Chris Wong, chef and co-owner of Lilijana Eatery in Port Melbourne, brings a unique culinary story to Melbourne’s food scene. A former professional hockey player who spent nearly a decade travelling to and from Scandinavia for the winter season, Chris was inspired by the comfort and tradition of the Nordic cuisine he ate in his friends’ homes. His restaurant, named after his wife Christine’s grandmother, Lilijana, blends Scandinavian and continental European flavours with a focus on house-made sourdough, smoked salmon, and pickles. Chris actually trained and worked in industrial design, but always wanted to work with food. With lockdown and more time on his hands, he volunteered at Gradi to learn some skills and he worked with various mentors in the hospitality industry. Chris and his wife, Christine initially started with a food truck making pizza before transitioning to running Lilijana Eatery with Christine’s sister, Steph. The café’s thoughtful menu, warm hospitality, and Chris’s commitment to sustainability have already earned it a spot in Good Food’s top 20 cafes, a testament to their hard work and passion. Chris is a driven chef with an insatiable desire to learn more and he loves sharing everything that he learns with his customers both in the café and in the classes he teaches upstairs on Bay Street. I loved hearing Chris’ story and I can’t wait to go back to Lilijana Eatery to try more Scandinavian treats.