Famed Sydney restaurateur Justin North has been appointed as Culinary Ambassador for Accor’s Pullman Hotels and Resorts.
The advisory role will draw on North’s expertise to oversee the culinary direction of the 11 Pullman Hotels and Resorts throughout Australia.
According to Accor, North will work with Pullman’s chefs to create authentic culinary experiences throughout the network using high-quality ingredients sourced from local artisans and food producers.
With a solid track record for opening acclaimed restaurants, North will also provide strategic direction to the hotel’s restaurants located in eight destinations and assist them to create a sense of regional distinctiveness.
“I’m excited to be partnering with Pullman,” he said. “The brand’s dedication to sourcing fresh local produce resonates strongly with my own food philosophy and I’m looking forward to sharing my knowledge with a new generation of chefs.
“Pullman is the perfect platform to showcase just how good Australia’s food scene can be to guests staying in the hotels and resorts.”
Q Dining at Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour will be the first restaurant to launch with North’s consultation. Due to open in January 2014, Q Dining will take a micro-seasonal approach and draw on its location serving up the freshest catch of the day.
From cutlery to the ingredients, North has worked with Q Dining Chef Daniel Simpson to create a stand-alone dining experience on Sydney Harbour.
Following on from the launch of Q Dining, North will oversee a roll-out of signature dishes to feature at each of the Pullman restaurants around Australia. He will also provide guidance to localise the Tapastry by Pullman concept which brings together local flavours in a series of small plates available in bars located within the hotel group.
North will also offer guidance with culinary appointments and assist with the training, development and mentoring of food and beverage staff throughout the Pullman brand in Australia.
“We are delighted to announce our partnership with someone of Justin North’s calibre,” said Accor Pacific’s Chief Operating Officer, Simon McGrath.
“Just like the Pullman brand, Justin is an innovative and dynamic chef and we are excited to see how his vision will shape the dining experience our guests can enjoy at Pullman Hotels and Resorts.”
North is one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs, having won numerous awards over the years including GQ Chef of the Year, Gourmet Traveller’s highest ranking and Chef of the Year in the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide, not to mention sustaining two coveted chefs’ hats for more than eight years.