The Northern Leader (Tamworth) 25 October 2004 

By Anna Rose

Unlike many other districts throughout Australia, Tamworth has never boasted of being a 'food region'  - but it most certainly can now.

Local restaurateurs Graham and Marlene Manvell have taken out the best themed restaurant in Australia -  for the third time.

The enterprising couple were in exclusive company among the nation's elite foodies, at the Restaurant and Catering Australian Awards for Excellence, held at Coolum.

"We felt pretty much like the country cousins," Marlene said.

"'We're from Tamworth' we'd tell them, only to be asked 'where's that?"

"They soon found out where Tamworth was only three awards into the night, (when) SSS BBQ Barns Tamworth was named Australia's best themed restaurant. Then when they learnt we'd won the awards two times previously, I think the perception of the country cousins was elevated slightly."

SSS BBQ Barns is a chain of five Australian country-style steakhouses that serves only the highest quality prize beef and is 100 per cent Australian-owned and operated. In addition to their own home-grown beef, the restaurants use prime grain-fed beef that is grown to SSS's exacting standards and in-house ageing and butchering specifications.

Graham Manvell is an award-winning chef with 27 years in the restaurant industry. He trained at the Sebel Townhouse in Sydney and has worked at London's Savoy.

Graham has a host of medals, including gold at the Culinary Olympics in Frankfurt (Germany) and from competitions in Luxemburg, Singapore and Australia.

The original restaurant, established in Tamworth in 1993, and the most recent, opened in Brisbane's CBD last November, are owned by Graham and Marlene. They also have three franchisee-owned restaurants at Coffs Harbour, Cessnock and Lake Munmorah.

Graham and Marlene produce 38 per cent of the food and beverage that is prepared and served at their growing chain of restaurants.

"You know it if you grow it and the proof is in the eating," is one of Graham's mantras.

He helps hand-prune the 22,000 vines in their three vineyards near Tamworth that currently produce 8000 bottles of wines a year under the Lazy Poet label, sold exclusively at SSS.

Graham tends his livestock that includes one of Australia's largest domestic herds of buffalo and he's won Best Dexter Cow and Calf at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney. They also have a Scottish Highlander stud.

The Manvells produce an award-winning dark, traditional ginger tawny ale at their Ironbark boutique brewery.

Graham hasn't let his silver service background and host of international culinary awards get in the way of his dream to establish a chain of themed restaurants around Australia and, as they say, third time prove it.

SSS is undoubtedly the best in Australia.