A Chef at Your Abode
Image: It’s not every day you’re given the opportunity to have a two-hatted chef like Thomas Johns in your kitchen, but with his latest venture, Dining Abode www.diningabode.com.au that’s exactly what he’s offering.
It’s not every day you’re given the opportunity to have a two-hatted chef like Thomas Johns in your kitchen, but with his latest venture, Dining Abode www.diningabode.com.au that’s exactly what he’s offering. Gather a group of friends together for a big night in and you’ll be joining the likes of “Frank Lowy, Elizabeth Garbacz and architect husband Yap Limsen (responsible for QVB restoration and Capital Theatre), Wolfie Pizen (respected restaurateur and previous owner of Wolfie’s Grill, Italian Village etc in Circular Quay), John Hemmes (father of Justin Hemmes) and the Mayor of Woollahra.” Customers from his old East Sydney restaurant Pello have also joined the client list, including a lucky group of twenty he took a “four hour trip down South to cook for”. So why not try your luck with any special requests!
It’s an entirely different experience than cooking in the same restaurant kitchen night in, night out. In recent times Thomas had cooked at everything from “a very mellow setting playing classical music to a lively bunch jumping around to Justin Timberlake and Jay Z.” He has fond memories of “a surprise fortieth at a Penthouse Hotel Room.” So far he hasn’t been propositioned, but he has been asked “to dine, check out an internet bid, been given house tours and plenty of alcohol offers during the course of the night.” Whatever happens, Thomas says he “always make a point of sitting with guests and chatting after all the food has gone out” – but only if he’s invited of course.
Once you’ve gathered a bunch of friends to enjoy restaurant quality food in your own home, the toughest part will be choosing your menu. Thomas is understandably proud of all of his dishes, but he did let on that the most popular mains “are the snapper with bouillabaisse sauce and the five spice duck with bitter orange”. So far the most popular dessert is the “coconut pannacotta with passionfruit foam and lychee sorbet for a light and tangy tropical end to the meal.” I think that looking over at my kitchen and knowing Thomas Johns was in there cooking up a storm would be sweet enough for me.
