High-end chef picks Katanning pub

From two-hat restaurants in Melbourne and Margaret River to motels in Bentley, chef Brett Johnson has seen and done a lot throughout his culinary career and now he’s chosen Katanning as his next destination.

Johnson got the taste for kitchens and the hospitality industry when he took work experience in a local suburban tavern during Year 10.

Ever the ambitious young chef, Johnson set lofty goals for himself.

After working at some busy, high-end kitchens such as the Blue Duck in Cottesloe and Oriel Café in Subiaco, Johnson decided it was time to venture further afield.

He says he quit his job in Perth and headed to Melbourne in search of experience.

“I didn’t have job lined up or anything like that I just went over there with my girlfriend to see what I could get into,” he says.

“I really wanted to go really far with my career because I love it, I wanted to work at a two-hat restaurant and achieve something in the industry.”

Johnson spent a short time working at an arts centre preparing smorgasbords before applying for a job at Walter’s Wine Bar, a two-hat restaurant in Melbourne’s Southbank.

“Everything is done top notch there and everything is really hard,” he says.

“You start at 7am for the lunch shift then go out on to the balcony for a quick sleep before preparing for dinner again at 4pm.”

Johnson worked his way up to senior sous chef at Walter’s but declined the opportunity to take on the head chef role in order to come back home where a chance encounter in Margaret River would lead to one of his biggest challenges.

“Stepped into a funky little restaurant called Vat 107 in Margaret River and the head waitress there was someone I worked with in Subiaco,” he said.

“I ended up working there for three years before the owner offered me the head chef role at their new 220-seat restaurant they were opening in Bunbury, Vat 2.”

In two separate six-year stints at Vat 2, Johnson achieved many of his goals and was ready for change of pace.

He worked at a few different places helping out friends with their businesses before the opportunity to fill in at the Royal Exchange in Katanning opened up.

He fell in love with the people and the town and has decided to stay on permanently.

“It’s an old pub, it’s good food done really well and the owners want to take it all to another level,” he said.

“It’s a great challenge for me and a great opportunity to do something that I love with the passion the food deserves.”