Chefs cook up plan for new kitchen

Chefs Karl and Katrina Kanetani are bringing their culinary talents to Bangalow.

Cathy Adams

Related links

• Lloyd wins Aussie chef accolade

LONDON, New York, Sydney, Bangalow. Top chefs Karl and Katrina Kanetani have been around the world on their journey back to the area where Mrs Kanetani was born.

Originally a Lismore girl, she has gone on to forge a stellar career in the hospitality industry, working for such big names as Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay.

Her Hawaiian-born husband, who began his working life as a bass player, has also hit the culinary heights, training in Sydney at Tetsuyas.

Now the pair has made a tree/seachange to the Northern Rivers, buying the hatted restaurant Satiate and its cafe Ate in Bangalow.

“It is our first business together and we are very excited,” said Mrs Kanetani, who was awarded the 2007 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Chef of the Year. “We are very much looking forward to being part of a lovely community – neither of us grew up in the city.”

Said Mr Kanetani: “Our immediate goal is to get to know local growers and farmers as well as our customers.”

In Bangalow, they will begin a two-week handover with the current owners on Saturday and take the reins in June.

While the couple won't be making any changes until they settle in, they were prepared to share a couple of their signature dishes.

Said Mrs Kanetani: “Definitely a blueberry cheesecake snow cone served in a glass and a quince and chestnut tart.”

For Mr Kanetani: “Steamed coral trout with a ginger and shallot vinaigrette.”