Evan Hayter

Evan Hayter is the Executive Chef and co-owner of de’sendent, a 35-seat refined dining restaurant on the main street of Margaret River that won the 2025 WA Good Food Guide's best new restaurant of the year. Hayter’s experience spans 25 years in the kitchen, including a decade at the helm of the much-loved winery restaurant Arimia Estate which graced the coveted 2023 Gourmet Traveller Best Destination Restaurant finalist list.

Hayter’s early culinary career kicked off at popular Perth venues the Subiaco Hotel and Dear Friends in the Swan Valley, before time spent in Europe honing his craft at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Den Haag in the Netherlands. Bringing his global experience back to Western

Australia, Hayter’s love for Margaret River saw him put down roots in a region which he believes yields the world’s best produce. His unwavering hands-on approach to sourcing and growing high-quality organic ingredients led him to develop steadfast relationships with like-minded local producers, and further cultivated his deep understanding of produce and a passion for sustainability that continues to shape the way he cooks. His new restaurant de’sendent dishes up thoughtful, seasonal cuisine in a sophisticated space that has undisputedly elevated the town’s night-time dining scene since opening in early 2024. “It’s what the region deserves”, he says.