Crown Casino's next big name?

[Shinboners]

I got this from another website that I use. The guy who made the post has good links within the food industry, so if it happens, you know where you heard it first:

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.p...=154156&page=15

It's going to be a great 18 months at Crown food wise.

On the schedule is - Nobu due to open mid year.

Maurice Terzini returns to Melb (cafe e cucina, icebergs) with Rob Marchetti to open a new restaurant Giuseppe, Arnaldo and Sons named after their grandparents late this year.

Thomas Keller from French laundry is also coming.

As is Guillaume Brahimi of Bennelong in early 08.

Word is that they (Crown) want to make them the premiere food destination in the country and one of the best in the world - and quite frankly with this collection (plus existing Rockpool)they will be.

It's gunna be bliss.

[Shalmanese]

You can't just create a great food city from scratch. Where's the audience that's going to sustain all of this? People might be willing to go out of their way to el bulli but almost all of the other great food places have been at the cross roads of commerce, Paris, London, NY.

[Pat Churchill]

Gourmet Traveller's website is also speculating on Keller:

"Rumours are flying regarding the transformation of Melbourne's Crown complex into a world-class dining destination. With Rockpool bedded in and Nobu on the way, the smart money is on a brasserie from Sydney's Guillaume Brahimi by the end of the year. Crown may be talking to American superstar Thomas Keller as well as local (Icebergs, Bondi) guns Maurice Terzini and Robert Marchetti about a new Italian business down there, too."

Edited March 23, 2007 by Pat Churchill (log)

[Shinboners]

You can't just create a great food city from scratch. Where's the audience that's going to sustain all of this? People might be willing to go out of their way to el bulli but almost all of the other great food places have been at the cross roads of commerce, Paris, London, NY.

←

I think Crown's motivations have more to do with making sure they can have the same "name chefs/restaurants" as Las Vegas than it has to do with putting Melbourne alongside London, Paris, New York etc. as premier food cities.

But if Crown are willing to bring in the likes of Rockpool, Nobu, Keller etc., then I'm happy to take advantage of it.