Top chef signs on to The Pier

Alex de Vos
Former iconic waterfront eatery Smorgy’s will be renamed The Pier Geelong, the restaurant’s new head chef has revealed.
However, restaurant owners Cameron Ling and Darren Holroyd have remained tight-lipped over the name change while they wait for a green light to trade under the new title on Cunningham Pier.
Leading Geelong chef Matt Dempsey told the Independent he couldn’t wait to get into the refurbished kitchen to start tackling his new role.
The former Pettavel chef, who finished working at the award-winning Waurn Ponds winery on Monday, said diners could expect something “pretty fantastic” from the revamped Cunningham Pier restaurant.
“I can’t comment too much about it but it’s all very exciting,” Mr Dempsey said.
“If it ends up like the way they’re planning then it’s going to look pretty fantastic.”
Mr Dempsey said The Pier Geelong would open in September with a conference centre and an 80-seat restaurant.
Last year the award-winning culinary master was named Electrolux Young Chef of the Year.
He is set to represent Australia at a prestigious San Pellegrino Cooking Cup in Venice.
As part of his prize, Mr Dempsey will also jet to London in June for a month’s work experience in David Thompson’s Michelin-starred Nahm Restaurant.
Mr Dempsey will also travel to Bangkok on his way home from Europe.
“Thai cuisine isn’t something I’m that familiar with, so it will be great to get some first-hand experience from the legendary Thai chef (David Thompson).”
Mr Dempsey described his style of cooking as “contemporary Australian, based on a classical European technique”.
“It’s about using fresh produce that’s in season and sourced from around Geelong,” he said.