New chefs at The Boathouse Karl Paino and Andy Burns are looking to elevate the experience for locals and visitors. Photo: Keeli Dyson.
A collaboration between culinary creators from Babyface Kitchen and Halfday Deli is hoping to enhance the experience at The Boathouse restaurant at North Wollongong Beach, with the new chefs at the helm looking to elevate the menu at the iconic location.
After a decade driving one of the region’s most innovative and beloved restaurants, Babyface co-owner Andy Burns was taking a well earned break when he was approached to help out with product and mentoring at the Boathouse North Wollongong late last year.
“The main goal for me has just been to elevate the product a little bit here,” Andy said.
“This was a really good opportunity to work with a Sydney group, a Sydney chef [head of kitchen’s Chris Hogarth] who’s had a really massive job within the Sydney hospitality community and still be able to live in Wollongong for the time being.”
His role organically grew into redesigning the menu as the restaurant’s executive chef, and although he was used to leading a successful operation, the venue posed a unique experience.
“It is quite different to what I’m used to; I think the amount of control I was used to having at Babyface with every single aspect of the entire restaurant, not just the kitchen is a lot different, but there’s an opportunity here – it’s such an iconic location in Wollongong,” Andy said.
“It’s a big venue; we can do 450 covers on a Saturday, so it was both a challenge coming from Babyface which was 50 seats and a lot more control over everything – you need a good team around you here to execute.”
Finding the right head chef to lead that team was crucial.
And in Karl Paino – formerly from Halfday Deli and Opus Coffee Brewers with decades of experience in hospitality internationally and in Australia – Andy found a leader with the commitment, skill and head for business that he needed.
“I got to the point where the businesses were running well, the kitchens had head chefs in there and I was just overseeing them so I wanted a new challenge,” Karl said.
“I always want to grow in all aspects of my life but especially within work.
“I’ve known Andy prior, he’s very well known, so I was excited to jump on board with him as a team and give this beautiful venue a bit of a change.”
The change of menu has been a balancing act, as the pair look to enhance and elevate the offerings which need to be replicated on a large scale, without breaking the budget for customers.
“Originally for me it was trying to find something between where Babyface was with product and our use of small producers and farmers, and where The Boathouse was, and find something in the middle that’s still approachable,” Andy said.
“We have such a diverse bunch of guests coming in here whether it be tourists or our locals so we just wanted to tick the boxes for everyone.”
They took the opportunity to show creative flare with elements such as a deconstructed cannoli dessert with pastry made in-house and twists on familiar items such as making spring rolls with Morten Bay bugs.
But they also honed in on improving the classics.
“Even our potato scallops we’re using dutch cream potatoes, which is great potato; we’re using chicken salt which we make ourselves with different spices and the batter, it’s a cracker,” Karl said.
“With the burger, we buy a beautiful dry-aged burger patty from Havericks so they use all their trim from dry aged portion cut steaks they send out and make a really nice dry aged burger mince out of it,” Andy said.
“I think every item on the menu, we’ve made everything better and it’s been good to collaborate.”
And this is just a taste of what’s to come.
“This menu is us seeing what’s possible,” Andy said.
“We’re both pretty proud of what we’ve achieved in a short amount of time. But then the next two menus we’ll know exactly what we can do and how good we can make it and we’ll push it each time.”
The Boathouse is at 1A Cliff Rd, Wollongong. To see the full menu or to book a table visit The Boathouse North Wollongong website.
