Former Eleven Madison Park and Noma chef Justin James has been awarded the prestigious three hats award for his Australian restaurant Adelaide Botanic Garden in the Australian Good Food Guide.
The Guide's awards have been awarded to discerning Chefs around the country since 1982, awarded for the food with reviews and opinions of the dining public, who send in their comments throughout the year, determining the results.
Restaurant Botanic was voted one of the best restaurants in Australia in the recent awards, this March, achieving a score of 18 out of 20, classed as being comparable to among the world's best. The experience they afford is so remarkable that a trip to Australia is worth co-ordinating.
Chef James took over the running of Adelaide Botanic Garden's restaurant back in 2021, attracted by the allure of the 400 different herbs, shrubs and trees grown on-site and its focus on innovation and technique. As well as time spend at world renowned restaurants Noma and Eleven Madison Park, James was previously the executive chef at Melbourne's lauded Vue de Monde. Alongside this, he also joined thefoodpeople's Culinary Congress in 2018 to give insight into his interpretation of Modern Australian Cuisine and its unique outback larder, narrated through the eyes of a Detroit born American in Australia.
The restaurant says on its website Our tasting menu, brought to you by Chef Justin James, presents over 20 different flavour combinations. We don't believe the word 'course' does any justice to what we do, as our flavour combinations come in all different shapes and sizes.
You will be taken on a mini holiday through the Botanic Garden has to offer with taste, smell, sight, sound, and touch. We value the entire experience and want all our guests to savour every minute in our little oasis. To avoid being rushed or put under pressure, we anticipate an overall minimum dining experience of four hours.
Discover a recent sample menu from Botanic Garden here.