Victoria

A chef’s guide to the Goldfields

Misty mornings at The Lake House in Daylesford

Megan Whitfield

Posted July 22, 2019

Ballarat local shares his favourite places to go for coffee, culture, art and architecture.

Donato Pentassuglia found his way to the Goldfields region six years ago via the small town of Crispiano in southern Italy. He found a job working alongside an Italian-speaking chef and settled into life in central Victoria. These days he lives in Ballarat with his wife, and is the sous chef at RACV Goldfields Resort, working with the restaurant’s senior chef de partie, Mark Boyd. Inspired by the energy of the thriving Goldfields region, Donato knows he’s found a home away from home.

We asked Donato where he goes in Victoria’s Goldfields…

Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa
Art Gallery of Ballarat
Lake Wendouree
Fresh-baked pastries from Creswick's Le Peche Gourmand

Where I go

For a cup of coffee…

In Creswick, there’s this French cafe called Le Peche Gourmand that does very good coffee and croissants, all made in shop. It’s my spot for my European breakfasts.

For a special gift…

There’s a shop in Creswick that’s famous in town, the Creswick Woollen Mills. It’s a bit of a tourist attraction [because of the history] but they have really nice woollen clothes, scarves, gloves. I know my wife would be very happy to receive some warm clothes from there.

For a culture hit…

Ballarat has a few good places, like the Art Gallery of Ballarat. There are works from some big names like Carboni, and you can really see the Italian history. The Town Hall is also very classic, a beautiful 150-year-old building. And I love to be transported back in time at Sovereign Hill and of course buy some raspberry drops.

Outside Sault restaurant

Sault Restaurant

To treat myself…

I like going to Daylesford for a bit of a getaway, to Sault restaurant. It’s beautiful. I try to go maybe every six months, when I don’t have to work.

To get back to nature…

I really like Daylesford. I like to go out to the Boathouse and look out at the lake. It’s a beautiful landscape. Sometimes we go with friends, but I usually go with my wife and make the most of that quality time we can spend together. If I’m feeling extravagant, I might stay for the weekend at Daylesford’s Lake House. They have fantastic accommodation and a chef-hatted restaurant.

To unwind…

I go to a spa. My favourite is Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa, in Hepburn, just beyond Daylesford. I like a warm bath, or a massage and a jacuzzi.

If I have a totally free day…

Ideally I’d head home to Italy, but if I only have a day, I like to walk around Lake Wendouree in Ballarat.