Celebrity chef Neil Perry forced to give away thousands of dollars worth of food as he cancels grand opening of new Double Bay restaurant due to Sydney lockdown
Renowned celebrity chef Neil Perry has been left out of pocket after the lockdown in Sydney hampered the opening of his new Double Bay restaurant, Margaret.
Neil, 63, says the outbreak and lockdown has thrown a spanner in the works for his opening night plans - after the lockdown was announced.
The chef has since postponed the opening of his highly anticipated establishment for at least a week.
Steaming: Celebrity chef Neil Perry, 63 , is frustrated after he was forced to shut down his new Double Bay restaurant and cancel the grand opening following the Sydney lockdown
'What a time to be opening a restaurant in Sydney,' he remarked despondently in a Daily Telegraph article.
Perry also had to package up all of the restaurant's fine dining stock and give it to his employees and selected charities - via the Hope Deliveries food charities initiative.
'What a time to be opening a restaurant in Sydney': Perry also had to package all of the restaurant's fine dining stock and give it to his employee's and selected charities. The dishes were highly expensive, worth hundreds of dollars per plate
'A s*** show but it is what it is,' the lauded celebrity chef confessed.
It's a dour beginning for the opening of Margaret, which was expected to have upwards of 150 guests attending and clinking champagne glasses.
Perry had spent months meticulously planning for the forthcoming opening.
Bad start: It's a dour beginning for the opening of Margaret, which was expected to have upwards of 150 guests attending and clinking champagne glasses. Perry (pictured centre) had spent months meticulously planning for the forthcoming opening
The world-renowned Australian chef still had the opportunity to have the opening, but cancelled altogether as he didn't want to attempt a socially distanced event with limited restrictions.
'I actually decided to call off the suffering today because I thought we were opening and I had to stand all of my staff down from midnight tonight,' he said.
Margaret, named after Neil's own mother, is estimated to have a value of $5 million dollars. It offers fine dining cuisine sourced from fresh, local Australian produce.
Backstory: Margaret, named after Neil's own mother, is estimated to have a value of $5 million dollars. It offers fine dining cuisine sourced from fresh, local Australian produce. Picture: Neil working at the Rockpool