Melbourne based restaurateur Scott Pickett has appointed Ryan Spurrell to the position of head chef at Northcote’s Estelle Bistro.
The young chef has been mentored by Pickett over the past three years and during that time has held the position of sous chef at St Crispin. Prior to working under Pickett, Spurrell completed a number of stints in renowned kitchens both in Melbourne and beyond including Vue de Monde, Arintji and The Ledbury in the UK.
Spurrell says that he is excited to take to the head chef role at Estelle Bistro which is known for its relaxed yet refined fare.
“Though I was classically trained in French cuisine, I also enjoy Italian and love to cook lasagna,” says Spurrell. “I like to experiment and am constantly discovering new and exciting ways to prepare classic ingredients.”
Pickett says that he is thrilled to welcome Spurrell to the head chef role.
“It’s great to see a young chef who has been with me for years finally move into his first head chef role. Ryan brings with him a wealth of experience including Vue de Monde and The Ledbury, he’s a fantastic cook who will lead Estelle Bistro into its next phase,” he says.
The appointment of Spurrell to the position of head chef comes just weeks after Pickett appointed Anthony Musarra to the position of operations manager of his group of restaurants.
As operations manager, Musarra oversees the day-to-day functions of Estelle Bistro and Estelle by Scott Picket along with Pickett’s external events catering service, Mistress Estelle.