Harriet Tomlinson is a private chef working on Victoria’s Surf Coast, and she’s got an impressive CV. She competed in Masterchef in 2022, ran front-of-house at Hot-Listed Manze and popped up in the Julie kitchen. Tomlinson first migrated to the coast to help run Wye General Store, and now she’s flying solo – offering private dining experiences at luxe accommodation, like The Wensley, a timber house in the hinterland.

Right now, Broadsheet Access members can win a $5500 getaway to The Wensley. Invite nine friends, score a $1000 Carlotta & Gee voucher, and be treated to lunch by Tomlinson. She’ll be in touch ahead of your stay to discuss creating a bespoke menu featuring honest and approachable cuisine. Her recipes are simple, letting the flavours of hyperlocal produce do the talking.

We asked the chef where she loves to eat and drink along the Great Ocean Road.

Who has the best coffee?

I say this without being biased – I’ve worked in coffee for a really long time, and I’ve drunk a lot of coffee in my day – the coffee at Wye General Store was part of the reason I moved down. Sean, who runs it, has been there for like 14 years, and he’s ex-Auction Rooms. The coffee at the General is always brilliant. It’s his number one goal – banging, consistent, great coffee.

What’s your favourite bakery?

There are two places I go, for two very specific things. There’s a bakery in Anglesea called Oaks Bakery, and I go for their old-school pink doughnuts. I don’t know what they do, but they’re squidgy and not oily and not super sweet. They’re so good. And everyone knows about Freshwater Creek Cakes, but they do the most banging custard tart. Everyone goes for the sponge cake, but the tart is phenomenal.

Best place for a drink and snack?

If I want to go somewhere that’s where the locals go, where we all properly hang out, then I’ll go to the Anglers Club in Lorne. It’s an old RSL vibe – a bit dingy, but in the best way. It’s right on the water and you can get a cheap beer. You feel like you’re in an old-school beach town, because everyone knows everyone.

In the same vicinity, there’s the Lorne Bowls Club. A young family’s taken it over, and they rock. They’re doing really simple, home-style food, and trying to use as much as they can in terms of waste. They’re kind of community pioneers, these guys.

Best place to eat with a big group of friends?

There’s the new Pholklore in Lorne, and there’s one in Torquay as well. That’s a great spot to go if you don’t just want to eat fish and chips, or a burger. Or we often go to Pizza Pizza. If you have a big group, stop in there, get a crapload of pizza, drive a little further along the coast to Jameson Creek and sit on the beach. You feel like you’re a million miles from anyone, but you’ve got this really tasty pizza.

What Melbourne restaurant do you wish was on the Surf Coast?

There are so many! I know it’s kind of wanky, but I’d love to have a wine bar down here. Just a place you could go and have a really nice glass, and a couple of snacky things. Somewhere to go and dress up, or go after work and type on your laptop.

What’s the most underrated spot to eat?

Samesyn in Torquay is about to go gangbusters. They’re doing really, really good food. I think they’re about to take off, in terms of becoming a destination restaurant. I don’t think people are sleeping on it, but I think it deserves a lot more credit.

Otherwise, it’s the little things at the little joints. You want to go to Apollo Bay main pub to get Guinness. All the old guys there drink Guinness, so the tap’s really clear, and it pours really well. It’s some of the best Guinness I’ve had in Victoria. And go to Fish By Moonlite in Anglesea, because even when they changed hands a few years back, they kept the potato cake. And their potato cake is the best on the coast.

@big.yummers
@thewensley
thewensley.com

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