Jamie Oliver set to open Italian restaurant in Parramatta
When it comes to food trends, British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has always been a leader. And now he is once again showing others the way as the first A-list cook to take his dining delights to the hungry folk in Sydney's west.
Long snubbed by Australia's top cooks, it has taken Oliver's team to identify Parramatta as the ideal site for his famous fresh Italian-cuisine, making his fourth outlet in Australia.
Sources close to the negotiations have revealed Pacific Restaurant Group, which holds a franchise for the brand in Australia and New Zealand, is examining a site at the corner of Church and Macquarie streets, which is occupied by a bridal-wear shop.
A council source said busy foot traffic was a key criteria for the site, given Oliver's requirements that the restaurant only serve fresh produce with limited storage.
The meals served would have an affordable $43 price point for a main and entree, with a view to attracting customers back rather than just for one-off special occasions.
"The engineers are currently working on the plans as part of the DA that will go to Parramatta council," the source said. "It will be high-quality Italian food, like his other restaurants, with lots of fresh produce."
Pacific Restaurant Group managing director Adam Heathcote confirmed the team had spoken with Parramatta City Council about the plan.
"It is very early days but we have had a meeting with the council," he said.
Jamie's Italian was founded in Oxford in the UK in 2008, before expanding to more than 30 restaurants worldwide.
If the restaurant goes ahead, Oliver will be the first celebrity chef to head to Sydney’s west.
The first Australian restaurant, which still experiences queues, opened in late 2011 with two others outlets following in Perth and Canberra.
Sydney Business Chamber, Western Sydney director David Borger, said he was disappointed that it had taken an "English celebrity chef" to recognise Parramatta as a viable location for a top restaurant.
This is despite a report finding that Parramatta has the fastest-growing "night time" economy, an increase of $44 million in sales in the past two years. The council said more than half of this increase had been fuelled by a 17.8 per cent jump in the number of cafes and restaurants in the past year.
"Parramatta has the fastest-growing night-time economy in Australia," Mr Borger said.
"It is quite disappointing that it has taken an English celebrity chef to realise the potential of Parramatta. Jamie Oliver is a global brand that will draw in a whole new customer-base to this city, and this is only going to further put Parramatta on the world map."
Talks are underway to create a new Jamie Oliver restaurant at the site of an old bridal wear shop on the corner of Church and Macquarie Streets.
Best-sellers from Jamie Oliver's Italian menu:
ENTREES:
MEAT - $13.50PP
CURED MEATS
San Daniele prosciutto, Wagyu bresaola, finocchio & artisanal mortadella
CHEESES
Buffalo mozzarella & pecorino with amazing chilli jam
FISH - $12.50PP
CURED & CRISPY FISH
Beetroot-cured salmon, roasted shellfish, smoked mackerel pâté & mini fritto misto with yuzu mayo
ITALIAN BREAD SELECTION - $1.50
Homemade rosemary focaccia, Italian grissini, crispy 'music bread' & ciabatta from our bakery. All served with Rylstone extra virgin olive oil & aged balsamic. $1 from every bread tin we serve is donated to Jamie's Ministry of Food Australia
CRAB & AVOCADO BRUSCHETTA - $16.00
Grilled sourdough topped with blue swimmer crab & avocado, with apple matchsticks, chilli, mint, lemon and olive oil
FRIED THREE CHEESE GNOCCHI - $9.50
Delicious crunchy gnocci with a fiery arrabiata dip
SMASHED PEA & BROAD BEAN BRUSCHETTA - $12.00
Garlicky grilled sourdough, shaved asparagus, pea shoots & artisinal baby mozzarella
CRISPY SQUID - $12.50
Fried squid garlicky mayo & lemon
MAINS:
BAKED KING SALMON - $26.50
With whipped lemony artisanal ricotta, balsamic-roasted veg & a zesty, crunchy salad
VEAL FLASH STEAK - $28.50
Aussie veal pounded with sage, & prosciutto, served with spicy tomato salsa
ITALIAN FARM SAUSAGE - $23.00
Grilled pork sausage flavoured with red wine & spices, served with sweet & sour capsicums, capers, chilli & garlic
THE JAMIE'S ITALIAN BURGER - $19.50
Aussie Black Angus steak with smoked mozzarella, pancetta, sticky balsamic onions, tomato, pickles & chillies
RUMP STEAK SALAD - $24.50
180g aged Aussie Black Angus steak with crunchy fennel, watercress, mint, chilli, garlic, horseradish & lemon
GRILLED FREE-RANGE PORK CHOP - $26.00
Marinated & cooked under a brick with parsley bagna cauda, apples, kohlrabi, mint, lemon & crackling
PASTA
SIMPLE BAKED LASAGNE - $21.00
Slow cooked beef & pork with roasted squash, herbs & wine, baked in an oozy white sauce with tomatoes, mozzarella & Parmesan
PRAWN LINGUINE - $16.00/$28.00
Juicy pan-fried garlicky Spencer Gulf prawns served with tomatoes, chilli, rocket & fennel
SPAGHETTI ALLA NORMA - $12.50/$18.50
A classic Sicilian pasta dish of aubergines, oregano, chilli & basil, all in a rich tomato sauce
MORTADELLA & RICOTTA PANZAROTTI - $12.50/$23.00
Pasta filled with mortadella & chicken, coated in blue cheese sauce. Topped with toasted, spiced nuts & an apple, lemon & parsley salad
TAGLIATELLE BOLOGNESE - $13.00/$19.50
Ragù of beef, pork, herbs, Chianti & Parmesan with crunchy, herby breadcrumbs
DESSERTS
ICE CREAMS - $9.00
Three delicious scoops of Serendipity ice cream (ask your waiter for today's selection) served with any two of these toppings: Smashed honeycomb; Crushed nuts & seeds; Seasonal fruits; Butterscotch sauce
RASPBERRY FRANGIPANE - $8.50
Fresh raspberries & almond filling with crème fraîche ice cream & berry drizzle
JI EPIC BROWNIE - $10.00
Warm fudgy brownie with amaretto ice cream & caramelised amaretti popcorn
TUTTI FRUTTI LEMON MERINGUE PIE - $9.50
With limoncello & crunchy pistachio brittle
CREAMY PANA COTTA - $8.50
Lovely wobbly panna cotta served with a compote of seasonal fruits
KIDS
$9.50 including a 'shake me salad' and an unlimited glass of Bottlegreen cordial
SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE
The old school classic ragu of beef and pork with our fantastic homemade spaghetti
MINI SLIDERS
A beef burger and a turkey burger with polenta chips
HAPPY FISHFINGERS
Fish fight friendly fish fingers with zingy lemon mayo
CHICKEN LOLLIPOPS
Chargrilled chicken fillet skewers with yoghurt dressing
Source: The Daily Telegraph, 23 November 2013
