Grace Bar + Eatery in Rutherglen, Vic, heroes local produce and a roast chook recipe handed down through generations.
Story Sue Wallace Photos Georgie James
It didn’t take long for Matthieu Miller to realise his first career choice of aerospace engineering wasn’t for him. After spending six months studying at RMIT University, he headed back to the country. “The noise and pace of the city plus the course wasn’t what I expected,” Matthieu says. “I returned home to Rutherglen from Melbourne and wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do and just started cooking, which I found I really enjoyed.”
His parents ran a Mexican restaurant in Melbourne for a few years, and his late grandmother Grace was a great cook. “Maybe a bit of their influence rubbed off on me,” he says.
After working with award-winning chefs, Matthieu opened his own catering business in Albury with his wife Erica and in 2021 the couple opened Grace Bar + Eatery in Rutherglen. They were recently awarded their first Chef’s Hat at the 2026 Good Food Guide Awards.
This story excerpt is from issue #167
Outback Magazine: June/July 2026
