Big congratulations to @andreawilsonartist , whose portrait of architect Richard Leplastrier this week made the list of @archibaldprize finalists for 2026!
Late last year, Andrea captured @chefdanhunter ’s deep respect for nature and sustainability with a portrait of his Prawn and Kohlrabi Taco, thanks to @foodforeveryone.aus .
Both artist and chef share a devotion to the natural world — studying ingredients as they are and honouring the beauty of their form. This artwork brings that philosophy to life, turning an often-overlooked ingredient like the prawn head into a celebration of flavour and sustainability.
Andrea’s colours are rooted in reality, as if the ingredients had just been picked from Brae’s farm and brought inside to be prepared. Her respect for form and careful observation mirrors Dan’s approach to food, reflecting a deep understanding of site, seasonality and context, and celebrating both the dish and the philosophy that guides it.
🦐 Available as A2 & A3 poster prints
🦐 Limited edition of 300
🦐 1 poster purchased = 10 meals donated to @secondbiteorg
🦐 Ships worldwide
🦐 Purchase at @foodforeveryone.aus
Brae is a landmark Australian restaurant opened in 2013 by chef Dan Hunter in the Otway hinterland of Victoria, born from a clear and deeply personal vision: to create a dining experience that is an authentic reflection of his values around sustainable farming, ethical sourcing, and a profound respect for place and seasonality. On-site, Hunter and his team cultivate organic produce from Brae Farm, complemented by ingredients from surrounding land and local farmers, building a cuisine that is uniquely and honestly Australian.
Hunter's path to Brae was long and deliberate. Trained in Melbourne across several kitchens in the early 2000s, he spent four formative years in Spain, eventually serving as Head Chef under Andoni Luis Aduriz at the celebrated Mugaritz. Returning to Australia, he led the kitchen at Dunkeld's Royal Mail Hotel for six years, where he developed his first intensive organic kitchen garden program, earned four consecutive Gourmet Traveller Regional Restaurant of the Year awards, a Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year, and Three-Hat status — before striking out on his own with Brae.
The accolades followed. Brae reached number 44 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2017, and was named both Good Food Guide's and Australian Gourmet Traveller's Restaurant of the Year in 2020. Hunter himself has been recognised as Chef of the Year by both the Good Food Guide and Gourmet Traveller, and twice named Top Chef by the Australian Financial Review. In 2024, Brae became the first Australian restaurant certified by the Sustainable Restaurant Association — a fitting milestone for a project that has always treated ethics and environment not as marketing, but as method. Hunter's debut book, Brae – Recipes and stories from the restaurant, was published by Phaidon in 2017.
#agfg #braerestaurant #danhunter #goodfoodau #worlds50bestrestaurants
Brae guest suites are an extension of our hospitality. They’re calm, restful spaces to slow down after a meal and enjoy the surrounding landscape.
They’re filled with locally handcrafted pieces, and beautiful native flowers from @yan.yan.gurt.west.farm add to the sense of ease.
Yan Yan Gurt West Farm is a leader in regenerative and holistic farming practices. They care for Country whilst providing food and fibre products, including high quality agroforestry timber and native flowers to our community and beyond - a celebration of the landscape they grow from; seasonal, resilient, and distinctly local.
@yan.yan.gurt.west.farm is open to visitors by appointment. Jill offers native flower arrangements by private order – perfect for Valentines Day, and much better than imported roses grown with chemicals!
Jill’s farm stall, selling small bunches at their front gate, is just 10 minutes’ drive from Brae, so pop past when you visit us.
@yan.yan.gurt.west.farm are also hosting @groundedaustralia Festival in April, where you can see ‘The Gardener and the Chef’ - @chefdanhunter and @the_greenacre chatting with @Matt Evans of @fat_pig_farm , about how they work together at Brae.
📍 LOCATION
2005 Winchelsea–Deans Marsh Road, Deans Marsh VIC 3235
📞 CONTACT
0429 998 367
📧 [email protected]
We’re searching for the right person to fill some big shoes, while @lyndaldaydreaming takes a break from her Head Sommelier role at Brae.
A 12-month fix-term contract is available, starting May 2026. The right person will be an experienced, hands-on Sommelier with the demonstrated knowledge and skills to manage the Brae cellar and beverage list.
Get in touch via the ‘Join Our Team’ link in our bio, if you’d like to hear more.
We asked @chefdanhunter about his favourite dish on the Brae menu.
#braeteamrecommends #otwayharvesttrail #everybitdifferent #visitgreatoceanroad #braeproducerspotlight
It’s been an eventful start to 2026, but we’re open and looking forward to welcoming you.
Over the past two weeks, parts of the Otways and Great Ocean Road region have experienced fire and flooding.
While there are temporary closures in place to coastal roads and beaches, access has largely returned and the region is open for travel.
Brae is safe, accessible and operating as usual. We are reached from Melbourne via a sealed highway all the way to Birregurra.
If you’re planning a visit this weekend or in the coming weeks, we encourage you to stay informed by checking updates from @visitgreatoceanroad and following current travel advice. There’s no need to delay your plans unnecessarily – we are ready to welcome visitors.
Before you set off, you can find the latest advised travel routes and conditions via the Visit Great Ocean Road website:
visitgreatoceanroad.org.au
Dine and stay bookings for Brae are currently available Thursday to Sunday, January to March. Hit the link in our bio for reservations.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Summer is well and truly here, and the organic farm at Brae is moving fast. ☀️🌱
With more hot days ahead, @the_greenacre and her team are harvesting early, before the heat takes hold and crops burn.
This week’s harvest brings mulberries and brambleberries at their peak, saved just in time from yesterday’s heat, generous zucchini and their flowers, golden beetroot in abundance, and bunches of shiso, basil and parsley.
Beautiful pink fir apple potatoes, apricots and peaches have been harvested. Ice plant, purslane and oyster plant are thriving, carrots are sweet at baby size, and strawberries are still arriving in flushes.
The first tomatoes are close now, and the rhythm of summer has well and truly begun.
Welcome back!
Happy 2026!
Our gates are open again, and we’re looking forward to seeing you back at Brae for an action-packed 2026!
Join us this year as we welcome some exciting new happenings:
Sunday lunch returns from January 2026. Book now for January and February - tables still available!
Guided Farm Tours for diners and non-diners are now offered every Friday and Saturday morning. $30pp, including one-hour tour and beverage. Call us to book!
Our 50% hospitality apprentice discount extends to Thursday dinner and Sunday lunch in 2026. Get in touch for details.
Brae × @heroesvineyard guided tours run on Sunday mornings throughout summer, exclusively for Brae guests.
Sally Richardson’s new @otwaysdistillery opens in Birregurra’s Main Street this month!
This March, @le_doyennerestaurant_ join us for @melbfoodandwine , with a few tickets still remaining for 1-4 pax, or shared tables. Call for details.
In April, @groundedaustralia comes to the Otways’ @yan.yan.gurt.west.farm , with @chefdanhunter and @the_greenacre representing Brae on the speaking line up. Tickets on sale now!
We hope this is the year you visit to walk the farm, share our creative cuisine, and immerse yourself in the unique nature and hospitality of the Otways.
Call us on 5236 2226 Wednesday to Friday 10am - 3pm to enquire about any of these new happenings.
We’ll help you design the perfect itinerary for your Otways gourmet escape!
📍 Birregurra
🔗 Bookings via link in bio
📷@emilylahey@bethanieblanchard@carmenchenn - thank you!
