Celebrity chef and passionate produce grower Peter Gilmore is best known for his culinary expertise as executive chef of two of Sydney's most acclaimed restaurants, Quay and Bennelong.
He's also been a guest on Masterchef and is famed for his iconic dessert, the Snow Egg, which sees diners make the pilgrimage from all over the world just to taste it. However, few people know that many of his ingredients start off in his very own backyard in Bayview on Sydney's northern beaches.
When Peter first bought the house on Cabbage Tree Road in 2011, he was attracted by the garden. "I wanted to plant a vegetable garden and also be closer to the beach," he says.
There are now four 10-metre vegie beds - made from 100-year-old railway sleepers - as well as trees producing lemons, lime, kaffir lime, mandarins, apricots, nectarines, blood oranges, figs, cumquat, mulberry and yuzu, a Japanese citrus.
In addition to his passion for gardening, Peter, his wife Kath and their two sons, aged 18 and 21, have made the most of living in Sydney's northern beaches.
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"I love fishing so I do a fair bit of that on Pittwater during summer, I go to the beach on my day off and we love going to the dog park in Bayview with our Italian water dog Milo," he says.
Unsurprisingly, Peter also entertains at home. But unlike the white tablecloth vibe of his workplaces, he says it's usually a more casual affair. "We have a pizza oven in the backyard and tend to do barbecues or pizzas."
The property also features a pool, multiple living areas and a study. "It's light and bright thanks to the high ceilings and it just feels like such a relaxed home. I love the size and privacy here. It's a true escape from the city and you feel like you're on holidays."
Auction: December 4
Price guide: $3.5 million
Agent: LJ Hooker Mona Vale
Ryan Petrie, 0403 988 123