New Hire

Every week, new talent is hired to lead restaurants, bars, theatres and galleries around Sydney.

New Hire is a quick-fire Q&A series that keeps you in the know with who’s just started where – and crucially, what they have planned for their tenure.

Broadsheet Access members get special tables at busy restaurants, tickets to exclusive events and discounts on food, coffee, brand offers and more.

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New Hire: Five Minutes With Yul Kim, Bay Nine Omakase’s New Head Chef

Food & DrinkThe 10-seat omakase offers more than just dinner: it’s a full-blown experience, with Kim and his chefs preparing dishes such as nigiri, sashimi and a sea urchin and Wagyu surf’n’turf right in front of you. Here’s what to expect from Kim in his new(ish) role.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Andrew Ratcliff, Clocktower Bar’s New Venue Manager

Food & DrinkThe timelessly beautiful bar – within a hollowed-out 400-tonne clocktower on top of the CBD’s Shell House building – will now be guided by a drinks expert who’s worked at Baxter Inn, Shady Pines and Eau De Vie. He’s promising high-end yet relaxed service, plenty of whisky and cocktails that are “simple, fresh and crushable”.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Brian Murray, Stix’s New Head Chef

Food & DrinkThe Quay and Bennelong former head chef’s multifaceted new role involves cafes, events and a new meal-delivery service with Paul Carmichael and Peter Gilmore. Beyond that, he wants to drive the charge to make the hospitality industry more sustainable.

New Hire: Five Minutes With AC Agra, The Goodsline’s New Executive Chef

Food & DrinkLast seen at Mosman stalwart the Bathers’ Pavilion, Agra is bringing a fine-dining touch to the Pyrmont cafe. For breakfast expect smoked salmon rosti with egg-yolk jam, and at lunch go for slow-cooked short-rib sandwiches or beetroot pastrami with stracciatella.

New Hire: Liam Driscoll, Head Chef at Bartolo Wine Room

Food & DrinkThe former Big Poppa’s executive chef – responsible for the diner’s popular lamb ragu pappardelle – makes the move to its sister venue. Here’s what he’s got in store.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Toby Stansfield, The Old Fitzroy Hotel’s New Head Chef

Food & DrinkStansfield moves to the beloved boozer from pasta shop and deli Fabbrica. Expect “a little Australiana nostalgia”, a dose of kitsch, and dishes inspired by his time at Yellow and Monopole.

New Hire: Will Elliott, Executive Chef at Whalebridge

Food & DrinkThe ex-St John and Restaurant Hubert chef will lead the new French-leaning restaurant – using his “passion for reaching into the past for overlooked classics of French cuisine, and looking at them with a modern lens” – in a legendary waterfront Circular Quay venue (that was once a toilet block).

New Hire: Five Minutes With Patrick Friesen, New Head of Culinary at Applejack Hospitality

Food & DrinkThe former Queen Chow Manly and Papi Chulo head chef will revitalise the food menus at the group’s venues, including Forrester’s, Bopp & Tone and The Botanist, plus lead a new restaurant from Applejack – a 300-person venue in North Sydney.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Noel Jelfs, Uccello’s New Head Chef

Food & DrinkJelf hopes to inject new energy into the 12-year-old Italian diner, poolside at the Ivy. He’s firing up the woodfired oven to roast whole chickens and ducks – plus treating diners to the dishes he loves to make: dessert tarts and omelettes.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Elizabeth Mitchell, Alberto’s Lounge Head Chef

Food & DrinkMitchell is stepping up from sous chef to head chef at the city trattoria. But that’s not all she’s got on her plate.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Ian Michael, This Year’s Richard Wherrett Fellow at Sydney Theatre Company

EntertainmentThe emerging director has worked on powerhouse plays Black Is the New White, The Picture of Dorian Gray and The 7 Stages of Grieving. Now he’s soaking up as much as he can in a 12-month mentorship program at STC. It’s not too bold to say he’s definitely one to watch.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Rhys Connell, The Gantry’s New Head Chef

Food & DrinkConnell spent 10 years at pioneering Sydney restaurant Sepia, before joining Martin Benn and Vicki Wild at Melbourne’s Society. His new menu for Pier One’s diner takes cues from the hotel’s beautiful heritage architecture.

New Hire: Five Minutes With James Green, Manta’s New Executive Chef

Food & DrinkHe began his career apprenticing right next door at Otto, before working abroad at Momofuku Toronto and New York’s WD-50. Now, he’s back to formulate a new seafood-forward menu at Manta.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Simone Young, New Chief Conductor at Sydney Symphony Orchestra

EntertainmentYoung, who was raised in Manly, is the first woman to lead the orchestra and the first Australian to hold the role since 1991.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Jose Saulog, Executive Chef at Franca and Soon-to-Open Catalan Diner Parlar

Food & DrinkSaulog has headed the kitchen at the Potts Point brasserie for the past two years – but is set to launch a new Catalan restaurant in 2022.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Aaron Ward, Shell House Dining Room’s Newly Appointed Head Chef

Food & DrinkFresh from Sixpenny – and previous stints at Ester and Lumi Dining – Ward will work with culinary director Joel Bickford to head up the swish ninth-floor dining room at the new four-in-one mega venue.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Thomas Gorringe, Aria’s New Executive Chef

Food & DrinkThe harbourside fine diner will be led by a talent plucked from The Gantry. He’ll continue the restaurant’s legacy of presenting the best Aussie produce on a plate, as well as creating an exciting new bar menu.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Lauren Eldridge, New Pastry Chef at Berowra Waters Inn

Food & DrinkShe’s worked in three-Michelin-starred restaurants and alongside Massimo Bottura. Now, the enormously respected pastry chef is heading to a storied waterfront fine diner.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Tristan Rebbettes, the Executive Chef of Braidwood’s Mona Farm

Food & DrinkThe owners of this luxe NSW rural getaway want to be considered among Australia’s best culinary holiday destinations so they've brought on the ex-Sepia, Cafe Paci and Saint Peter chef to challenge expectations of a farm stay.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Carl Johnson, New Head Chef at The Botanica Vaucluse

Food & DrinkThe lush all-day eatery has nabbed ex-Bridge Room head chef Carl Johnson to oversee its new, almost entirely gluten-free, menu.

New Hire: Five Minutes With James MacDonald, New Executive Chef at Odd Culture Group

Food & DrinkRestaurant Hubert’s ex-head chef has joined the burgeoning hospitality group to shape the menus of both its established and soon-to-open venues.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Alexander Kirkwood, New General Manager at Aria

Food & DrinkThe fine diner’s former head sommelier has been promoted – and will now oversee the institution’s “rebellious” new food and wine program, including the development of a brand-new wine bar.

New Hire: Five Minutes With Mitch Orr, New Head Chef at Pilu Baretto Nights

Food & DrinkThe former Acme chef is returning to the acclaimed Freshwater Italian diner to lead its wine bar all summer.

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New Hire: Five Minutes With Yul Kim, Bay Nine Omakase’s New Head Chef

New Hire: Five Minutes With Andrew Ratcliff, Clocktower Bar’s New Venue Manager

New Hire: Five Minutes With Brian Murray, Stix’s New Head Chef

New Hire: Five Minutes With AC Agra, The Goodsline’s New Executive Chef

New Hire: Liam Driscoll, Head Chef at Bartolo Wine Room

New Hire: Five Minutes With Toby Stansfield, The Old Fitzroy Hotel’s New Head Chef

New Hire: Will Elliott, Executive Chef at Whalebridge

New Hire: Five Minutes With Patrick Friesen, New Head of Culinary at Applejack Hospitality

New Hire: Five Minutes With Noel Jelfs, Uccello’s New Head Chef

New Hire: Five Minutes With Elizabeth Mitchell, Alberto’s Lounge Head Chef

New Hire: Five Minutes With Ian Michael, This Year’s Richard Wherrett Fellow at Sydney Theatre Company

New Hire: Five Minutes With Rhys Connell, The Gantry’s New Head Chef

New Hire: Five Minutes With James Green, Manta’s New Executive Chef

New Hire: Five Minutes With Simone Young, New Chief Conductor at Sydney Symphony Orchestra

New Hire: Five Minutes With Jose Saulog, Executive Chef at Franca and Soon-to-Open Catalan Diner Parlar

New Hire: Five Minutes With Aaron Ward, Shell House Dining Room’s Newly Appointed Head Chef

New Hire: Five Minutes With Thomas Gorringe, Aria’s New Executive Chef

New Hire: Five Minutes With Lauren Eldridge, New Pastry Chef at Berowra Waters Inn

New Hire: Five Minutes With Tristan Rebbettes, the Executive Chef of Braidwood’s Mona Farm

New Hire: Five Minutes With Carl Johnson, New Head Chef at The Botanica Vaucluse

New Hire: Five Minutes With James MacDonald, New Executive Chef at Odd Culture Group

New Hire: Five Minutes With Alexander Kirkwood, New General Manager at Aria

New Hire: Five Minutes With Mitch Orr, New Head Chef at Pilu Baretto Nights

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