James Packer’s personal chef to bring his skills to the new The Lodge Bar & Dining in Brisbane

A chef to the rich and famous is about to bring his culinary skills to a new Brisbane restaurant.

James Evangelinos was James Packer’s personal chef for five years, working aboard the billionaire’s 50 million luxury super yacht when it toured around Australia, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. 

Evangelinos said the skills he learned aboard Packer’s boat cooking for billionaire’s friends and families were invaluable. 

“It was excellent. We were just there to make him happy and he was really appreciative,” Evangelinos said of his time on board.

The chef revealed Packer’s favourite meal was a simple steak with mashed potato. 

“He liked to eat simply. I was there to impress the guests and he’d want us to really turn it on for them.”

Evangelinos will head up the new Fortitude Valley James St restaurant The Lodge Bar & Dining which is set to open in May. 

This will be retail empire Rodd & Gunn’s first Australian restaurant, with two already in New Zealand. 

Evangelinos has worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants, including The Musket Room in New York where he met The Lodge Bar’s executive chef Matt Lambert.

Irit Jackson, 17^th March 2022