From a Michelin three-star restaurant in London, a boat in the Galapagos Islands, and working with Masterchef’s Shannon Bennett – it’s fair to say Rick Osborne has seen the inside of many kitchens.
Now, Toowoomba is benefiting from his years of international and national experience as he leads the team at Preston Peak Winery Function Centre.
In between weddings, events, catering bookings and running one of the region’s most sought after venues, I caught up with Rick and had a chat about eating guinea pigs, working 16 hour days and his goal to make Preston Peak one of Australia’s most sought after venues.
Stunning all weather weddings at Preston Peak – Image by Leah Cruikshank
Creating a chef
He worked at the famous Le Gavroche, London’s first Michelin star French restaurant.
Despite coming from family who were more into accounting and law, Rick chased cooking early, leaving school after grade 10 to complete his apprenticeship on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.
Rick Osborne
Immediately after qualifying he was on a plane, first to Canada, then to London where he worked at the famous Le Gavroche, London’s first Michelin star French restaurant, which Rick says was a dream come true.
“To be able to work with Chef Michel, Chef Albert, Chef Michel Jnr, I’d read all their cookbooks before I’d even gotten there and to actually work alongside them was a pretty cool feeling because those guys are the world’s best,” he says.
“I think when I was at Le Gavroche we were number 25 of the world’s best restaurants. To be even just offered a job there was really quite special.”
It was hard work. Up early and in before 8am to prep for lunch. A short break after lunch if you were lucky – if not more cleaning and preparation for dinner, and dinner service finished after midnight. 16 hour days, six days a week for two years – a stressful, but rewarding stint that saw him able to walk into Shannon Bennett’s Vue de Monde as a senior chef upon his return to Australia.
And that’s the beauty of a hospitality career, Rick says. If you work hard, it can take you anywhere. He’s been able to travel to Hong Kong, Macau, the Galapagos Islands, Thailand and all through South America, where he employed his policy of ‘I’ll try anything once’ and tucked in to their signature dish of guinea pig.
For Rick cheffing eventually brought him home, back to Toowoomba where for the past few years he has been busy building Preston Peak into one of the most desirable wedding and function centres, not just in Toowoomba, but Australia.
Creating a wedding venue
We’re in the process of running power to 24 of the trees down the driveway and we’re going to light up every single one of those with fairy lights.
Under Rick’s stewardship our local winery out at Preston Peak has flourished. If you’ve been there for an event recently you would have seen the improvements for yourself – a gorgeous wedding tree pavilion, a bridal cottage and that striking chandelier in the cellar door. Rick says there’s plenty more where that came from.
“I took over this business when there was no business; it was always a beautiful venue but we really want to be one of Australia’s best function centres.
“We’re always evolving and reinvesting into the business. What we’re doing now is creating even more photo opportunities. We’ve extended the main dining room and we’re in the process of running power to 24 of the trees down the driveway and we’re going to light up every single one of those with fairy lights.
“That’ll be done within the next month so it will be really something special for people to keep an eye on.”
Coming soon to these gorgeous trees: fairy lights! Image by Leah Cruikshank for One Twisted Fairytale
James and Emma under THAT chandelier at Preston Peak Functions – image by Leah Cruikshank
Rick says he’s lucky his landlords are totally on board with his vision for the property.
“Without my landlords’ Ashley and Kym help and support there’s no way we would have been able to push forward as fast as what we have. They believe in me and what I want to create here.”
The results speak for themselves – people have flocked to their recent Jazz and Shiraz and Brews with a View events, and over 100 happy couples will tie the knot at the venue this year.
The food
If you want something different like an oyster bar, or a live cooking section, or even a food truck, consider it done.
Of course it’s not just the pretty views that’s attracting people from all over. The food is one of the stars of the Preston show.
The food! Image by Salt Studios
The famous feasting platters – image by Salt Studios
“We try to really source all our ingredients locally,” Rick says. “We have good relationships with farmers and suppliers close by and we use local as much as we can.”
They offer all kinds of options, from their famous on-table generous feasting banquet to traditional alternative drops. And you can take their set function packages and put your own spin on them – Rick says they’re all about flexibility, so if you want something different like an oyster bar, or a live cooking section, or even a food truck, consider it done.
Rick mixes his French training with his love for Asian and modern cuisines.
“If I had to pick a cuisine, I do love Chinese,” he says. “Anything that’s hanging in the window, the Peking duck, char sui pork, crispy chicken.
“It was a good mix going from Le Gavroche which is very, very traditional to a restaurant like Vue de Monde, which was modern style, with all the textures, the foams, the more the molecular style of cooking.
“So I’ve had a diverse style of training and we’ve been able to implement those techniques at the winery.
Rick credits his team for providing guests with an extraordinary experience.
“With my experience and our team we really do blow everyone out of the water with our food. I can honestly say people won’t find another team in Toowoomba or the Lockyer with the experience that my team and I have. Our service is next to none – but it’s still laidback and relaxed so people can have a good time.”
The catering
If people really want to do something a bit different we can go to their house to do a five or 10 course degustation…we really love to do that…
Outside of the function centre the team cater for some of our region’s most high profile events – like this year’s Carnival of Flowers, where 300 people flocked to Laurel Bank Park to enjoy a gala five course degustation dinner prepared by the Preston team.
Catering at Preston Peak (put the praise hands emoji here) – Image by Salt Studios
Rick says the team loves the challenge of cooking elegant, refined, and tasty food for large crowds.
“We did the opening of the Lexus show room, we do a lot in the Audi Showroom, we just did the RB Sellars opening,” Rick said. “I’m cooking for Barnaby Joyce at Gary Gardener’s house. They’ve got 30 people so we’re going to do a nice tapas style affair. We cater for weddings at Gordon Country – anywhere anybody needs catering done we’re more than happy to come along and take care of it.
“If people really want to do something a bit different we can go to their house to do a five or 10 course degustation,” he says. “We really love to do that and it lets us show off our skills – and not many venues can offer that.”
With Christmas fast approaching now is the time to see if you can snag one of their limited spaces for parties – either at the winery or your venue of choice.
The wine
Preston Peak cellar door – image by Leah Cruikshank for One Twisted Fairytale
Let’s not forget this function centre is actually based at winery. Wine production takes place on the Granite Belt and the cellar door houses an impressive collection you can try.
If it’s been a while since you’ve tried a Queensland wine, you might be surprised at the leaps and bounds they’ve taken in the last 10 years.
“Come up to the cellar door, try the wine, you’ll be really surprised,” Rick says. “Our 2012 East West Shiraz was just awarded 97 out of 100 in the Winestate awards and our premium Serisier sparkling is made in the traditional champenoise method, which takes six or seven years to make.”
The cellar door is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 2pm for tastings – it does close early on weekends if an event is on, so Rick suggests calling first before you pop out. You can also buy wines online at prestonpeakwines.com.au
Visit the venue
Be on the lookout for upcoming events at Preston Peak, including their Wedding Festival in January and soon-to-be-announced Jazz and Shiraz days.
Wedding Tree Pavilion – Image by Leah Cruikshank
James and Emma at Preston Peak – Image by Leah Cruikshank
If you’re interested in having your wedding at the winery Rick is happy to take you on a tour by appointment – give him a call on 0418 865 336. When you hire the venue you get the full 330 acres, with bridal cottage, ceremony and reception areas and a multitude of photo options. All you have to do is show up and enjoy your day!
Visit prestonpeakfunctions.com.au and give them love on Facebook and Instagram too.
Feature image by Leah Cruikshank for One Twisted Fairytale. Images supplied by Preston Peak.
WIN!
Preston Peak are offering Toowoomba Living readers the chance to win a wine and cheese tasting experience for you and three friends. Relax and enjoy the view at Preston Peak as you’re served a generous cheese board and taste their award winning wines. Sound like a perfect way to spend a few hours? We think so! They’re even throwing in two bottles to take home for the winner. Terms and conditions are below, please head to the Toowoomba Living Facebook page to enter. This is strictly an 18+ competition.
Win a wine and cheese tasting experience – terms and conditions
