WITH a love of hot food and warmer climes, Justin Hope moved north to the Border from Melbourne about six months ago.
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Hope joined the SS&A Albury team as executive chef, overseeing three restaurants and 18 chefs.
“Between the bistro, the Asian restaurant and the cafe, no day is ever the same,” he said.
Having worked at RACV Healesville Country Club, hatted fine-dining restaurant Eleonore’s at Chateau Yering, Three Degrees Bar Brewery Brasserie in Melbourne and Arintji Restaurant @ Fed Square, Hope springs from sound hospitality stock.
He also worked for bespoke catering firm Handcrafted Catering.
“My wife and I have a one-year-old son, Antonio, and we wanted a regional change,” Hope said.
“The catering could take me on the road for two hours a day and now we live in Albury within a three-minute drive from work.”
Having married his South American-born wife Tamara in Santiago, Hope said he discovered food styles through travel.
“I love Thai-inspired food but South American food as well; I like taking different styles of food and mixing it up,” he said.
What's your favourite dish?
Massaman Curry – authentic with homemade curry paste.
What are the staples in your pantry?
Fish sauce, tamarind, Thai ingredients, South American ingredients, lots of chilli.
What's the biggest product discovery you have made in cooking?
Sous vide was a game-changer. I started using it about eight years ago and it’s a great tool for locking in flavours and stopping meat from drying out.
What's your secret vice?
Craft beer
What is your recipe standby?
Suspiro Limeno. It’s a Peruvian dessert of caramel pudding with a meringue top.
What is your most unforgettable meal and where?
A 13-course degustation at Tetsuya's in Sydney about four years ago. Even the bread with whipped truffle butter was standout.
What's your favourite cooking utensil?
Anova Precision Cooker sous vide
What's in your kitchen toolkit?
1.0 Shen chef knives
What did you have for dinner last night?
Completo Chilean hot dog with smashed avocado, fresh tomato and mayo.
What are you drinking?
Latte with no sugar and craft beer after work.
Details
SS&A Albury,
570-582 Olive Street, Albury
Phone: (02) 6041 2222