As reported by The Herald Sun, there was speculation about the move last week, but on Monday it became official with Blumenthal unveiling his ambitious plans for the restaurant.
The Fat Duck is currently in the village of Bray, west of London, and will move to Melbourne’s Crown Casino in February 2015 before returning.
“This is an incredible opportunity and I am thrilled that it has worked out the way it has,” the chef said. “The Fat Duck is part of a Grade II listed building, so I always knew there would come a time when it would need a little attention and the building itself would require a bit of modernisation – after all, it was built in 1640. I just couldn’t bear the thought of closing for an extended period, though. When we first started conversations with Crown, I saw the potential of the situation and really began to hope. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.”
He added that he has long had a desire to open in Australia and proclaimed his love for the fun loving Aussies.
“The restaurant scene is fantastic, the diversity exciting, and the produce incredible, but better than all of that, the people are just great fun. I love how Australian people celebrate good food,” he said.
After the Fat Duck returns to the UK executive head chef Ashley Palmer-Watts will open Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in the same Crown Towers location.
Locals are no doubt excited about the prospect of sampling his distinctive gastronomy on home soil.
Image via Getty
