Etienne Karner brings sustainable, approachable dining to life with a new menu that heroes local produce.

Byron at Byron, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort is set to unveil its new restaurant and chef on Tuesday, 1 September. Executive Chef Etienne Karner has made a seachange to Byron Bay from Sydney, bringing with him his world-class experience to hero the region's abundance of stunning sustainable ingredients.

Boasting a career spanning France, Germany, Dubai, India, Ireland, the USA and Caribbean, Etienne joins the Restaurant from Park Hyatt Sydney, where he held the position of Executive Chef.

Forest's opening menu will serve contemporary, approachable and distinctly Australian cuisine. Highlights include poached Ballina king prawns with avocado, green apple and coriander, Paroo kangaroo tartar with lemon myrtle mayo, line caught local Jewfish with Windaboo mushrooms or for the sweet tooth, a nest of Kataifi pastry with white chocolate and salted caramel parfait.

Explaining further, Karner says Forest is “a hyper-local ode to the area's exceptional produce, artisans, and farmers.  Byron Bay is one of the most beautiful places on Earth and every effort has been made towards sustainability in line with Crystalbrook Collection's commitment to Responsible Luxury.”

Set next to a lush rainforest oasis, Forest is passionately local with over 80% of ingredients coming from within a three-hour drive of the Restaurant. The utmost care for the surrounding landscape has been woven throughout the menu, with only sustainably sourced seafood and free-range proteins used in Karner's dishes. Guaranteeing transparency in regards to food sourcing, Forest's wet and dry aged beef is farmed at Crystalbrook Station*.   

Throw in an organic herb garden, on-property beehives and a worm farm fit for a tv garden guru and you'll start to get the idea.

Thirsty for something a little different? Try the Butterfly Gardens signature cocktail with Ink Gin infused with rosemary, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, lavender and fresh lemon. Alternatively, peruse the national and international wine list, with options for every budget, as well as a selection of more than 30 sustainable, organic and biodynamic wines.

Phase one of Byron at Byron's $6 million refresh will be unveiled on 1 September. Phase two includes updates to guest suites and a new Eléme Day Spa, which will be unveiled in November.

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Restaurant opening hours

• Breakfast: 07:30-10:30
• Brunch/lunch: 11:00-15:00
• Dinner: 18:00-21:00
• Rainforest Verandah: 11:00-22:00
• Garden Bar: 18:00-22:00

*Crystalbrook Station and Crystalbrook Signature Beef

Crystalbrook Beef is nurtured at the Group's 85,000 acre Crystalbrook Station, three hours inland from Cairns, assuring guests of quality and the highest levels of animal welfare.

About Byron at Byron, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort

Nestled in 45-acres of magical subtropical rainforest, Byron at Byron, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort, is a celebration of nature, responsible luxury and the local environment. Offering 92 guest suites, each with its own front and rear verandah, the resort works with its surrounding landscape to offer guests an immersive experience in nature. Featuring new signature restaurant, Forest, Eléme Day Spa (opening November 2020), daily yoga classes, tennis court and infinity pool, Byron at Byron is proud to offer sustainable luxury loved by locals and travellers alike. In line with Crystalbrook Collection's commitment to Responsible Luxury, the resort makes use of environmentally friendly, upcycled, recycled and locally sourced materials wherever possible. The resort has a plastic free policy (no plastic water bottles or straws) and, through the use of technology, has removed 90% of paper used by a typical five-star hotel.

About Crystalbrook Collection

Crystalbrook Collection is one of Australia's leading sustainable and innovative independent hospitality companies. Each hotel in the portfolio carries an authentic expression of its location, a passion for responsible luxury, considered design and a twinkle of fun for a uniquely enriching experience.

Crystalbrook Collection is an Australian tourism and hospitality group. Its portfolio includes:

• Riley, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort, Cairns, Queensland
• Little Albion, a Crystalbrook Collection Boutique Hotel, Sydney, New South Wales
• Byron at Byron, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort, Byron Bay, New South Wales
• Bailey, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel and Residence, Cairns, Queensland – opening September 2020
• Flynn, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel, Cairns, Queensland – opening March 2021
• Kingsley, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel, Newcastle, New South Wales – opening April 2021

The Group also owns and operates a collection of ten restaurants, three spas, Crystalbrook Station and its subsidiary pastoral businesses.

Mindfully Safe

Mindfully Safe was launched by Crystalbrook Collection in response to Covid-19. The programme focuses on reducing travel anxiety by providing mindfulness and meditation tools developed in partnership with mental-wellbeing group The Indigo Project. Crystalbrook will also donate $5 to mental support service Beyond Blue for every stay booked directly until the end of 2020. As part of Mindfully Safe, Crystlabrook Collection is Australia's first cash-free hospitality company.

Learn more here: crystalbrookcollection.com/mindfully-safe

Crystalbrook Collection and Ghassan Aboud Group

Crystalbrook Collection is owned by accomplished entrepreneur and philanthropist Ghassan Aboud. Ghassan Aboud Group is a multi-business conglomerate engaged in automobiles, real estate, retail, bespoke catering, media and logistics. In business for more than two decades, the group operates from its global headquarters in the United Arab Emirates with offices in Australia, Belgium, China, Jordan and Turkey.