Take a country drive and discover Northern Rivers gem House of Gabriel, serving classic High Tea with a modern twist from a spectacular riverfront setting.
Take a country drive and discover a hidden gem in the Northern Rivers, serving an elegant high tea on the banks of the Tweed River.
House of Gabriel is a located in the picturesque town of Tumbulgum, close to Murwillumbah and The Tweed’s famed Husk Distillers (home of Ink Gin), just 20 mins from the Gold Coast. Built in 1914, the owners have lovingly restored and respectfully preserved the history of this historic building, which has previously housed a bakery and confectionery business as well as withstanding floods. If you look carefully, you’ll spot a marker indicating the height of the most recent flood.
Today, the beautiful building sits proudly overlooking the Tweed River offering wholesome food, fresh produce and pantry items for locals and visitors to enjoy and taste the Tweed.
We arrive to the grand House of Gabriel on a spectacularly sunny day, the ornate gates and wisteria vines providing a pretty and welcoming entrance. The established wisteria intertwined with the pergola provides a shady canopy on the terrace, the overall look is pretty as a picture and the perfect setting for High Tea.
Our table is set on the verandah overlooking the Tweed River, with views of the magnificent Wollumbin Mt Warning beyond. The clothed table is set with pink and white linen and freshly cut flowers from the garden complete the refined country look.
We’re welcomed with a refreshing passionfruit punch as we settle in and happily chat with the owner Lee Kuhnell. Lee not only owns the business but heads up the kitchen. With over 30 years experience working in large restaurants, resorts, casinos and hotels under his belt, he offers diners a paired back and unpretentious menu of wholesome meals showcasing the best seasonal local produce at the charming House of Gabriel.
Our party of three is presented with a tiered high tea stand laden with goodies and dotted with precious flowers; the additional platters of savoury dishes and scones cover the table with temptations. We start with the warm dishes including the individual pot pie of braised leek, free range chicken in a creamy velouté sauce, topped with puff pastry shards, its the kind of comfort food you hope to find from this establishment.
The pumpkin arancini, made with pumpkin grown on the family farm in Crystal Creek is satisfyingly crunchy. The homestyle sandwiches of local Mount Warning smoked leg ham and seasonal pickles is a deliciously nostalgic choice, while the luxe confit ocean trout with fresh herbs, crushed egg and aioli is a real showstopper.
Chef Lee tells us the scones are his mother’s recipe and the family business has been proudly serving them for 7 years. His mother still drops in and checks that they are to her exacting standards. Given the flair and creativity of Lee’s other dishes, I’d love to taste his own interpretation of the traditional scone.
The sweet offering includes a sample of date pudding with butterscotch sauce and pears and yoyo biscuits. Yoyo biscuits are an Australian classic, named after the nostalgic old-fashioned toy they resemble. We finish with the passionfruit curd tart made from local passionfruit from Clothier’s Creek near The Tweed’s famed tea plantation. It’s this Green Tea & Lemon Myrtle Madura Tea we’re sipping, while enjoying the zesty tart, all while feeling smug about the low food miles used to create this elegant high tea.
House of Gabriel is able to cater for a variety of dietary requirements with prior notice such as vegetarian or gluten free at no extra cost. The High Tea menu inclusions may vary with the seasons due to the produce in season.
House of Gabriel exceeded our expectations with its modern twist on classic High Tea fare and spectacular riverfront setting. The sprawling venue is suitable for groups too with space to accommodate larger groups like social clubs or a beautiful baby shower.
House of Gabriel High Tea Menu:
Sweet:
- Passionfruit curd tarts
- Lavender yoyo cookies
- Date pudding with butterscotch and pears
Savoury:
- Mini chicken pot pie
- Pumpkin arancini
- Ham and pickle sandwich
- Confit ocean trout, fresh herbs, crushed eggs and aioli
Scones:
- Fresh scones with seasonal jam and cream
High Tea in NSW – find more experiences
in our High Tea Venue Directory
