Ballarat chef Liam Downes’ exciting new restaurant project at Black Cat Truffles
A regional Victorian chef behind some of Ballarat’s favourite restaurants has stepped back to pursue an exciting new project.
Food
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A Ballarat chef behind some of the region’s beloved restaurants is making a tree change.
Liam Downes, who co-founded mod-Asian Moon and Mountain and pasta haven Ragazzone, will step down as the group executive chef this May to begin a new challenge.
Downes will work out of Black Cat Truffles in Wattle Flat, near Creswick about 40 minutes northeast of Ballarat, hosting truffle hunts and opening a restaurant on the site in late 2023.
“My family has been my biggest catalyst to make the change,” he said.
“I grew up in the country, so I’ll be going back to something I’m familiar with, and I’ll get to spend seven days with the kids”.
Downes will lease the property from owners Tom Eadie and Kristen Simpson, hosting weekend truffle hunts and lunches at the property.
Eadie will continue to run this truffle side of the business, sharing his knowledge with Downes who’ll lease the restaurant and live at the property with his family.
Later this year he plans to open his own small restaurant, seating 15 or so people, similar to chef Derek Boath’s Underbar experience, allowing him to cook from the heart.
“At Moon and Mountain I’ve been defined by Asian (cuisine), at Ragazzone, Italian. To cook modern cuisine and not be defined by those boundaries will be liberating,” he said.
Downes earned his stripes under Ian Curley and Shannon Easton at Craig’s Royal Hotel in Ballarat and also worked with Stuart McVeigh at the Sofitel Melbourne.
Downes, Teddy Powlett and Drew Harry are behind PWLT Group, and grew their Ballarat restaurant stable in recent years to include Moon and Mountain, Ragazzone, Renard bar, sandwich shop Earl’s and Waubra winery restaurant, Wayward.
Downes will work with PWLT Group
Black Cat Truffles, 150 Howards Rd, Wattle Flat, blackcattruffles.com.au
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