Travla, co-created by Andy Allen and actor Travis Fimmel, along with beers from local Woolgoolga Brewing. Coffee will come from long-standing Three Blue Ducks partner, Single O.

"Bellingen and its surroundings are a melting pot of different flavours, ideas and innovative ways of presenting food which has influenced the menu at Three Blue Ducks," says Robertson.

“The inspiration behind the menu came from ingredients growing around the area. We've always loved working with spice, lemongrass, ginger, chili, makrut etc, and after working closely with the local producers and farmers, we’ve created a menu for the restaurant that showcases these flavours.

"The menu draws from some of the favourite dishes we've cooked during our travels and at our other locations over the years, combined with new dishes, to keep it fresh and exciting for us, our staff and people that drop in.”

Diners have the option of leaving the decision making to the chefs by choosing the Feed Me! menu for $80.

Three Blue Ducks Bellingen is open for dinner only on Monday and Thursday, lunch through dinner Friday to Sunday along with a breakfast service from 8am-10:30am Saturday and Sunday.

Three Blue Ducks at The Lodge is at 1381 Waterfall Way, Bellingen. See www.threeblueducks.com/

Images: Rob Palmer/Steve Woodburn