MUCH-loved Australian culinary icon Cheong Liew has decided to retire from full-time restaurant operations, consequently marking the closure of one of the nation’s most revered dining rooms, Hilton Adelaide’s flagship, The Grange.
Many a foodie from around the nation has made the pilgrimage to The Grange to sample Liew’s cuisine, which draws on his Malaysian-Chinese heritage and pairs it harmoniously with modern Australian produce and styling.
After 14 years at the helm, Liew – who appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia earlier this year – will take time to “recharge the batteries” and focus on guest appearances, teaching and hosting gourmet tours.
Hilton Adelaide general manager Chris Ehmann said the decision to close the restaurant was a difficult one.
“Cheong is one of Australia’s best chefs and we are sad to be losing his creativity and expertise,” he said.
The Malaysian-born chef has been at The Grange since 1995 and is internationally recognised as the “father of fusion cuisine”.
Mixing French techniques and Asian flair with locally-sourced South Australian ingredients, he was one of the first to define his innovative style as “east meets west”.
The American magazine Food & Wine named him one of the “World’s Ten Hottest Chefs Alive”.
In 1999, he was acknowledged in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of “service to the food and restaurant industry through involvement in developing and influencing the style of contemporary Australian cuisine”.
Liew and The Grange have been lavished with many awards over the years; in 2002, Liew’s signature dish ‘The Four Dances of the Sea’ was nominated by journalist Stephen Downes in The Weekend Australian as being Australia’s “national dish”.
The Grange will finish regular trading on Saturday December 19, and Liew will be hosting a special New Year’s Eve event at the restaurant.
Perth foodies wanting to experience the culinary adventure of Liew’s “Migration of Ideas” for one last time can book their table by calling 8237 0737.