Like most Irishmen, I love wine. And as a chef, I love good food, so the Hunter Valley, a short three-hour drive from Sydney, with its patchwork vineyards and distinct local produce offers the perfect escape. It’s my wife Jane’s and my favourite spot for a family weekend away with our daughters Lily, 6, and Maeve, 5. I love the Hunter when the air is crisp and cold and you can drink a few bottles of red in front of the fire – I’m big on fireplaces, it reminds me of Ireland. But there’s more to the area than wine and fire. The Hunter is a shining light for food in Australia, and rightfully so, thanks to a swathe of local chefs including Troy Rhoades Brown of Muse Restaurant and Kitchen, who showcase the local produce. It’s important that we support these exceptional regional chefs, which is why on June 6, I’ll be taking part in the annual Hunter Culinary Associations Food Fight, a fundraising event where two teams of chefs (the old boys and the next gen) go head-to-head in a cook-off to raise money for the Brett Graham scholarship fund, a prestigious scholarship for young chefs to train with Brett at his Michelin-starred London restaurant, The Ledbury. I’ll be teaming up with some of my best mates (and former Banc team): Matt Kemp of Q Station; Warren Turnbull of Chur Burger and Justin North of Hotel Centennial – yep, we’re getting the old Banc restaurant crew back together! We’re going to be coming up against Team Brett Graham made up of previous Brett Graham scholarship winners, Troy, Chris Thornton of Restaurant Mason, Garreth Robbs of Bistro Molines and Josh Gregory of EXP. There may be an air of rivalary (it’s a fight, after all) but we’re all good friends. And it’s not about beating one another, it’s about nurturing next gen chefs, so whoever wins or loses, it’s all in good heart.

You might not be able to picture me walking around The Storybook Gardens, part of The Storybook Gardens (Broke Rd, Pokolbin), but my girls absolutely love this place. It’s like walking through a picture book of nursery rhymes complete with life-size Humpty-Dumpty, Mad Hatter’s Tea party and a dish running away with a spoon, and it’s cute to see the girls playing around outdoors. Do I find the gardens enjoyable? Well, I’ll admit they’re beautiful and if my kids are happy I’m happy. Plus, then Jane and I don’t feel so bad about nicking off down the road for some wine. With some food, of course.

I always visit The Cellar Restaurant (Hunter Valley Gardens Village, Broke Rd, Pokolbin) especially when I’m staying at the Mercure as the handy walking distance means you can always stumble back to your room! Chef Andy Wright’s menu has a Mediterranean slant and is just all round good. Try to score a seat near the central stone fireplace and order the bite-sized Yorkshire pudding with braised wagyu skirt (be warned these aren’t to share, so make sure to order enough for the table), or the chargrilled quail with sweetcorn blinis, pomegranate and watercress (above) washed down with a glass from the 170-strong drink list.

For one of the true stand-out restaurants in the country, don’t miss Muse Restaurant (Hungerfood Hill Wines, 2540 Broke Rd, Pokolbin). Troy (pictured with wife Megan at Muse Kitchen) has such great talent- he’s got a lot more patience than I do for plating! but he’s just an all-round nice guy too. His food is the shining example of why the Hunter is one of the top food destinations in the country.

Make sure you stop by Vinden Estate (138 Gillards Road, Pokolbin). Their alicante bouschet Rose is a great drop with bright berries and a crisp dry finish, just how I like it – probably why it’s on the menu at 4Fourteen.

Charcuterie and wine, seriously need I say more? Usher Tinkler and his wife Ebony of Tinklers Wines (Pokolbin Mountains Rd, Pokolbin) have recently refurbed an old chapel for their new tasting room, a cool project actually that makes it more of a wine and salumi bar, which is right up my alley! I met Usher Tinkler at the Food Fight a couple of years ago and our friendship really kicked off; he’s a fan of my food and I’m a fan of his wine. He’s actually just brought out his own label called ‘Nose to Tail’, which really rings home for me. Obviously.

Lisa and Andrew Margan of Margan (1238 Milbrodale Rd, Broke) are renowned for making great wines and this year celebrate 20 years in the industry. The best way to sample their wines is paired with a delicious plate of food from chef Jonathan Heath in Margan Restaurant. The estate incorporates an orchard and kitchen garden, which provides about 90 percent of all of their produce, so you can’t go past dishes such as the garden beetroots with goat’s curd, rhubarb and hazelnut. The restaurant also make a lot of ingredients from scratch: butter, cheeses, yoghurt – it’s a serious garden to plate experience and you can really taste the terroir in each and every dish.

Chef Emerson Rodriquez is killing it at his award-winning eponymous restaurant, Emerson’s cafe and Resturant (492 Lovedale Road, Lovedale). The cool fit-out and paddock to plate ethos make this a winner for the whole family – try the Yakitori chicken wings with ginger rice porridge and roy beans (left) – he even makes his own plates! on Sunday nights he offers 3 courses for just $55, a bargain for the Hunter.

Frenchman Robert Molines is one of the legends of the Hunter, and lunch overlooking the vineyards at his hatted restaurant Bistro Molines (749 Mount View Rd, Mount View) is an institution. The classic French menu is consistently good and the view over the vines is sensational. Robert has really helped the Hunter Association and a lot of young chefs as well, and head chef Garreth Robbs will be fighting it out on TroyÕs team at the Food Fight.

Top of the list on my next visit is recently opened EXP by Frank Fawkner (1596 Broke Rd, Pokolbin). Frank worked with Troy at Muse, so I’m expecting big things. It’s a bit more Sydney than other restaurants, with five- and eight-course degustations on offer, but industry word is he’s hitting home with some really good flavours using incredible produce such as Pyengana cheddar and Fraser Island spanner crab. Part of Oakvale Winery, the menu features their excellent drops, so it’s a win win. And who knows, maybe Frank will read this and give me a free feed when I visit! Hi Frank!

I love Newcastle. It’s a great place to visit for a weekend, but if I’m just passing through on my way to the Hunter I’ll go for quick swim at Newy beach and then stop by Ben Neil’s Newy Burger Co. (789 Hunter St, Newcastle). I’ve known Ben for over 6 years thanks to the Hunter Culinary Association and he and co-owner and chef Nick Vivian have really nailed it with their top-notch burgers. Most popular on the menu has to be the Newy – an excellent cheeseburger with vintage cheddar, pickle and mustard (pictured). My pick though is the Merewether – pulled pork, green apple slaw, aioli – with ‘dirty’ fries (fries loaded with anything from chilli beef to pulled pig with Sriracha) – yeah, I’m a pork fiend. It’s part of the Cambridge hotel too, so if you feel like a pint to help wash it down you won’t go thirsty for long.

It’s hard to single out wineries to visit in a region where there are so many. I’ve got my favourites, but First Creek (600 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin) is my new must-visit. Winemaker Liz Silkman was the first woman to win the Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year in 2011 and is leading the charge with her 2014 Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay – a real gem of a wine best sampled on the balcony of the Cellar Door.

If you’re making a real road trip out of it, why not stay in Newy for a night and head to one-hatted Restaurant Mason (3/35 Hunter St, Newcastle) for dinner? Husband and wife team Chris (who’s part of Troy’s team in the Food Fight) and Amy Thornton have cornered the market here with their smart venue and delicious food without the arrogance. Chris, who worked with Aussie chef Brett Graham at The Ledbury in London, knows his stuff, delivering mod-Euro flavours on a concise menu – it’s seriously worth it.

If you haven’t heard of Brokenwood Wines (401-427 McDonalds Rd, Pokolbin) or sampled one of their drops you must be living under a rock. These guys have a solid reputation for a reason – they’ve been making wine since 1970! For me, I love their shiraz, with its deep tannins and rich red fruits, its always brilliant paired with the food I like to eat – yes, I do mean meat. They also hold private dinners once a month among the vines.