Reviews
Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide 2011
Semi-rural Caversham seems an unlikely locale for an eatery of this calibre, but it's a discovery no less welcome – or thrilling – than strips of Welsh seaweed "pasta" beneath a plump tempura scallop. Kiren and Kelli Mainwaring work hard to present a polished Mod Oz experience, but still remember to have fun – ocean trout crackers, or beer and mustard ice-cream, anyone? Ultimately, though, the cooking here is thoughtful rather than flippant, and a zeal for produce, in both sourcing and cooking it with respect, pays dividends. Still-warm goat's milk is cultured into homemade cheese while Boyup Brook suckling pigs are butchered in-house to procure porky, petite cutlets, plated with slow-roasted jowl meat. Kelli's relationships with local vignerons pay off, yielding some outstanding drops...
2010 Gourmet Traveler wine guide
This is an impressive list with a good depth of Australian and French classics and a strong (Western Australian) regional focus. A clever selection of new-wave regions, varieties and wine styles add pizazz.
2009 Gourmet Traveller Wine Guide
Dear Friends has been revitalised by its young owners and offers a diverse rather than deep collection of wines with a varietal base that will appeal widely. The Swan Valley, international regions, and back vintages are all represented.
SCOOP
...In the six months since taking over, new owners Kiren and Kelli Mainwaring have injected the old place with a similar, if more youthful energy. Kelli, a canadian, is a charming host and Ki, whose travels through Europe have evidently influenced his cooking style, has a strong creative streak. Ki gets a lot of pleasure from his cooking and this translates into the food. There is love here, and care, and developed technique. There's rarely a spare table on weekends - a good mark of success with locals.
STM - Food & Wine - Peter Forrestall
I've tried the degustation menu that Dear Friends is offering at the Seafood and Shiraz festival in conjunction with the Swan's best new producer of the past five years, Bella Ridge. Both the wines and food were splendid. Kelli and her Welsh chef husband Kiren Mainwaring, have revitalised Dear Friends in the past 10 months and this challenging degustation will provide an excellent introduction to this chef's talents.
STM - Eating Out - Gail Williams
...This one's name is Kiren Mainwaring, the slightly wild owner/chef. He sent out an amuse bouche of teasmoked beef with apple and miso as if to say "tricked ya". Soto voce gradually evolved into audible gasps as we studied the menu, which included pheasant, ostrich fillet and bufalo - a sign that Mainwaring has been doing some heavy research and painstaking sourcing of produce...
Peter Forrestal
December/January 2011 issue of Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine
“Heading west to one of Australia’s best kept secrets is a wonderful way to expand your appreciation of this region’s marvellous wines. Just a well-arced wine spit away from Perth, the historic Swan Valley is buzzing with a growing plethora of cellar doors, restaurants and cafes. This leisurely three-day itinerary puts you in the heart of it all….
The itinerary is wrapped up with a visit to the region’s finest restaurant, Kelli and Kiren Mainwaring’s Dear Friends (100 Benara Rd, Caversham, 08 9279 2815 – rated number four in the state by the current Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide). Try the dégustation menu: seven innovative tastes to challenge, thrill and delight. There’s an outstanding wine list particularly strong on the Swan Valley."
Visit www.gourmettraveller.com.au/great-wine-drives-swan-valley-western-australia.htm to read the full itinerary of Peter Forrestals drive through the Swan Valley…
