Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley introduces 'James & Friends'

Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley has announced the launch of ‘James and Friends’, an exciting collaboration between new Resident Chef James Viles and three of Australia’s finest chefs, taking place on Saturday, 13 March 2021. Reflecting the resort’s culinary philosophy, this gourmet event will celebrate the finest produce sourced from local farmers, vintners and growers.

Set in the wild beauty of a protected nature reserve, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley offers guests the chance to ‘eat and drink local’, discovering the very best of the region’s exceptional food and wine. James and his peers - Lennox Hastie, Head Chef and Owner of Firedoor, Brent Savage, Co-owner and Chef of Bentley Group, and David Moyle, Chief of Food at Byron Bay’s Barrio, Harvest and Sparrow Coffee - will come together to create a delicious six-course degustation menu cooked over coals for resort guests to enjoy, highlighting ingredients sourced in and around the resort and wider Blue Mountains region.

“It’s great to be collaborating with some of my closest friends to create a memorable dining experience at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley,” said James Viles, Resident Chef, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley. “I think that we are as excited as the guests! We’ve designed a degustation menu that weaves together our different culinary styles and showcases the remarkable local produce for which this region is famous.”

With just 50 spots available for in-house guests, the exclusive dinner will take place at the 1832 Heritage Homestead, with sweeping views of the valley and soaring bush escarpments. In keeping with the resort’s passion for sustainability, the menu will feature freshwater fish found in the nearby streams such as trout and wild barramundi, as well as locally sourced beef, accompanied by fresh vegetables and herbs picked from the resort’s Kitchen Garden. Native plants such as wattle and strawberry gum foraged on the reserve will also be used to create a selection of bush teas and 1832 Wolgan Gin spritzers for guests to enjoy while they dine.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming some of Australia’s best chefs to Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley to create some culinary magic alongside James Viles,” said Tim Stanhope, General Manager of Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley. “James & Friends will be a very special event and reflects our commitment to providing unforgettable experiences for our guests.”

Combining ultra-luxury with a quintessential Australian bush experience, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley is a world-leading example of carbon neutral conservation and sustainable design. Occupying just one percent of a 7,000-acre wildlife reserve, the resort is located between two national parks in the World Heritage listed Greater Blue Mountains, a mere 2.5 hours’ drive from Sydney on Australia’s Great Dividing Range. A gourmet getaway set in a wilderness adventure playground, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley features forty stand-alone villas inspired by Australian Federation architecture, each with its own private indoor/outdoor pool and a scenic wrap-around verandah, allowing guests to enjoy the spectacular landscape.

For reservations or more information about Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, please visit oneandonlyresorts.com.