Shoalhaven’s young shining star of the kitchen, Brent Strong, will hold a restaurant-takeover next week that has foodies drooling.
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Mr Strong, from Jaspers Brush, has shaped his food philosophy in some fine kitchens including that of Michelin starred Ralae Restaurant in Copenhagen, and one of Heston Blumenthal’s favourites, Orana in Adelaide.
He has combined his fine-dining kitchen experience with life on his family farm, Glenbrae in Strongs Road. There he learned about produce, family and the sort of things you associate with hospitality and good food.
It’s fitting then that Glenbrae will be the name of his four-day restaurant at the Hungry Duck in Berry.
“That’s where I first learnt about the life cycle of food, milk and meat. The farm has a real soft spot with me,” he said.
He said he wanted to do the pop-up restaurant as a chance to share the things he’d learned overseas and in Australia.
It’s about feeling welcome from the moment you walk int the door. It’s hospitality, it’s not just cooking. It’s not just about what’s on the plate.
“It’s about sharing a good meal with people. I don’t see the point of learning all this and not being able to share it,” Mr Strong said.
When he says ‘learning all this’, a large part of his learning includes winning some of the industry’s most prestigious TAFE awards, an apprenticeship at Hungry Duck and Wharf Road. Last year he won the Young Achiever in Tourism Award and previously won a two-week mentor program with some of the nation’s top chefs in Melbourne, and spent time at Orana.
Then there was his Copenhagen experience, which changed his life and his perspective on the industry.
“There the emphasis is very much on dishes designed around seasonality,” Mr Strong said.
“That philosophy is alive and well at both Dave Campbell’s restaurants [Hungry Duck and Wharf Road] and at the Silos Restaurant.
“Dave taught me so much. I’m luck to have a mentor like him, someone who is giving me an opportunity like this, it’s amazing.”
“He and his team will step aside and I’ll bring in my team and take over Hungry Duck for four days.
“The chefs I have with me are guys I’ve worked with over time. Most have worked at the Hungry Duck at some point. They came out of the woodwork when they heard about it and said they wanted to be a part of what I’m doing. My sister is also a trained chef and I’m glad to have her on board too,” he said. My Fiance is a restaurant manager and will handle all the little details.
Mr Strong is currently the sous chef at the Silos Restaurant.
The Glenbrae takeover runs from Thursday August 3. Tickets are almost sold out.
