Alberta’s 2023 Winner
Alberta’s, in sleepy Busselton, isn’t what we thought it would be, but what it is, is pure gold. Run by Ben Ing and Kirsty Marchant, alumni from high-flying Noma in Copenhagen, Alberta’s started small, with the goal to build a community around itself, then go from there. That’s meant a short menu, handmade bread, good coffee, better sweets, warm greetings, cups of beautifully layered broth, relationships with local growers, plates from op-shops and limited hours. Get it right first, they say, then push it. They’re now entering Phase 2, with a shift in gear, but this award recognises it for its already impressive beginnings and for just what it is: small and perfectly formed.
