A local's guide to
Ballarat: Tim Bone
Tim Bone appeared on MasterChef Australia 2019, building a legion of fans with his down-to-earth sense of humour and an ability to create clever, heart-warming dishes from local produce.
Tim has been a Ballarat local since 2005, when he arrived as a bright-eyed uni student. While at uni, Tim developed a passion for sharing his knowledge of food and cooking via his involvement with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.
Post-MasterChef, Tim has built up a local catering business called Tim’s Toasties, bringing gourmet toasties to farmers’ markets and private events throughout the Ballarat region.
Recently, Tim was kind enough to take us on a tour of his home town along with his lovely wife Abbey and cheeky son Toby.
Lake Wendouree
‘We often head to Lake Wendouree to spend some time as a family. It’s a great place for a morning walk or to let Toby have a run around on the playground. There are a couple of fish and chip places nearby and we will sometimes sit on the shoreline at dusk eating potato cakes’.
Michael Unwin Wines
‘We are so lucky to have a quality winery like Michael Unwin Wines just five minutes out of town. The staff are so lovely and knowledgeable about the wine. It’s not unusual to find yourself in a conversation with Michael himself, who is so passionate about wine and the local growers’.
Restaurant Lola
‘When you step into Lola, it really does feel like you have teleported magically into a casual diner in France or Italy. The decor shows such attention to detail and Georgie and Simon are incredible hosts. Abbey and I will sometimes come here for breakfast where I can never say no to the berry waffles. Simon makes a darn good coffee too’.
Saigon Allée
‘Lucy and Rick from Saigon Allée have done a fantastic job recreating the feel of an authentic Vietnamese restaurant with murals and interesting trinkets in every corner of the room. The kitchen serves up a modern take on Vietnamese cooking and I’m obsessed with their pork bánh mì. The beautiful courtyard is a great place to meet a group of friends for lunch’.
Moon and Mountain
‘Moon and Mountain are doing Asian fusion food on another level and it’s somewhere Abbey and I regularly end up at when we are looking to head out for dinner. Liam and the team really know their stuff and it’s already become a Ballarat institution after only a few years of trading. Make sure to start with one of their outrageously good cocktails like the Lady Boy!’
il Piccolo Gelato
‘All good date nights end with a sweet treat and after dinner we love to go across to il Piccolo Gelato on Sturt Street. The range of flavours here are always changing and they really nail that classic italiano gelato flavour and texture that we are big fans of’.
