Calombaris invades Sydney with Jimmy Grants

Celebrity chef George Calombaris has opened his first Sydney souvlaki bar.

The MasterChef star and Press Club chef was quick to announce the opening of Jimmy Grants in Sydney Central Plaza on the corner of Pitt and Market streets, Sydney on Facebook. As you do.

“SYDNEY WE'VE ARRIVED!! Check out our awesome new store on Level 1, Sydney Central Plaza. Get down to taste our delicious Greek eats!

Opening hours:
Friday - Wednesday: 10am - 7pm
Thursday: 10am - 9pm”

Along with a picture of staff celebrating fists pumping the air.

The food itself is the iconic Jimmy Grants style.

There are no less than six different types of souva at the new Jimmy Grants which draws its inspiration from Australia’s immigrant culture and delivers food experiences for people on the go.

There is the Mr Papadopoulos ($12.90). That the Calombaris signature dish. It’s a slow-roasted lamb, coming with chips, parsley, mustard aioli and onion wrapped in pita bread.

Or there’s the Americano ($14.90). It offers beef short-rib wrapped with barbecue sauce, pickles and chips.

There is also the Homer, a dish that bring together falafels, Greek yoghurt and Hellenic slaw.

For those who have never had souvlaki, you need the hot chips. They are common to most souvas.

There are also share plates offering a choice of succulent lamb or chicken, fresh salads and grains.

And then of course, there is a selection of desserts such as choc-topoulos with vanilla baklava and salted caramel.

And there is plenty there for anyone wanting something lighter.

For them, the Jimmy Grants menu offers a grain salad ($10.90) with pulses, nuts, herbs, coriander. Or they can have Greek yoghurt ($10.90) or a beet salad ($10.90), a specialty featuring roast beetroot, lemon, tahini yoghurt and smoked almonds.

Calombaris plans to open a second Sydney store in Newtown in mid-November.

by Leon Gettler, November 1^st 2017