Publicans Jessica Huddart and Ben Johnston own The Falls Farm down the road from Mapleton Public House, so whatever gets picked that morning goes on the menu. In the hands of chef Cameron Matthews, that might mean sweet and brightly coloured carrots, roasted till just tender, topped with a complex combination of caramelised ’nduja and coconut cream. If zucchinis are in season, he’ll hasselback and stuff them with tomato kasundi and accent them with lightly tart labne and umami-rich wakame oil. While some dishes are far from what you’d expect from a regional pub, others – like an elevated take on chicken parmigiana with buttermilk fried chook, prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella – are more familiar. The drinks offering, meanwhile, is just as considered, with local craft beers alongside an Australian-led wine list. It’s just another way the 114-year-old boozer, with its sweeping views over the Sunshine Coast hinterland and character-filled interior, proves it isn’t your ordinary country pub.
Ashley Oostdyke
