Amazing Alsahwa
Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer discovers the must-see, taste and explore estate in the heart of the Sunshine Coast that’s all about Mind. Body. Planet…
The secret’s out – Alsahwa Estate has moved from Verrierdale to a lush, leafy location in Palmwoods that has to be seen to be believed, with a stunning new on-site restaurant opening Friday 27 June.
With relaxed, modern Mediterranean vibes, the entire dining experience will be as special as the surroundings – think locally sourced produce, some of it from the Alsahwa Estate gardens; nose-to-tail dishes that celebrate the whole animal; and sustainable fare where local, spray-free ingredients are the star of the show.
Head Chef Sophie Phipps (ex-Spice Bar Mooloolaba) has a lifelong passion for authentic food made from sustainable and ethical ingredients, and says she’s thrilled to be leading the Alsahwa Estate restaurant, which showcases the brand’s philosophy of Mind. Body. Planet.
“Our core values include treading lightly on the earth to sustain ourselves, supporting local producers and our community, and nourishing our guests with hyper-seasonal, nutrient-dense food grown in healthy soil,” Sophie said.
Alsahwa Estate’s restaurant is inspired by its natural surroundings with organic textures, earthy tones, huge windows overlooking verdant landscapes and dams, and a relaxed ambience paired with homestyle food and service.
“The surrounding scenery is inspiring our menu to be produce-led and reflect the most flavoursome, local and seasonal produce available,” Sophie said.
Highlights will include beef and vegetables from the nearby biodynamic Bray Farms; grass-fed beef from Yajambee Farms at Mount Mee; handmade charcuterie from Salumi Australia in Byron Bay; and cheese from Woombye Cheese, Kenilworth Dairies and Meredith Dairy – alongside other small-scale sustainable producers.
And of course, Alsahwa Estate’s own honey, macadamias, turmeric, ginger, herbs and vegetables will be creatively showcased – imagine local veggies harvested that day, slow-roasted with Alsahwa Estate honey and sprinkled with macadamia dust. Perfection!
“We love having complete traceability with honey and macadamias from our Verrierdale farm, plus other biodynamic herbs and vegetables grown here in the Estate’s edible gardens,” Sophie said.
“Our aim is that every element on the plate is local and completely made from scratch – it’s a menu of love, from our hearts to yours.”
If eating alfresco inspires you, locally sourced, plastic-free picnics will be available from the restaurant and enjoyed on the Estate grounds (the banks of Duck House Dam are particularly dreamy).
Sophie and her team will present two exciting events as part of The Curated Plate in July-August, taking guests on a flavour-filled journey while introducing them to the Alsahwa Estate philosophy.
Feast: Seed to Plate provides the chance to gather in the fragrant, edible gardens for immersive conversations before enjoying a shared long-table feast with the freshest, most delicious produce.
“I’ll be hand-picking the best produce from the Estate and local suppliers to craft a menu of seasonal abundance,” Sophie said.
“Being able to use my imagination and dream big for this event is really fun and an absolute privilege.”
Bees & Brunch is guaranteed to be a sweet and memorable morning as guests don beesuits and enter the fascinating world of these vital creatures before enjoying a farm-to-table brunch.
With towering trees, serene water features, abundant wildlife, wandering paths and swaying palms, Alsahwa Estate is an idyllic place providing a sense of peace, calm and gratitude for this very special slice of nature.
The location might have changed from its original home at Verrierdale, but Alsahwa’s passionate founder Jo Walker says the core ethos remains the same.
“We’ll be continuing to follow our Mind. Body. Planet. philosophy, and look forward to sharing our Wellness in Nature and Estate Exchange events, as well as Conscious Community movie nights over the coming months,” Jo said.
“We’re excited for the Sunshine Coast to discover Alsahwa Estate at Palmwoods and see it bloom in this beautiful location.”
ESTATE EXPERIENCES
Explore Alsahwa Estate and prepare to make it your new favourite dining destination. The restaurant will open for bookings and walk-ins from Friday 27 June plus The Curated Plate events!
Feast: Seed to Plate, Sun 27 July
A shared feasting experience of local, seasonal abundance with a welcome botanical cocktail.
Bees & Brunch, Sat 2 August
A bee-autiful morning learning about bees followed by a farm-to-table brunch featuring Alsahwa Estate honey.
Visit www.alsahwa.com to book or sign up to the e-newsletter for exclusive updates.
