Top chef Tom Tilbury leaves Press Food and Wine to pursue ‘other challenges’

Less than a year after reopening with a modern makeover and menu, Press Food and Wine is bidding farewell to its head chef.

Less than a year after reopening with a snazzy makeover and fresh menu, Adelaide restaurant Press Food and Wine is losing its executive chef.

Tom Tilbury, who works under his own brand, Gather, said he wanted to pursue “other challenges”.

“The hardest thing about this decision is leaving this team,” said Tilbury, adding that he thanked “all the guests who have come and supported the reopening”.

“I love creating food experiences and look forward to seeing you all soon.”

Chef Tom Tilbury days ahead of the reopening of Press Food & Wine in April, 2022. Picture: Tom Huntley

Press shot to number 4 on the 2022 delicious. 100 list of SA’s best restaurants, mere months after reopening under new owner, Jay Patel, and restaurant group manager Meira Harel.

Ms Harel said losing talented staff was “the nature of the environment”, and while they don’t yet have a replacement to announce, they “have a plan”.

“Very often when you have super talented people around, their urge and push to grow and seek the next challenge is a never-ending one,” Ms Harel said.

“We’re always itchy for our next thing, and especially for Tom, always in the background he had Gather, that never stopped … that’s what he wants for his family. I think he got to a point where he’s feeling ripe and ready and if we had a small part in that, to help him get to that stage, we would like to support him.”

Ground floor dining room and bar at Press Food and Wine.

The open bar is a new feature of Press Food And Wine.

Meira Harel, manager of Another Kind hospitality group, which includes Press Food and Wine, together with owner Jay Patel. Picture: Tom Huntley

Tilbury, who ran former delicious. 100 number 1 restaurant Gather at Coriole before taking up the city post, transformed the “old” Press menu with more plant-driven fare and a farm-to-table ethos.

Ms Harel said the next iteration of the menu would likely lean closer to their original intention of “classic bistro”.

“This is something we have always envisaged for Press,” she said.

“We’re still polishing what we’re doing; it’s a work in progress. We still see the new Press as a very new establishment; it will still be a little bit longer for us to not be compared to what Press used to be.”

Press Food and Wine was put on the market at the end of 2020 after nearly 10 years at Waymouth St under owners Simon Kardachi, Eloise Riggs, Andy Davies, Sally Davey and Tim White.