Darryn and Katy Bird: Former chef brings old fashioned fish and chips to the Western Downs

The Western Downs’ newest residents are using their previous hospitality experiences to make their marks in the region while adding a dash of adrenaline to their new lives by bringing old fashioned fish and chips to town.

Darryn and Katy Bird prepare to bring back old fashioned fish and chips to the Western Downs region.

Former hospitality workers and recent residents of the Western Downs Darryn and Katy Bird are cementing their place in town the old fashioned way.

The pair are set to open an old fashioned fish and chips van, called Old Time Fish and Chips, on the corners of Glasson and Price streets, Chinchilla.

While they’re still in the process of having permits approved, the couple are hopeful to open in February.

Former front of house hospitality worker, Katy Bird said her husband Darryn moved to Chinchilla to become the branch manager of Followmont Transport however had an itch that he still was longing to scratch.

“He loves his job but he misses the adrenaline side of things,” Mrs Bird said.

“I want to call him an over worker.”

She said their family moved to Chinchilla six months ago, previously having lived in Brisbane and Victoria where the pair ran a number of fine dining restaurants together, with Mr Bird working as a chef and Mrs Bird covering front of house responsibilities.

“We’ve always done these things together, we make a great team so I’m happy to work with him but there were some ground rules, which were no shop,” she said.

Mrs Bird said after having both experienced the hospitality lifestyle for many years they realised opening a fish and chip restaurant or shop would be unrealistic.

“I’m all on board for him having an adrenaline rush but not seven days a week, not ever again,” she said.

The new business venture would also be a great opportunity to meet the town’s people.

“We’re quite new and I still don’t know many people in Chinchilla, so I think it will be a great way to get to know the local community and maybe make some friends, Mrs Bird said.

The pair are relishing in the new region they now call home.

“It’s beautiful,” she said.

“We fell in love with the sunsets, with our neighbours and everyone waves hello it’s a lovely community.”

The couple who are hoping to one day start trading two days in Dalby are keeping things short and sweet when it comes to the menu.

“(Darryn) doesn’t believe in having a big menu, he chooses a few things and does it to perfection,” Mrs Bird said.

“He does it to perfection every time, I’m very proud of him and the food he cooks he’s really a beautiful chef.”

On the menu, residents can expect old fashioned fish and chips wrapped in recycled and unbleached paper, as well as scallops, dim sims, seafood sticks and calamari.

Mrs Bird said at the moment the pair are planning on opening Friday evenings and Saturdays from 11am to 8.30pm, and the van is still in the process of being built however have their hearts set on opening as soon as possible.