Icon Kylie Kwong to shut restaurant Lucky Kwong in June
Australian hospitality icon Kylie Kwong is ending her career as a restaurateur and will close Lucky Kwong’s doors for the final time on June 26.
"I've been running my own restaurants — Billy Kwong and Lucky Kwong — for 24 years and cooking professionally for more than 30 years," Kwong told Australian Story.
"I just feel like it's the right time. I have given this piece of my life everything I can give it.
"There is sadness around this decision, of course, because it's three decades of my life. But I also feel an excitement because another door is opening, as only it does when we close one door."
The chef, author and TV presenter will now pursue a career using food as a catalyst for positive social impact and cultural exchange.
The 55-year-old will draw on existing relationships with social enterprise and charity organisations to focus her energy on First Nations and multicultural communities.
"For the past few decades, I've been directing the narrative because it's been my story," Kwong said.
"And what I'm really excited about with this next phase is I'll now have the time and energy to amplify other people's stories.
“I'll still be very much connected to the food industry but just I'll be doing it in a different way."
Kwong has a long and storied history in the Australian culinary scene. She first worked under Neil Perry at Rockpool and Wokpool in the 1990s, before rising to prominence with the acclaimed Billy Kwong alongside the late Bill Granger in 2000.
She has released numerous cookbooks, hosted several TV cooking programs and has championed native Australian ingredients within her Chinese offering. She was appointed a member of the Order of Australia in 2023.
Billy Kwong ran for 19 years until 2019, at which point Kwong opened the smaller eatery Lucky Kwong, named in honour of the stillborn son.
"I've spent the last three or four decades of my working life going from one project to the next," Kwong said.
"This time I'm doing it differently. And I guess what I'm focusing on now is just really making this ending of this era really special, because it is."
Final service at Lucky Kwong is scheduled for June 26.
Jonathan Jackson, 21st May 2024
