Regional Victorian fine dining restaurants are punching well above their weight, as evidenced by the star performers in this year’s The Age Good Food Guide.
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Attaining a prestigious “chef hat” in the guide for the second year running was Ballarat restaurant Catfish Thai.
Daylesford fine dining institution Lake House again proved its mettle as one of the state’s best with two chef hats. Also in Daylesford, Kazuki’s has again been bestowed a chef hat.
The restaurants were part of a strong shift toward regional dining, with establishments in Geelong and Birregurra also getting gongs.
Stalwart restaurateur Annie Smithers, who is based in Trentham, said the results were fantastic news for regional Victoria.
“I think that there is a greater capacity for young enthusiastic chefs to get a chance at opening their own restaurant regionally,” she said.
“It’s not as affordable to start up something and go your own way in the city.
“I think also the change in food trends...if you’re passionate about only sourcing within 100km or knowing the source of your produce, that’s also easier to do in the country.”
She said it was difficult to know whether Ballarat and the central goldfields were making the most of the regional dining trend.
“It’s not always that if you always get that recognition, that business success follows. It’s a gritty game to be part of,” she said.
“You have to look at whether the restaurant is doing a healthy turnover and if it is helping the community.”
Ballarat Regional Tourism CEO Noel Dempsey said plans were in motion to market the city as a “foodie destination”.
“Our city’s food scene is ever-evolving. The fact that Catfish has once again received a hat is evidence of this,” he said.
“Travellers want their dining experiences to be accompanied by other cultural experiences.
“Ballarat provides contemporary, fine dining set against a regional historic backdrop.”
Catfish Thai owner Danielle Jones said being awarded a chef hat two year’s running was “huge” for the establishment, which has been open for nearly three years.
“They are a thank-you for all the hard work we put in, for starters, and hopefully it means more people find out where we are and what we’re doing,” she said.