'Melbourne is renowned for the diversity and the depth of its food culture. We are incredibly lucky.'’

When truckies stopped at a roadhouse outside Bacchus Marsh in 1980, little did they know that the teenager flipping their burger was destined to become one of Australia's leading chefs.

Cath Claringbold left Bacchus Marsh, approximately 60km from Melbourne, soon after to pursue a chef apprenticeship at the Victorian Arts Centre in Melbourne. Over the following years she honed her skills under some of the country's finest practitioners, including Greg Malouf, Jacques Reymond and Stephanie Alexander. Her signature is the infusion of fresh local produce with Middle Eastern and Moroccan flavours, although her culinary range is considerably broader than that.

'Every person you work for has a different spin on what they do and I took what I could from each of them,' Cath says. 'I have found that people who are successful usually have great vision and great passion and want to share that with others.'

Now she is the passionate visionary inspiring others, as co-proprietor of Livebait, Mecca Bah and the Wine & Cheese Providore at Docklands, as well as two interstate restaurants.

All of these establishments are winning acclaim. But then, chances are her Bacchus Marsh burgers were pretty good, too.

Favourite Food Experience
Supper Inn for fabulous Chinese food with friends (15 Celestial Ave, Melbourne, 03 9663 4759).

Favourite Day Trip
Mornington Peninsula (www.visitmorningtonpeninsula.org) or Great Ocean Road(www.greatoceanroad.org) – they are equally great.

Favourite Object
Tagine dish. It signifies what I do, and is almost a signature for me.