Here, small batch makers, bakers, coffee roasters, farmers and bespoke distilleries that while lesser known, are starting to gain serious attention.
There are plenty of opportunities to experience Somerset’s small batch scene – from classic breakfast plates enjoyed alongside a freshly roasted coffee, to country markets rich in produce, condiments and more to gourmet picnics that you can customise and enjoy anywhere you please.
So if you’re up for a tasty trail of coffee, fresh farm produce and more, it’s time to tick Somerset off your must-do list.
But first, coffee
What began as a small roastery has grown into Esk’s favourite place to stop in for a freshly brewed cup and a hearty brekkie or lunch bite. Brisbane Valley Roasters sits right next to the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, making it a popular pit stop for riders and explorers of all kinds, as well as locals and passing tourists.
On the menu, you’ll find toasties bursting with ingredients like house made herb butter, smoked caramelised onions, mozzarella, garlic pickles and plenty more. If you’re chasing a protein hit, the brekky burger or big breakfast are sure to knock any appetite out of the park.
For lunch, your Aussie classic steak sandwich is an unmissable option, made with steak from local farming family Esk Beef. Or, keep it bite-sized with the 18-hour slow-cooked Esk Beef brisket sliders that practically melt in your mouth.
Venture beyond the farmgate
If BVR’s menu just got you started, Esk Beef’s farmgate experience has to be the next stop on your tour. This fourth-generation family business upholds the long-standing traditions and commitments to excellence that truly change the end result.
Choose the Premium Day if you’ve got time up your sleeve, for an immersive experience to see behind the scenes of how a working cattle farm operates. You’ll walk the paddocks, meet the herd, and share premium Esk Beef cooked on the barbecue and shared with a cup of billy tea.
It’s an unhurried and unique Australian experience that leaves you knowing your food better than you could ever have believed.
If you’re trying to squeeze more adventures into your day, opt for the Farm Sampler. This tour gives you a quick taste of farm life, a tour across the paddocks, and insights into how the farm operates.
Cleanse the palate with a citrus blast
If you’ve yet to sample a cumquat, it’s best described as a sweet and tart citrus fruit. Rolling it in your fingers allows the sweet oils to release from the skin, which contrast beautifully with the tart fruit within. And where better to try it for yourself than with the cumquat queen herself, Roslyn of Cumquats Australia.
The latest addition to the orchard of over 600 cumquat trees and shopfront is a farmgate tour and distillery, where you can sample marmalades, syrups, preserves and shrubs (a refreshing drink made from cumquats, sugar and vinegar) all made with Roslyn’s hands-on, small-batch process.
And it’s not just the citrus fruit she’s beholden to. Calamondin (a cumquat-mandarin hybrid), kaffir lime and ginger are all grown here on the farm, too.
Everything here is handmade, free from gluten, artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Nothing but Toogoolawah goodness goes into each delicious drop!
Perfect picnics
With some preserves in tow from the cumquat farm, you’ve begun to collect some mighty fine picnic fodder. To complete your spread, the next stop on your scenic small-batch food tour is Picnic Society – the one-stop shop for provisions.
Another Toogoolawah resident, this charming providore and pop-up cafe is known for phenomenal French pastries, one-of-a-kind picnic rugs and quirky picnic accessories. The cafe operates only on weekends, so you can order some treats to go, alongside your bounty of pickles, jams, chutney and more.
For the organised traveller, order a gourmet picnic box or build your own picnic by pre-ordering in advance.
A picnic somewhere scenic as the sun sets is the perfect way to close out your small-batch culinary escape, whether you’ve indulged over a few days or kept it to a day trip. No matter how long you spend in Somerset, you’ll be taking home an appreciation for local producers, handmade preserves and the origins of the food that ends up on your plate.
