Wild Oak puts its best plate forward for the festival

ONE of the Village Festival’s main organisers and initiators is executive chef Ben Higgs of the Wild Oak Restaurant.
Ben said the Wild Oak Restaurant prides itself on its fine dining experience without the exclusive tag!
The restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner on the day of the festival. Wild Oak’s menus include something for everyone and are marked for dietary requirements such as vegan, vegetarian, glutton-free and dairy free.
“Everything on the menu, we make ourselves, from the bread to pavlova,” said Ben.
“We use only the finest sustainable, localised and seasonal produce to create our gourmet dishes.”
Celebrity chef Gabriel Gate recently opened the Wild Oak Cooking School, where Ben shares some of his ‘tricks of the trade’ and recipes.
The festival will also see the launch of the Wild about Food tour.
Jilly Sime said it was the first tour of its kind in the Dandenong Ranges and involved a two-day experience which includes staying at some of the finest boutique accommodation, dinner at the Wild Oak Restaurant, a cooking class at the Wild Oak including lunch and wine tasting, a personal winery tour, as well as beer and cheese tasting.
“It’s a fabulous opportunity to showcase our beautiful region,” Jilly said.
“We hope people coming to the festival for the day will return and stay a little longer on the Wild about Food tour.”
On the corner of Ridge Road and Mt Dandenong Tourist Road Olinda, Wild Oak is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday to Sunday and breakfast on Sunday. Phone 9751 2033 to book. www.wild oak.com.au