From Derelict Milk Bar to Gippsland's Most Talked-About Dining Destination

In this episode, host Eddie the Chef sits down with Chef Josh Thomas, the creative force behind East Handy Store—an intimate 20-seat degustation experience housed in a beautifully restored 1923 Art Deco milk bar in East Bairnsdale.

Josh's culinary journey reads like an adventure novel. As a teenager, he was dragged through France on cheese-making tours by his uncle, pioneering Australian cheesemaker Richard Thomas. He worked as a private butler in Irish stately homes, trained alongside legendary chefs from Movida and Key in Dinner Plain, and threw acclaimed Spanish-style feasts at his family's Tambo Upper property before discovering the abandoned corner store that would become his life's work.

Where others saw only possum droppings and banana-shaped walls, Josh saw potential. Despite 14 months of VCAT delays and multiple financial setbacks, he transformed what locals called "the Bronx of Bairnsdale" into a destination where diners gather around a courtyard fire before moving inside for a chef-curated journey through East Gippsland's finest produce—all prepared using traditional fermentation techniques including house-made sourdough, cultured butter, and cured meats.

Josh shares the philosophy behind his "fine dining meets fun dining" approach, why he chose a neighbourhood with a rough reputation, and how creating emotional connections matters more than any menu. With reviews comparing East Handy Store to Melbourne's best, this is the story of vision, community, and the belief that a corner store can once again become the beating heart of a neighbourhood.

Book your experience: easthandystore.com | [e-mail]