The Chelsea

LOCATION
Located at The Barracks, Paddington.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
The Chelsea’s classic character is reminiscent of a quaint Parisian bistro that has taken up quarters on a leafy French lane, although this sensational eating house is much closer to our bounty shores – tucked away at The Barracks in Paddington. The modern space is engaging and defined by warm timber, polished brass fixtures, a chequered floor and sleek marble bar. Adaptation becomes the menu which casts a strong focus on seasonal produce. The chefs have daily contact with local supplies to source prized ingredients one by one; Wendland olives, light olive oil from Milmerran, berries from Feduberry on the Sunshine Coast and hand rolled artisan organic breads from Leavain bakery in Morningside. In its pursuit of freshness, the kitchen achieves one other rare feat – it makes as many goods as possible in-house. This means that everything from sauces, dressings, puff pastry and peanut butter to brownies and scones receives the homemade treatment. The philosophy: the finest dishes are made from scratch, cut, prepared and cooked to order.

Open for all three services – breakfast, lunch and dinner – the dynamics and atmosphere at The Chelsea transform throughout the day. The dining room observes a bubbly social breakfast crowd, ladies and business types lunching, friends catching up over early evening drinks and true foodies digging into dinner. The breakfast specials are truly awe-inspiring. Be persuaded by amazing pear pancakes with blueberry curd, poached pear and mascarpone or the chef’s ingenious signature breakfast dish: hand-smoked bacon, potato hash, carrot jam, marinated fetta and poached eggs. Lunch offers some interesting sandwich delights; try the seared salmon, dill, fennel, rocket, sauce gribiche and mustard oil. An evening dish – a tagine of chicken, olives, preserved lemon and dates with toasted couscous, yoghurt and coriander – is a faultless reminder of what The Chelsea does best.

Katharine Chapman