GET SLICE OF FUN AT OLIVER’S NEW RESTAURANT
GONE are the days of the humble shopping centre food courts serving stodgy takeaway, now big name international chefs are scrambling to claim space in the city’s centres.
In a major coup for the city, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver will open his first Australian pizzeria today at Pacific Fair shopping centre in Broadbeach.
The classic food court has undergone “a complete evolution” in recent years, Pacific Fair’s general manager Shaine Beveridge said.
“The traditional food options in shopping centres were really quite boring in comparison to a lot of other areas so centres saw the need to evolve … being the first in Australia really gives people more reason to come (here),” he said.
“We’re absolutely thrilled … we think it shows confidence not only in Pacific Fair but also in the Gold Coast overall.”
Jamie Oliver’s Pizzeria head chef Stefano Mauro has brought his skills from Italy, and said the simple, fresh ingredients set the pizzeria apart.
“We’ll make fresh dough every day, (the recipe) is traditional and uses less yeast so it’s lighter and easier to digest,” he said.
The pizzeria will open its doors at 10am, with a menu boasting traditional fare, including pasta, desserts and 14 hand-stretched pizzas.
The signature dish, the Julietta pizza, is a nod to Oliver’s wife, while the Breakfast Pizza and Dessert Pizza are exclusive to the Gold Coast venue.
Though the Naked Chef won’t be making an appearance at today’s grand opening, he is expected to visit the new venture next year.