elk Restaurant opens for its 6th winter at Falls Creek
From an open fire to a rustic, welcoming ambiance, this popular eatery has established a formidable reputation for its seasonal produce and an extensive, value-for-money array of red and white wines.
Owner-operator Barry Iddles has lured some serious talent to once again satisfy the taste buds of the alpine resort’s guests and influx of seasonal staff such as ski instructors, ski lift operators, ski patrollers and oversnow tracked vehicle operators that transfer guests to the ski in ski out array of accommodation within the European-style ski village.
This popular restaurant has punched way above its size for the last six winter seasons. Vibrant and effervescent Ben Walker is returning to resume the harmony he is known to create in a very busy kitchen. Walker will be supported by Mark Love who hails from Ireland. Love has an impressive CV having worked with great chefs in the UK. He opened Aizle with Chef Stuart Ralston, previously of Sandy Lane in Barbados and Gordon Ramsay in New York
Aizle has been consistently praised in the media for its commitment to organic, local, sustainable products and utilizing them in a unique style.
Another member of “team iddles” is Tyali Carruthers. He’s not new to the ski fields having worked at Arco Ski Lodge Mt Hotham as Head Chef. Carruthers has had a stint at an Italian restaurant gaining phenomenal skills in Sicilian cookery, worked at the Sheridan Hotel overseeing a host of functions, dabbling in event management, had an amazing year at Benny’s Wok learning the art of Vietnamese cookery.
Multi-talented chef Melvin Fagcang hails from the prestigious New Zealand vineyard Cloudy Bay where he was sous chef creating neoclassical dishes like braised lamb shanks, kick arse sticky pork ribs, working in their more relaxed cafe shucking oysters and creating some amazing Japanese-western fusion dishes and a stint as a barista/waiter he is a great asset to the team.
Jack Barr, back for his fourth season, is Elk’s Front of House Manager. Backed up with his restaurant supervisor Caz Hermans who will lead the team of talented waiters she has had two seasons at Astra another popular Falls Creek restaurant). Also returning is Shannon Barnard who flits between winter at Elk and summer at 360Q in Queenscliff.
Shani Fafard Prud’homme our French-speaking Canadian heads up to Falls Creek after spending summer at 360Q joining the team to add a bit more pizzaz.
Matilda Thompson, a young and vibrant waiter from coastal Torquay working at A La Grecque – Airey’s Inlet a fast paced restaurant
Dylan Girardo young Frenchman vibrant personality will take to the floor. Rhiannon Schnurfeil one of our kick-arse team members who is now in her third year with team Iddles from corporate waiter to event planner, kitchen hand to cook Rhi is a great asset to our team. The team will train up our newbie bussie Nicholas Blackwell a cross-country ski buff from Mt Beauty
Our wine list is a mixture of boutique wineries including some great local wines from Chrismont, Campbells, Dalzotto & All Saints
We buy from our local wholesalers in Mt Beauty for Fruit & Vegetables, dry goods and dairy from North East country foods sourcing great products like Milewa cheeses, Over the years Iddles and team elk have Philanthropically assisted raising funds for local Falls Creek groups including Ski patrol, SES, Primary School, Falls Creek Museum & Race club basically Falls Creek as a whole!
