Visiting Lutruwita/Tasmania’s chefs and suppliers, it’s not just the quality that stands out; it’s the community. Everyone here seems to know each other, or at least know of each other. The food scene isn’t just provincial—it’s deeply personal. This is a place where reputation matters. How you treat people—whether customers, farmers, or fellow chefs—matters.
“Tasmania is a small place and you’re always running into people you know, so you can’t really be a jerk,” Lilly laughs. “Maybe in a bigger city you can get away with it, but in Tassie, the food industry seems to be full of lovely, like-minded people.”
There’s an intimacy to the food scene that’s rare elsewhere, and that’s what sticks with me long after I leave: The close-knit magic of this small, remote corner of the world. The harmony between the people, the produce, the plate in front of you. The alchemy of it all. “I don’t think I’ve tasted or seen a network of farmers and producers anywhere in Australia like I have here,” says Lilly. “There’s a real culture and community and ethos around food. It sounds cliché, but you can actually taste it.”