Mat Lindsay recipe for barbecued prawns with brown butter and tamari from Ester restaurant in Sydney.

"These two-bite snacks are perfect with a gin Martini," says Lindsay.

This was one of the first dishes we had on the menu at Ester," says Mat Lindsay. "I suggest putting a mussel and a pickle on top of some freshly grilled bread or a potato chip and dipping it into aïoli - a DIY canapé."

There's not a lot of meat on quails so the best way to eat these is with your hands - pull them apart, dip them in the sauces and get a bit messy," says Mat Lindsay.

Ester chef Mat Lindsay's cheddar pie is a cut above the rest. Sharp cheddar, pickled onion and a flaky pie dough comes together to make one masterful cheese pie.

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for salted caramel semifreddo by Mat Lindsay from Ester, Sydney.

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for baked apples with burnt cream by Mat Lindsay from Ester, Sydney.

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for broccolini with chilli and burnt-garlic vinaigrette by Mat Lindsay from Ester, Sydney.

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for roast oysters with horseradish by Mat Lindsay from Ester in Sydney.

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for fried rabbit by Mat Lindsay from Ester, Sydney.