It’s not every day you can have one of Gordon Ramsay’s right hand chefs giving you personal tips on getting through an economic downturn.
But that’s just what will be happening when Jason Atherton, chef patron working on Ramsay’s growing group of Maze restaurants, makes his appearance as special guest at the upcoming Restaurant 09 event in Melbourne.
Atherton will be taking part in panel discussions as well as doing some live cooking demos during the two day show starting June 17 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Atherton, who will be returning to Melbourne later in the year to work in the opening of the first Maze restaurant in Australia—at the new Crown hotel, will be part of a panel of local restaurateurs and chefs discussing topics including global trends impacting Australia.
Atherton told Hospitality magazine one trend being seen in London is the rise in young chefs trained in three Michelin star restaurants opening up “cheaper versions of three star Michelin starred restaurants”.
“And using cheaper ingredients but still keeping the restaurants at three star standard,” he said.
Atherton said using these cheaper ingredients but with three star style and techniques would be one of the focuses of his live cooking demonstrations at Restaurant 09 Melbourne.
“I’ll be doing two or three dishes like that,” he said.
Atherton will be returning to Melbourne in September and October and then in the new year for the launch of Maze Melbourne.
“I’ll be creating the menus, making sure the design of the restaurant is up to Maze standards and keeping up with the Maze concept,” he said.
He said that while each Maze restaurant is designed to offer a similar dining experience, each restaurant does have its own personality.
“We do like to change it slightly, for example Maze, Cape Town uses Cape Town’s own ingredients,” he said.
Atherton said Gordon Ramsay will spend as much time at the Melbourne restaurant “as the concept needs him”.
“Gordon is a very busy man, that’s why he hires people like me. Gordon is very excited about maze Melbourne and so am I,” he said.
Atherton said that other key appointments for the restaurant were yet to be finalised.
Find out more about the Restaurant 09 program at restaurantevents.com.au