Where Chefs Eat: Daniel “Dobbers” Dobra, Sunshine Coast

Daniel Dobra’s journey has taken him from the south-east coast of WA to Melbourne and finally to the Sunshine Coast, where he’s found not just warmer weather but internet fame.

More widely known as “Dobbers”, the tattooed chef grew up in the picturesque Esperance in Western Australia, where his mother ran a catering company. He was heavily influenced by his parents’ cooking and his Croatian heritage. He fell in love with food, and at age 18 he moved to Melbourne to pursue a career as a chef.

Dobbers was an early adopter of social media. His Instagram, Youtube and Tiktok accounts – where he shares footage from his daily life, as well as food prep and tips – have a combined following of over 580,000. He recently resigned from his position as head chef at Harry Lilai’s Market Bistro in Maroochydore to focus on content creation full-time.

Dobbers sat down with Broadsheet to share his take on the best long lunches in the Sunshine Coast; his favourite desserts and gelato; the local producer he admires for their meat, mushrooms and regenerative farming practices; and more.

Where’s the best food near where you live on the Sunshine Coast?
My favourite is the Parklands Tavern in Kawana – it’s a great neighbourhood pub. It does easygoing pub food but always delivers.

If it’s a special occasion, where are you headed?
You can’t go past Market Bistro in Maroochydore. It’s one of Tony Kelly’s nine Sunshine Coast venues and my personal favourite. I was a chef there too. Market Bistro is quintessentially European, with a bistro-style menu from house-made pasta to export-quality local seafood. They also have a boutique bottle shop, Market Wine Store, next door to the venue, so it’s an easy place to celebrate with good food and delicious Australian and New Zealand wines.

Where do you go for a long lunch?
It’s gotta be Bask. They just moved their venue from the hinterland in Eumundi down to the coast at Peregian Beach, and long, lazy lunches are their jam. It’s paddock-to-plate at its finest, and the menu is perfect for sharing with friends.

And where does the best coffee in town?
John Kyle Espresso in Maroochydore for locally sourced specialty coffee.

How about a meal with a big group of family or friends?
Hands down if I’ve got visitors in town, you’ll find us at Mapleton Public House. Their menu is sourced from The Falls Farm, which is just two kilometres down the road from the pub, so it’s the freshest of produce. It’s far from your traditional pub food.

Who do you reckon does the best desserts?
La Petite Souris in Alexandra Headland is like a small slice of France on the Sunshine Coast – they have amazing French pastries and tarts. They even have a chilled croissant room where they prep the 25 kilos of butter they go through weekly!

What’s your favourite dish that you’ve created?
Deep-fried bread-and-butter pudding with passionfruit curd and cream. It looks hectic but is so light and rich at the same time.

And is there a hidden gem that you think is underrated? *
Namory Eatery in Cotton Tree does some of the freshest Asian food on the coast. It’s truly awesome.

Where’s your favourite spot to grab gelato?
Fior di Latte Gelateria at The Wharf in Mooloolaba is the perfect spot. Not only is the gelato delicious, but the views over the marina are just as epic.

Tell us about a local producer you can’t stop thinking about?
We’ve got over 900 producers on the Sunshine Coast, so it’s hard to just pick one! Eastwell Farms have some of the most beautiful lion’s mane mushrooms you’ve ever seen. They have a focus on beef and mushrooms – two things that have long been paired together – and operate just one of the many regenerative farms on the coast.

@dobbers___