Food fit for a king, at pauper's prices

Northern District Times
Food & Dining 24 Mar 11 @ 02:42pm by SCOTT HOWLETT

ROYAL Hotel Ryde's reinvention from a blue-collar pub to a semi-white-collar, family-friendly, community-based hotel occurred three weeks ago.

Venue manager Kirk Greenland, who has extensive experience in running hotels in London, is enthusiast about his work.

He reopened the bistro bar and main bar, and put less emphasis on the hotel's TAB facilities, making food a priority.

There is dining in the courtyard, main bar or bistro from Lucky's Grill, which is run by chef Khan (everyone knows him only as Khan), who previously worked at Willoughby Hotel.

Patrons rave about Khan's butter chicken ($15).

The food is very reasonably priced.

Examples include chilli bean nachos served with guacamole and sour cream ($9) or a steak sandwich with lettuce, onion jam and aioli (sauce made of garlic and olive oil) for $14.50.

Also worth a look is the stockman's beef burger, served with bacon, cheese, tomato, lettuce, beetroot, mayonnaise and chips ($14.50).

Pure beef gourmet sausages, an old pub favourite, come into their own in the cooler months ($11).

For something lighter, there is a popular grilled chicken wrap of chicken breast, cos and tomato in a fresh tortilla and served with a salad or chips on the side ($12).

All meals from the grill are served with your choice of mashed potato and salad or steamed vegetables.

The chargrilled rump steak ($19) is popular but faces strong competition from the char-grilled 300g porterhouse ($25).

Pan-fried prawns can be added ($5).

A customer favourite is the chicken schnitzel ($14.50), which can be topped with a choice of sauces, including sliced avocado and bacon with cheese (an extra $3.50).

Friday and Saturday night were extremely popular, Greenland said. "It's all clicking into place," he said.

A friendly home away from home.

The Plantation Hotel's Lucky's Grill Bistro is recognised as one of the Best Steak Venues in the State!

MEDIA RELEASE: 23.11.10

The votes are in and Lucky's Grill Bistro at the Plantation Hotel has been recognised as one of the Best Steak Venue's in NSW. The NSW AHA (Australian Hotels Association) annual awards night will take place next Monday 29th November and the Plantation Hotel is one of eight state wide finalist in the dining category.

The awards night which has become the most prestigious awards night within the hospitality industry, recognises the accomplishments of hotel industry leaders, throughout NSW, across a broad range of categories.

This year, the Plantation Hotel's Lucky's Grill Bistro has been recognised alongside some of the big smoke's most prestigious venues including Ivy Sydney and the Oaks Hotel, Neutral Bay for the Best Steak Venue of the Year. The judging criteria canvassed quality of produce, menu innovation, range of special promotions and activities, staff service standards and atmosphere and ambience.

Plantation Hotel Venue Manager, Anthony Brady said; "A good quality steak, served in enjoyable surrounds, is the essence of any good dining establishment. It's an honour to receive such prestigious recognition to this effect."

Consistent with the award criteria, the Plantation Hotel's Lucky's Grill Bistro boasts an extensive menu that will tantalise the taste buds and suit all budgets. The kid's room is arguably the best kid's friendly area of any Coffs Harbour Hotel with endless activities to keep the little nippers amused after and enjoyable family meal.

"The Hotel really does offer a little piece of enjoyment for everyone and now with the addition of the kids room off our Lucky's' Grill Bistro; we have really have a created a nice little haven for families to enjoy a good quality meal at affordable prices" Anthony continued.

The Plantation Hotel is a local's favourite, so pop into the Plantation Hotel and discover what you have been missing!

Plantation Hotel steaks its claim

Coffs Coast Advocate - Saturday 11/9/2010

THE Pepperjack Battle of the Steaks competition is heating up and with three weeks to go it's time to get behind the Plantation Hotel, which is representing Coffs Harbour in this national competition.

Local carnivores are being urged to sample the Plantation's steaks and then, if happy, vote online to get the hotel's chef to the final cook off on October 14 in Sydney. Go to www.battleofthesteaks.com.au to vote and get more information.

According to Pepperjack's celebrity chef Adrian Richardson cooking the perfect steak isn't as easy as it seems.

These are his hot tips:

• When cooking meat it's best to start off with a high heat to sear the steak then reduce the heat so the meat cooks more evenly.
  
• Lean meat is good for you, though a little fat helps to keep the meat moist and juicy and of course taste better.
  
• When possible, cook meat on the bone. It helps distribute the heat better, keeps in the juices and is great to gnaw on.
  
• Want to try a different cut of steak? Try hanger steak or flank steak. They can have a little more chew, but the flavour and texture is the reward, best seared and served medium rare. Your butcher will give you the best tips on how to slice it.
  
• Butter and steak are a great combination, it just enriches the flavour. I like to have a small slice or parsley butter on hand. It's easy to make and keeps forever in the freezer. A nice slice of parsley butter just adds that little bit or a lift.
  
• When serving a steak it's a nice idea to brush the steak with a little extra virgin olive oil it helps to give the steak a wonderful shine.
  
• When resting a steak, I like to use a tea towel to wrap around the steak. Like a blanket, it helps to keep the steak warm as it rests.
  
• When serving a steak it's always best to set the table with a good sharp steak knife, it's amazing how a blunt knife can make the most tender of steak seem tough, before it's even eaten.

Lucky's Grill Australia at the Plantation Hotel announced as Sunny's Business Awards Finalist 2010.

Media release: Thursday 9th September

Lucky's Grill at Plantation Hotel has been announced today as a finalist in the prestigious Coffs Harbour Sunny's Business Awards in the Restaurant and Catering division for 2010.

To be announced as a finalist for the award is a great achievement for the business that is still in its first year of operation.

"It's fantastic for us and great to see that the good word is getting out there in town. Lucky's provides excellent quality meals at a very affordable price. We have built a very strong regular customer base over the past year and it's not hard to see why" was Licensee Anthony Brady's comment on the nomination.

The Sunny's Business Awards is an annual event organized by the Chamber of Commerce in Coffs Harbour. Past winners of award categories have used their success as a platform for bigger and brighter things.

Winners are to be announced on Saturday the 18th of September at The Sunny's Business Awards Presentation Dinner at the Coffs Ex Services Club. The winners receive great exposure in the local media and the title carries with it a great deal of kudos and positive reputation in the local community.

Good luck Lucky's!

Lucky’s Grill Australia takes ‘Lucky customers’ to the movies!

Media Release 16.03.2010

Lucky’s Grill Bistro’s around Australia will be taking their customers to the movies this June with a new promotion for diners. The ‘Lucky Takes You to the Movies’ concept was developed as a way of improving the dining experience of Lucky’s Grill customers, by coupling dinner and a movie, a popular ‘entertainment classic’.

The traditional ‘dinner and a movie’ concept is an old favourite amongst Australian’s and Lucky’s Grill Bistro’s around Australia will be harnessing this concept by awarding Lucky’s Grill Bistro customers with complementary movie passes and merchandise to some of the hottest movie releases of the year.

Some of the movie releases to date have been the popular Street Dance in 3D and the upcoming Legion, starring Paul Bettany and Lucas Black. Lucky’s Grill customers receive exclusive tickets and merchandise to the premiere events, giving diners a night out to remember.

NLG Hotel Group Food Manager, Jasmine Pycroft said; “we are continually looking at ways in which we can heighten ‘the experience’ our customers receive when dining at Lucky’s Grill Bistro’s. Through quality produce and superb customer service, we have developed a food culture that ensures value for money and consistency to diners. The ‘Lucky Takes you to the Movies’ concept is just another way in which we can not just deliver on these promises, but exceed our customers expectations with a complete ‘dining and entertainment experience’.

Diners to Lucky’s Grill Bistro’s this month will receive their complimentary movie passes and merchandise to the movie Legion with orders over $30, in any of Lucky’s Grill Bistro’s around Australia. So pop in, grab a bite to eat and let ‘Lucky Take YOU to the movies’ this month!

NLG Hotel Group Beef Up their Lucky’s Grill Australia Bistro’s with a “1KG Steak Challenge”

Media Release: 08.04.2010

NLG Hotel Group will launch their “1KG Steak Challenge” this week across ten of their Lucky’s Grill Australia Bistro’s. The “1KG Steak Challenge” will see patrons to Lucky’s Grill Bistro’s across New South Wales and Queensland embark on the challenge of completing a full meal, including a 1kg Rump Steak plus sides, in one sitting!

Lucky’s Grill Australia, the bistro arm of NLG Hotel Group Venues, “has developed a food culture that is based on the provision of customer service, value for money and consistency to diners” said Jasmine Pycroft, NLG Hotel Group Food Manager.

The 1KG Steak Challenge harnesses this culture established throughout Lucky’s Grill venues whilst adding an enjoyable and lightly competitive element to a meal with friends. “The experience is what we are aiming to heighten, through quality produce and the theatrical inclusion of having your photo taken next to a life size cow and added to the 1kg Steak Challenge ‘Hall of Fame’ if you are successful in the challenge!” said Jasmine Pycroft.

The 1kg Steak Challenge will commence over the next week at the following NLG Hotel Group venues; Mt Annan Hotel, Kooringal Hotel, Plantation Hotel, Royal Hotel Ryde, Moonee Beach Tavern, Wattle Grove Hotel and the Bridgeview Hotel in New South Wales. The Andergrove Tavern and Swell Tavern in Queensland will also be running the promotion.

“With suburban football competitions about to kick off their playing seasons around NSW and QLD, there are a lot of hungry and competitive young guys out there ready to take the bull by the horns and sink their teeth into the 1kg Steak Challenge!” continued Jasmine

“The question is……are they up for the 1kg Steak Challenge” continued Alistair Flower.

*******NEWS FLASH*******

Lucky’s Grill 1kg Challenge isn’t big enough for the Mackay region and will take the challenge to new heights with the introduction of the 1.5kg Steak Challenge at both the Andergrove Tavern & Shamrock Hotel both in Mackay.

“The big miners in the Mackay region don’t think this is a challenge. They will laugh at me. 1.5kg, now that’s a North Queensland challenge!” David Van den Boom from the Andergrove Tavern announced