Chef to the rich and famous to front new Brisbane restaurant

He was billionaire James Packer’s private chef aboard his 50m luxury super yacht, now this kitchen king will be bringing his culinary talents to a new restaurant in one of Brisbane’s premier dining hubs.

HE WAS billionaire James Packer’s personal chef for five years, now James Evangelinos is getting ready to cook for Brisbanites.

The kitchen whiz, who worked on board Packer’s 50m superyacht when it toured around Australia, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, will head up new Fortitude Valley James St restaurant The Lodge Bar & Dining, which is due to open in May.

The venue from retail empire Rodd & Gunn, will be the brand’s first Australian restaurant, with two already in New Zealand.

Chef James Evangelinos will soon head up the new Lodge Bar & Dining in Fortitude Valley.

While Evangelinos has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants, including The Musket Room in New York where he met The Lodge Bar’s executive chef Matt Lambert, he said his skills learnt aboard Packer’s boat cooking for the gaming tycoon’s friends and families were invaluable.

“It was excellent. We were just there to make him happy and he was really appreciative,” Evangelinos said of his time on board, revealing Packer’s favourite meal was a simple steak with mashed potato.

“He liked to eat simply. I was there to impress the guests and he’d want us to really turn it on for them.”