Most tasteful garden
WHEN Wayne Gilray and Adele Scott opened Garden of Eating restaurant in South Townsville they thought perhaps they would operate for several years.
Now 25 years later they are still going strong and have customers who have become friends and joined them on a remarkable journey.
Bob and Michele Skuza are among some of their most loyal customers.
They began dining at Garden of Eating just after it opened on September 30, 1993.
Now whenever there is a family celebration, the Skuzas go to Garden of Eating.
“It’s become part of the family tradition,” Ms Skuza said. “We have dined all around the world. It’s up there with the best.”
Wayne and Adele arrived in North Queensland from New Zealand looking for adventure.
They learned their hospitality skills at the Christchurch Town Hall convention centre.
They had been on their way to Cairns but preferred Townsville.
“We just liked the feel of the place. The people who we met here were friendlier,” Wayne said.
He was head chef for several years at what is now the Grand Chancellor hotel, as well as at other leading restaurants in the city before deciding to open their own.
They had bought a home in South Townsville and premises a couple of streets away in Allen St became available.
Previously a takeaway pizza shop, Adele saw potential and Wayne did much of the fit- out, turning what was once brown grass into the paved garden setting which gives the restaurant so much of its charm.
“The courtyard has quite a bit of a romantic feel,” Adele said.
“We do a lot of dates and anniversaries. We have seen quite a few proposals here.
“When we leased the place, we thought we might last 10 years but we are still here and still enjoying it,” Wayne said.
“There is no plan ( for the future). We are still going along.”