A GREAT toasted sandwich may be the signature of former Masterchef contestant and passionate culinary creator Tim Bone, but he\u2019s much more than that.<\/p>\n
Having opened his own business dedicated to gourmet toasted sandwiches, Mr Bone said he tries to create combinations that he would like in the hopes that other people will too.<\/p>\n
\u201cTim\u2019s Toasties has been running for over a year now and I still don\u2019t get sick of them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always had a dream to start up a toastie business because who doesn\u2019t love a toastie?<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we went to New York, there was a little hole in the wall near where we were staying and they only sold toasties, or grilled cheeses, and I just got obsessed and thought I should take this idea back to Ballarat and start my own thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Always having a clear passion for cooking, it wasn\u2019t until Mr Bone moved out of home and starting cooking for himself that his talent shone through.<\/p>\n
Before his reality TV stint, he said he was happily working at Yuille Park Community College running their kitchen garden.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got nominated to do Masterchef by a friend and it was something that I would have never thought I was good enough to try,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I gave it a go, ended up coming fourth and it\u2019s been the best thing I ever done.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing on the show showed me that life is too short not to give things a crack, it gave me the confidence to start up Tim\u2019s Toasties and a deeper passion for food and the stories behind food.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since starting up the home-grown business, Mr Bone said he\u2019s received a wealth of support from the Ballarat community.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got quite an awesome, regular support base now that seem to come to every event and market so I try to come with something new for them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe locals have really gotten behind me, I can\u2019t say enough about how thankful I am to live in Ballarat and have the support that I do.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been overwhelming, having people coming back again and again is really special, I try to mix it up for them and offer new combinations each week for those regular customers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not only do the locals get around Mr Bone, but he likes to support regional producers where he can as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a big passion for using everything local produce around the Ballarat area,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get my bread from 1816 Bakehouse, the most beautiful sourdough, I get a lot of my meats from Salt Kitchen Charcuterie, then Wilson\u2019s Fruit and Veg.<\/p>\n
\u201cI try to support as many as possible and showcase them in my toasties and I let the beautiful produce speak for itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
As this year\u2019s SpringFest ambassador, Mr Bone is doing all he can to promote Ballarat wide food and produce events to ensure their future existence.<\/p>\n
While many markets and events were cancelled earlier this year, Mr Bone said he took lockdown as an opportunity to work outside of the box.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was selling them at The Forge and I started doing toasty deliveries with the local delivery providers which went really well and it gave me a sense of purpose throughout this time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough SpringFest won\u2019t be going ahead in person this year, I\u2019m back at the other markets which are the Bridge Mall and the two here at Zoo Drive are the Ballarat Farmers Market.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just so nice to see people out and about because I had missed the markets where I could chat to people because I really enjoy those face-to-face interactions.\u201d<\/p>\n
With grand plans set for the future of the business, Mr Bone said it\u2019s exciting to be a part of the city\u2019s booming food scene.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d love to have a big food truck but the dream is to have my own bricks and mortar place, it\u2019s just finding that right spot and the right timing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo have a Tim\u2019s Toasty shop would be the icing on the cake of this crazy journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re lucky here in Ballarat, we don\u2019t have to go to Melbourne for a good meal anymore and we\u2019re becoming a foodie destination here on our own right.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A GREAT toasted sandwich may be the signature of former Masterchef contestant and passionate culinary creator Tim Bone, but he\u2019s much more than that. Having opened his own business dedicated to gourmet toasted sandwiches, Mr Bone said he tries to create combinations that he would like in the hopes that other people will too. \u201cTim\u2019s […]<\/p>\n