The Chef’s Garden

06/08/2026

Just under 2 weeks until we close the doors at The Chef’s Garden
(August 16th)
My garden is coming alive with all this gorgeous weather, come grab a little taste to take home x
We hope to see you here one last time

30/07/2026

What’s happening with The Chef’s Garden?! Last day of trade August 16th

I've been asked this so many times, and I want to be honest.

Opening another café or restaurant isn't for me.
While it's had incredible rewards, the personal toll — on my peace,
my family, my presence — is too high.

I want to teach, share my knowledge, my passion, my garden, feel grounded
I want to be present in my life, in my family & friends lives.

My love language is & always has been food, I’m so grateful to have shared it with the community,
This time, I want to share it with you differently x

I'm working on a “What's for Dinner” concept -
Inspired by The Chef’s Garden
A way to solve that daily question families face.
It actually gives me anxiety

I’ve got a few ideas running around & would love your thoughts.

Pre-ordered, seasonal menu items ready ahead, our trusty favourites, can’t decide?! I’ll do it for you

“Monday I’m making my family our Rustic rump with confit potatoes” who wants it?
I’ll make the sexy bits (relish, smoked feta, caramelised onion etc)
All you have to do is cook the steak, toast the bread

I also want to share my recipes, in detail so you can make them at home

Do you need help with meal planning? Do you want the kids to be involved?
I’ve created a seasonal (monthly) week to week cook book,
with realistic, honest methods, none of the fancy chef terminology, tips, tricks, left over ideas, an ingredients list for the week etc)

Do more workshops & cooking classes
face to face & online (cooking in your kitchen, learning along whilst im in mine)

But here's the thing — I want to know what *you* need. I've created a quick questionnaire x
Tell me what would actually help your family x

https://forms.gle/oTzB7pLZnX88P5jt7

This chapter taught me everything. The next one is about what matters”

If you have some ideas, want to collaborate or I can help with anything, please email me on [email protected]

21/07/2026

3 weeks to go until our final day in this beautiful space x

Paul & Anne, the team, community & I can’t thank you enough for sharing your home with us for the past 3 years (and of course the many years prior as Impact plants cafe)

What you have created is the greatest gift, it’s an oasis for the community, & the highest honor to Mother Nature.

There’s no place on the coast like it.
Paul, you’re an incredible visionary & have worked so hard to build this sanctuary, I’ll miss looking up on the boardwalk admiring your years of work.

I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing peoples reactions when it’s their 1st time here. I hope you stand proud with giving them these memories.

Thank you for taking a chance on me, no experience, just a heart full of passion, determination & a deep love for your home amongst nature.

Anne, I’ll miss our morning catch ups near the coffee machine, your advice, attention to detail with the runnings of the cafe, your support & always wanting nothing but our success.

You both gave me the platform to follow my dream, to grow, to learn, to make mistakes & to evolve to who I am today. I never imagined opening a cafe alongside my other love, nature & gardening x I won’t ever forget this gift you have given me x

Thank you so so much Paul & Anne xx
🌻❤️🪴

Please pop in one last time before our last day of Trade, August 16th x
Bookings are appreciated (link in bio)

10/07/2026

Thank you all so much for the well wishes & support for The Chef’s Garden over the past few weeks, it’s been so humbling to see all of our regulars, new faces & just general happy locals, popping in one last time to say thanks ###

We love you guys ❤️

*last day of trade, August 16th*

25/06/2026

🪴🌻❤️ FINAL DAY OF TRADE ❤️🌻🪴
August 16th
The Chef’s Garden

It started with a man’s dream & Mother Nature, each plant dug into the earth with love, a blossoming Tropical Oasis of 40 years to share with the community.

The sounds of children near the fish ponds, playing games & scribblings of colour.

Family gatherings, celebrating milestones, creating memories & reminiscing of those love ones passed.
Mother Nature holding the space for everyone to just be x

The Elderly with their carers talking about stories of the past, bookclubs expressing their own versions of each chapter, beautiful mums & their bubs, spending time together.

Our 4 legged furry friends accompanying their human, hoping for a sneaky bit of bacon or a Royal Doulton pupperchino.

Photoshoots on the boardwalk, impeccable lighting, a backdrop like nothing else, inviting a new generation to see its beauty

“Wow” this place is incredible,always on the menu.

I’ll miss the 1st part of the day, before open, the bower bird shimmering & cat bird tapping on the glass, the fog lifting with the sun rising, laying out blankets, incense, country music on play, coffee machine heating up & setting the perfect scene to compliment Nature in its glory. “It sure is incredible”

Harvesting from my garden, bringing pops of colour, flavours & creating exactly what was on offer, passion & love in every plate.

The staff (Family) incredible humans, offering unconditional support, to me, to each other & to the community. Really, The Chef’s Garden pillars, every smile, every welcome & the endless genuine interactions x There from the beginning, there till the end ❤️🪴🌻

Unfortunately, we could not come to reasonable lease negotiations & staying on with the current terms is not a sustainable option 🥲

Please come in & see us one more time, take in the surroundings before we say goodbye

From the deepest parts in our heart

THANK YOU 🙏🌻❤️🪴

29/05/2026

20/05/2026

I’m feeling so humbled to be showcasing The Chef’s Garden back where it all began. This time, supporting the students with our menu, a 5 course degustation, serving 50 guests in the Tafe preview restaurant. Please come along to support the next generation of Chef’s
& have a little taste of The Chef’s Garden.

Booking information in link below x

We’re excited to welcome The Chef’s Garden to our Preview Restaurant for a special guest chef degustation with our cookery students.
Nestled within Empire Bay’s Impact Plants Nursery, The Chef’s Garden offers a tranquil garden-to-plate dining experience. Chef Lorrae crafts a seasonal menu inspired by the on-site permaculture garden, featuring herbs and edible flowers grown just across the road, with a strong focus on sustainability and seasonality.
Adding to the occasion, Chef Lorrae is also a previous student from 2018, making this an inspiring full-circle moment for our current students. Throughout the degustation experience, students will work alongside Lorrae, gaining valuable insight into contemporary culinary techniques, seasonal cooking, and professional kitchen operations.
We’re proud to partner with The Chef’s Garden in supporting and inspiring
the next generation of hospitality professionals.

Date: Tuesday 9th June 2026 - 6pm arrival
Location: Preview Restaurant Ourimbah Campus
Brush road Ourimbah
Cost: $75per person
(5 course degustation with matching wines)
Bookings: [email protected]
Get in quick, bookings are limited and will sell out quickly!!

Find out more about Lorrae and her Chefs Garden
Impact Plants Café — The Chef’s Garden Cafe | Empire Bay NSW

11/05/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the beautiful mums out there, past, present, pet mums, you’re all incredible. We had an amazing weekend serving you. Thank you for coming to The Chef’s Garden to celebrate such a special day x

Mother’s Day is the biggest day of the year for us & many other hospitality venues, it’s a huge lead up to prepare & to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Early starts, late finishes, soooo much food prep, team meetings, table arranging, booking confirmation & shuffling, cleaning, polishing, baking, ordering, storing, counting, the list goes on x

To see so many smiling faces, so much laughter & all of the beautiful memories being created on the day, it makes all the hard work worth it x

We will be closing the cafe tomorrow to catch our breaths & reset x

We appreciate you & look forward to seeing you soon The Chef’s Garden

Re-open wednesday from 9-3 x

Lorrae & The Chef’s Garden team

06/05/2026

We are officially booked out on Mother's Day (Sunday).

We still have availability for Saturday cafe menu. Online bookings only.

Afternoon Tapas & Tunes menu
(2-5 pm)on Saturday afternoon
(A la carte menu)

04/05/2026

The Weather is looking beautiful for Mothers Day weekend. X
Celebrate Mum early with our afternoon of Tapas & Tunes on Saturday Afternoon.
(Check out the menu in Event below)

We also have some times available for Sunday (online bookings only)
Jump onto the booking link in our bio to see availability.