The man who feeds up to 300 workers at Norkse Skog daily will make his first foray into the Albury cafe scene this month.
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Luke Stephens and his business partner Chrissy Hobbs will take over Dean Street eatery Q Food from Border restaurateur Noelle Quinn next week.
They will reopen with a new menu but the same branding on Friday, April 8.
Albury born-and-bred Stephens said it was the culmination of a dream to have his own cafe after working in the hospitality industry since the age of 16.
“I have always lived it and breathed it,” Stephens, 24, said.
“I left school at 16 but I knew exactly what I wanted to do.
“I did hospitality at school and I knew I wanted to work in the industry, the sooner the better.
“I knuckled down and did my apprenticeship at the SS&A Club.”
Stephens and Hobbs have provided breakfast and lunch for up to 300 Norske Skog workers daily for the past five months after Stephens Catering won the contract.
Hobbs will remain at Norske Skog while Stephens establishes the business in town.
They will employ a new head chef Jamie Cox, who trained on the Border and had worked in cafes and restaurants in Melbourne and Hobart since.
Sally Farrell will be front-of-house and barista among 15 staff including casuals.
“Sally has a great following for her coffee in Albury,” Stephens said.
“I will look at bringing a new menu and a new feel to the place.
“I was born in Albury and lived here my whole life, I have currently recruited what I think to be the best team in Albury-Wodonga as I have worked in the industry since I was a child.”
Cox said he looked forward to offering a tasty and fresh menu in a timely manner.
“It will be streamlined; we’ll focus on fast service,” he said.
“A lot of people only get half an hour for lunch.”
Stephens said among the highlights on the menu would be Super Shakes, which were popular in metropolitan centres.
Flavours include salted caramel, nutella doughnut, chocolate brownie and strawberry delight.
“They are going to be a hit,” Stephens said.
“Everything will be made from scratch down to the doughnuts.”
Stephens said he never shied away from hard work or the hours of the hospitality trade.
“I’ve always just put my head down and worked hard, but I love it,” he said.
Q Food will operate seven days from 7am until 4pm.
For those who want to keep up to date it will retain its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.