By LUKE VOOGT
OCEAN Grove chef and restaurateur Ben Shewry added to his growing list of culinary accolades this month, winning a nation-wide restaurant competition.
Australia’s top restaurateurs named Ben’s restaurant, Attica, the best in the country in the Australian Financial Review’s Top Restaurants.
“It was a great honour,” he said.
“I feel kind of lucky, even though I believe I make my own luck.”
Ben commutes five days a week to his restaurant, located in Melbourne’s inner south-east.
“It’s hard – it’s a big commitment driving back and forth,” he said.
“I make the most of the small amount of time I have with my wife and children.”
Day and night Ben creates a 23-course taste odyssey for his customers – which he said is like nothing anywhere else.
“I want my restaurant to be an expression of everything I’ve done in my own life and the culture of this country,” he said.
“It’s a very personal offering – it’s not food you see every day.”
For Ben the key to success is not worrying about awards – he simply does his own thing.
“We don’t compare ourselves to other restaurants,” he said.
“I’ve only ever wanted to be the best version of myself.”
Ben has lived in Ocean Grove for eight years, and he loves it here.
“We feel blessed to be here with so many friends in Ocean Grove,” he said.
“It’s a really cool and unique place – I feel at peace here.”
