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Trevor Pepys gets festive at View, Pepper’s Resort
’Tis the season to be merry, as Trev used to trill in his cute little boy soprano as he tromped through the snow to deliver home-made chocolates to the old, the infirm and the not playing with a full deck of the village.
And if you believe that you’ll probably also believe that Santa comes sliding down the chimneys we don’t have, and that Covid vaccines contain mind-altering liquid microchips. But while it’s true that Trev himself was raised on beach cricket and cold prawns for Christmas Day, it’s also true that his ancestors, dating back to dear old diarist Sam, did trudge the snowy streets of Plague-filled London, dodging flying pails of night soil to deliver fruit mince pies to the various ladies of the night of their acquaintance, in keeping with the time-honoured custom of the Pepys men.
Trev’s festive foolery is these days of a much tamer nature, but he did manage on more than one occasion this past month to raise a convivial glass with acquaintances and colleagues at one of Noosa’s more reliable and sensibly-priced restaurants and function venues, View by Matt Golinski. Matt’s moving and inspirational story of survival is well known, although these days he is adding a new chapter of risk-taking by dividing his professional time between Noosa and Gympie. Suffice it to say that he is a foodie legend.
After less than a year of operation, View by Matt had won a hat from the Australian Good Food Guide and three years later the place has survived the ravages of Covid and consolidated its reputation for inventive and reliable tucker with head chef Andrew Wilcox, a third generation Noosan, operating under Matt’s watchful eye.
Hidden amongst the trees above Pepper’s Resort, View has become a bit of a misnomer as the greenery blocks out all but the estate agent favourite, “unique view” of Laguna Bay. But it doesn’t matter because View’s clean lines, big spaces and refreshing breezeways are a delight. And the restaurant has wisely directed many of its offerings, especially the Love Noosa Lunch ($38 for two courses, a glass of wine and a coffee) at repeat local business.
So it was the other day, when Trev joined colleagues from this august journal of record for a pre-Christmas knees-up that began with chilled pre-lunch lagers with surf life saving correspondent Ron Lane, and ended several hours later with a hair-raising white-knuckle ride through Noosaville with a well-known real estate novelist at the wheel. In between, a good time was had by all.
Having ensured that the house De Bortoli Legacy Pinot Grigio ($33) was being poured from both ends of the table, with strict instructions regarding replenishment, Trev opted for the Ora King Salmon Laab ($14) to start, followed by a Cape Grim grass-fed rump steak ($34).
The laab, a slightly spicy Thai dish more often built from pork, was an interesting take, a bit bland for Trev’s taste but the accompanying cos lettuce, finger lime, macadamia and coconut yoghurt blended nicely. Now Trev doesn’t eat steak too often, but when he does, he wants the best. How could you go wrong here, with the grass-fed rump coming from Tasmania’s leading producer and cooked in the picanha style for the queen of beef cuts that has made a thousand Brazilian steakhouses famous!
Served with chimichurri, marinated green peppers, Kipfler potato, black-eyed peas and watercress salad, it was a delicious main that more than made up for a slightly disappointing presentation. As an added bonus, Trev helped out a neighbour with her Bendele Farm Duck pappardelle ($32), which could have done with a little less pasta and a little more duck, but was also delicious, as befits the organic poultry producer from Kilkivan.
The verdict: View does a roaring trade with lunch and it’s a big space so you might be in for a wait, but it’s well worth it. Mostly simple fare done well, using local suppliers, and the price is right.
Trev wishes both of his readers a joyous Noel.
View by Matt Golinski, 33A Viewland Drive, Noosa Heads. Phone: 5455 2209