Chef Matt Moran first to bowl up at Sydney’s Barangaroo
Matt Moran at the Barangaroo construction site on the edge of the Sydney CBD. ‘It’s not going to be Chinese. I’m all about produce’. Picture: Jane Dempster. Source: News Corp Australia
CHEF Matt Moran will operate a new restaurant and bar at Sydney’s harbourside Barangaroo from 2016.
Moran, one of Australia’s most recognised TV chefs, was yesterday confirmed as the first food signing at the $6 billion urban renewal project, with the 10-year lease expected to bolster developer Lend Lease’s aim to turn Barangaroo into one of Sydney’s best wining and dining areas.
The restaurant building, designed by Sydney-based architects Collins and Turner, will have three floors with gardens hanging off the charcoal-coloured and bowl-shaped exterior.
While the area is set to offer cuisines from around the world, Moran said his venue would have an Aussie feel, with seafood to be a major feature.
“It’s not going to be Chinese. I’m all about produce, I have my own farm, so that will be incorporated into what we do,” Moran said.
Each of the three storeys would have a different offering. The bottom level would likely be casual eating and drinking while the second level would be the signature restaurant. The third level would likely be a rooftop bar with views on to Sydney Harbour.
“I’ve travelled a lot and rooftop bars are massive all around the world and I don’t think we have enough of them in Sydney,” Moran said.
Moran, who recently extended his lease at Sydney’s famous Opera Bar after winning the competitive bidding process, will operate the Barangaroo restaurant with MorSul’s Peter Sullivan and Solotel’s Bruce and Anna Solomon.
The concept of the restaurant is yet to be released, but Moran said it would be a step in a different direction for the partnership.
The restaurant would need to cater to a range of clientele, from office workers to tourists to locals in search of a good night out.
The MorSul and Solotel partnership operates some of Australia’s most noted restaurants, with venues including ARIA Sydney, ARIA Brisbane, CHISWICK and North Bondi Fish.
Barangaroo will have about 80 retail outlets, with 50 intended to be food and drink options.
The area will also have three major office towers and an apartment component.
Lend Lease head of retail and asset management Gary Horwitz said several international oper-ators had shown interest in opening a restaurant at the precinct, which is under construction on the northwestern edge of the Sydney central business district.
More announcements are expected during the next few months.
Mr Horwitz said he expected about eight million people to visit Barangaroo every year.
Source: The Australian - 9th September 2014
