Dine at Babae Restaurant

Tim Foster is the Culinary Director and Executive Chef of Babae Ballarat and oversees all food and beverage operations within the Goldfields Hospitality Group. Tim has spent a significant part of his hospitality career in regional South Australia. He migrated to the regional Victoria hospitality scene almost 14 years ago, working at the Healesville Hotel and then co-owning and cooking at the award winning Kyneton restaurant Source Dining, which held a chefs hat for nine consecutive years in The Age & Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide. More recently he has owned and run one of Victoria’s top hotels, The Gold Mines Hotel in Bendigo.

The desire to be hospitable is what shapes our service philosophy across all food and beverage operations, and particularly Babae, the “jewel in the crown” of our dining spaces. This desire to become one of the best places to eat in Ballarat, coupled with passion, knowledge and the experience gained from a lifetime in the hospitality industry combines to create the dining experience offered today. When creating menus each season, it all starts with the produce sourced from around us and from our garden. The source of all products is so important.

“My passion for cooking and the love that good food can bring was instilled in me by my maternal grandmother. She was a wonderful source of information on all the basic principles of cookery that are still with me today. My style of food is influenced by what is available around me and a genuine desire to be generous and showcase quality local produce.”

Tim is constantly exploring new ideas, ingredients, and cooking techniques in both his kitchen and garden. This approach can lead to creative and innovative dishes that draw from a wide range of natural elements. His cooking is driven by a passion for nature’s bounty and a desire to constantly evolve his skills and broaden the knowledge of his staff.