One of the world's most recognisable chefs, Jamie Oliver, may soon be bringing his ''pukka tukka'' to Canberra, with confirmation his representatives in Australia are actively looking for a restaurant site in the national capital.
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Pacific Restaurant Group managing director Adam Heathcote told The Canberra Times yesterday the 37-year-old English chef was looking to open at least a second Jamie's Italian restaurant in Australia by next year and Canberra was in the mix.
There are 27 Jamie's Italian restaurants in Britain, but only three located internationally: Sydney, Dubai and Dublin. Rumours that a Jamie's Italian would go in the Canberra Centre at the second-level site of the now-closed Border's book shop was scotched by Mr Heathcote, who said the restaurant would have to be at ground level, and they still had to find that perfect location.
''We know Canberra people would love us to be there and consequently we'd love to be there,'' he said, adding ''it's certainly a city that sits very high on our Desire to Be There List''.
The Pacific Restaurant Group holds the development agreement in Australia and New Zealand for Jamie's Italian restaurants.
The group also owns Kingsleys Steak and Crabhouse restaurants, including the one in the Canberra Centre so Mr Heathcote is familiar with the national capital, visiting here just this week.
''I love Canberra,'' he said, adding there had been several sites already offered up to the company for the restaurant in the national capital.
However, Mr Heathcote said the sticking point remained finding the right location; one which was at least 500 square metres, had good passing foot traffic, convenient parking and the ever-important and always intangible vibe factor.
''Musicians talk about the 'it factor' and it's the same for us,'' he said.
''I started looking in Brisbane a couple of years ago and I've yet to find that right space so it's not anything I can say unequivocally that's what it is … Each site is assessed on its merits and it's about finding the right feeling.''
Mr Heathcote said Canberra, Brisbane and Perth were on the list for a Jamie's Italian, the sole Australian outlet now in Pitt Street, Sydney.
It is billed as providing rustic Italian food with a ''neighbourhood feel, inspired by the 'Italian table' where people relax, share, and enjoy each other's company''. Sydney's outlet opened in 2011.
''We've been in restaurants for over a decade and know how fickle they can be but we're incredibly happy with Sydney,'' he said. While a staff member from Jamie's Italian in Sydney was transferring to work at Kingsleys in the Canberra Centre, Mr Heathcote said there were no plans to put Jamie's Italian in the place of Kingsleys.
He said Kingsleys was going well in the Canberra Centre and the company had no intention to move it but rather was looking to grow the business on the current site.
Mr Heathcote said he couldn't speak on Oliver's personal thoughts about Canberra but the celebrity chef and good food crusader had a great awareness of the Australian market.
Mr Heathcote said he had recently visited London and the Jamie's Italian restaurants there, saying there was a lot of sharing of information and skill between his organisation and Oliver's.
