Ballarat Strikes Gold Again

Eureka! The historic gold mining town of Ballarat in central western Victoria has something new to boast about. One Michelin star-chef, local boy Damien Jones, will open his very own Thai restaurant in Ballarat next year.

Chef Damien Jones, Lydiard Wine Bar, Ballarat

  Jones left Australia over a decade ago with internationally renowned Sydney chef David Thompson to open Nahm in London. While he was working there as head chef, the restaurant was awarded a one Michelin star, a world first for a Thai restaurant. He’s also worked at Bibendum in London, and on his return to Australia, at Mrs Jones and Circa in Melbourne, and is currently working his magic at the Lydiard Wine Bar in Ballarat. During his time there, he’s won the “Golden Plate” Award for the Ballarat and Daylesford region last year and this, as well as other award categories in both years.

Betel leaf with crispy trout, chilli jam & green mango. 

While the current menu at Lydiard is a mix of French (such as the Venison, Smoked Sausage, Preserved Cherries and Bitter Chocolate Sauce dish) and Thai, Damien aims to introduce Ballarat to high-end Thai dishes based on Thompson’s repertoire using fresh seasonal produce and freshly made curry pastes and coconut milk. Getting the balance of sweet/salty/sour/chilli right in Thai dishes is no mean feat and he’s been trained by an expert. Negotiations are currently under way for a site for the new venture which will feature smart casual dining and professional service.

Ballarat CBD

“Ballarat is on the move,” says Jones. “Property is affordable. A lot of people are moving here from Melbourne and commuting on the fast train. “There’s a lot of civic pride and the council is promoting it as a wine and food destination.  It’s a great area for cool-climate wines and we’ll be featuring those on our wine menu.” Located 100km north-west of Melbourne, Ballarat, with a population of more than 100,000 people, is Victoria’s largest inland city and 19th-century boomtown. The first great gold strike in Australia was made here in 1851 and the lustre of gold drew people from all over the world including celebrities such as Mark Twain and Dame Nellie Melba. Its wide boulevards lined with Victorian-era buildings, elm trees and grand statues are testament to the region’s spectacular rise from humble mining settlements to wealthy city and surrounding suburbs.

L’Espresso, Ballarat

On a recent visit to Ballarat, I started the day with an excellent coffee and some tasty Zucchini, Corn and Capsicum Fritters served with oven-roasted tomatoes, tomato chutney, grilled bacon and rocket served at L’Espresso on Sturt Street. Originally an import record shop, the space has been gradually transformed by owner Greg Wood into a warm, stylish cafe & bar serving good coffee and Italian-style food.  It’s also a relaxing  place to sip on a glass of wine while listening to the jazz or blues playing from a selection of more than 2000 CDs displayed on the wall (the blackboard to the left of the entrance lists the new arrivals).

Zucchini, corn and capsicum fritters

At Red Peppa on Sturt, chef Paul Burge is wowing locals with his take on modern Australian cuisine: hand-made Italian pasta dishes such as seafood pappardelle and tortellini filled with goats cheese & spinach sit alongside Thai-inspired dishes such as crocodile salad with green nim jam salad of Asian herbs, green pawpaw, mango and bean shoots, and duck spring rolls with house-made chocolate chill sauce. I especially enjoyed his flavoursome and nutritious white bean soup with cotechino and vegetables.

Red Peppa on Sturt

Sturt Street also offers a variety of quirky cafes such as the retro Bibo and delis such as The Olive Grove.  But it’s not just in the Ballarat CBD that you’ll find good pickings. Ballarat is surrounded by a number of historic villages including Buninyong, Clunes, Talbot and Learmonth which are worth checking out.  Talbot hosts one of Victoria’s biggest farmers markets on the third Sunday of the month and make sure not to miss the wonderful movie-like main street of Clunes on the way. At Learmonth, Marilyn Cormie runs 321 Learmonth, a family-friendly cafe which uses local and regional produce and serves Cormie’s 321 Dry Cider, made from heritage apples grown on her farm.

321 Learmonth’s Roasted Vegetable & Goats Cheese Pizza,using fresh local produce

At Bunyinong, out past Sovereign Hill, Gerard Ballantyne runs Espresso Depot, a cafe serving wholesome sandwiches, locally made cakes, Map Italian coffee, and Basilio and Prickleberry breads. “I’ve been here three years,” says Ballantyne, “and it’s much busier than my Collins Street (Melbourne) cafe.”

Gerard Ballantyne, Depot Espresso Buninyong

Could this be the start of a new goldfields rush?