Food for thought

By Tania Martin
AN OLINDA chef and restaurant owner is under pressure in the kitchen to stay on top after being given a chef hat in the Good Food Guide.
Ben Higgs from the Wild Oak Restaurant said the chef hat was something he wasn’t expecting to happen.
“It’s something you don’t tend to concentrate on,” he said.
Restaurants across Victoria were put under scrutiny with more than 40 being given up to three chef hats.
A chef hat is the highest honour in the hospitality industry and is something that all restaurateurs and chefs work towards.
The chef hat award follows the Wild Oak’s medal haul at the 2004 Yarra Valley, Dandenongs and the Ranges Salon Culinaire completion.
The restaurant won two golds and a bronze medal but Mr Higgs said this latest achievement tops all his other awards.
Mr Higgs said being given a chef hat was the highest accolade that a restaurant can be given.
However, he said the Wild Oak will now have to make sure it doesn’t become complacent and will continue to offer a first-class service to its customers. Mr Higgs said he is even hoping that next time the Wild Oak will be given two chef hats.