There are some delicious aromas coming from the kitchen at Lucky Bar and Eatery in Whanganui's Wilson St where Jerram Gudsell is back in his home town and cooking up a storm.
The 32-year-old chef left Whanganui for Melbourne when he was 20 and trained there.
"After I completed my training, I worked at a restaurant called The European which was a fantastic place and I learned so much there," he says.
He met his partner Jane in Melbourne and the couple travelled to London where Mr Gudsell worked at the St John Hotel.
More recently, he worked at Coco's Cantina and Bar in Auckland, a restaurant which has recently vowed to ban food critics after another Auckland restaurant received a scathing review.
"I don't want to comment on that except to say that Coco's is a great restaurant and I really enjoyed working there," he said.
Mr Gudsell said the birth of his daughter Saoirse seven months ago prompted a family move back to his home town.
"Jane is from Waikanae so she is closer to home as well.
"We have ideas about buying some land and we want Saoirse to grow up in a nice place."
Mr Gudsell landed the job at Lucky Bar through a happy coincidence that occurred in Ruatiti.
Lucky Bar owners Georgie Ormand and Matt Edmonds met a friend of Mr Gudsell at a party there and learned that he was coming home.
"He's not a chef is he?" Mr Edmonds asked.
The friend put the parties in touch with each other and now they all say they could not be happier with the arrangement.
"Jerram's food is exceptional," says Ms Ormand.
"He makes everything from scratch and the flavours are wonderful."