By REBECCA BILLS
IT IS a hub of continual success boasting great food, wine and entertainment with the accolades just rolling in.
After the 2009 bushfires, the town and neighbouring towns of Healesville found it hard to find their feet again after the devastation that was caused.
The Healesville Hotel earlier this year showed it was back in the game after receiving one of the top honours in the state.
The hotel was awarded the Best Regional Restaurant of the Year for the Age’s Good Food Guide 2014 and reinstated their prestigious one-chef’s-hat status.
Healesville Hotel co-owner Kelly Balharrie said that after the fires the hotel lost their one-chef’s-hat status after things slowed down in the area but said it is nice to see their hard work being recognised.
“We’ve always done pretty well with awards but after the bushfires we slowed things down,” she said.
“Having this title is a really great achievement for the whole team and it means a lot to our wonderful chef.
“It’s a pretty big deal and we are really blown away.”
Ms Balharrie said the hotel had held onto a one-chef’s-hat status for eight years before losing it in the 2010 edition of the guide – the 2014 edition will mark the return of their chef’s hat.
“So many businesses, shops and wineries in the area have said what a positive it is for us to have this award not only for the town but the whole region,” she said.
“It is great retribution for all the shops and wineries in the area for us to be doing so well.”
It has not just been the Healesville Hotel that has done exceptionally well, Belle Vedere just down the road continues to retain their one-chef’s-hat status showing that the Yarra Valley can really hold its own in the Good Food Guide.
Only 21 restaurants in Regional Victoria currently have chef’s hat ratings in the Good Food Guide with 17 having a one-chef’s-hat rating.
