Chef Murray Williams to open nee-nee pomona
New Zealand born chef Murray Williams has spent the past 16 years cooking on super yachts in the Mediterranean and America, and now cannot wait to start his next adventure.
Gympie
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World-travelled and New Zealand-born chef Murray Williams has been sharpening his culinary skills for 50 years and now his next adventure is about to start at a Noosa hinterland bowls club.
Mr Williams is opening nee nee pomona (sic) as part of Club Pomona to create “simple, fresh and clean” Asian-inspired and hinterland dishes using locally sourced produce.
The menu offers Thai-style dishes, steaks, fish and chips as well as mouth-watering desserts with the prospect of takeaway roast packs in the future.
Mr Williams said he spent the past 16 years cooking on super yachts in the Mediterranean and America and returned to Australia in February.
He opened several restaurants in Mallorca including Raft 19 as well as culinary establishments in Brisbane and Noosa.
Mr Williams also played a part in opening the restaurant at Raes on Wategos in Byron Bay in the 1990s, he said.
Upon his return to Australia, Mr Williams met Club Pomona’s general manager and discovered the previous Thai restaurant was on the market.
“I saw the opportunity there to do something really, really nice,” Mr Williams said.
Now at the age of 60, Mr Williams has been cooking since he was 10 years old with his father owning several pubs in New Zealand.
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Mr Williams said the best part of his job is meeting people and making them happy, while paying attention to detail and creating beautiful food.
The chef has a passion for keeping it “as best and fresh as you possibly can” and has been doing homework on local produce and butchers to support the region’s farmers.
“My focus is on trying to provide the most seasonal and freshest produce and pulling it all together,” Mr Williams said.
Mr Williams has freed himself of the travel bug – albeit not for long – and is looking forward to discovering the region.
Outside his hours in the kitchen, Mr Williams enjoys surfing, fishing, walking and horseriding and getting inspired by other restaurants.
The restaurant will open on May 4, 2023.
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