ONE OF the Tweed Valley’s most-loved dining and celebration venues Mavis’s Kitchen has announced the appointment of a new acclaimed head chef, Michael Lee.
The Weekly caught up with Michael this week to find out about his vision for Mavis’s Kitchen including revitalising the menus.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Michael started cooking in his early 20s and now has about ten years’ experience under his belt, plus several chef hat awards.
During the past decade he has developed a passion for cooking outstanding produce with only the freshest ingredients, something Mavis’s Kitchen offers in spades.
“It’s amazing to be given the job of head chef at the world-famous Mavis’s Kitchen,” he said.
“I’ve been really impressed by the current menu, so I’ve really just sought to freshen up some of the mains and have introduced a lot of new breakfast options.
“I’m also really amazed by the amount of fresh produce grown onsite at Mavis’s, we really do offer all the ingredients fresh and locally grown.”
Among some of the new breakfast dishes includes the delicious za’atar poached eggs with beetroot hummus, smashed avocado and rose water hollandaise.
Michael and his wife Angelique have three young children and live at Banora Point, where they are hoping to remain.
“The Tweed Shire is a great place to live and work,” he said.
“And to be given this opportunity at Mavis’s Kitchen is a dream come true for me.”
Having completed his apprenticeship at Star Casino and working at Peppers Salt Resort and Spa, Michael has developed as an outstanding chef.
He’s received three chef hats over three years from the Australian Good Food Guide.
Michael said he was hoping to build on the amazing legacy of past Mavis’s Kitchen chefs.
“There’s already some amazing dishes at Mavis’s, so I’m just bringing my own style, freshening the dishes up a little and including several new breakfast options,” he said.
“My style is fairly simple, flavour combinations that work with a few twists here and there.
“It’s also definitely nostalgic, a lot of the food/flavours I use remind me of my family and my childhood growing up.”