Healthy takeaway Flames Charcoal Grill opens at Sippy Downs

After running a gym for a decade a Sunshine Coast father-of-two was inspired to bring more healthy takeaway options to a growing suburb.

Flames Charcoal Grill owner George Dulgeri, right, and his dad, Steve Dulgeri, left. Picture: Asa Andersen.

A Sunshine Coast businessman and former gym owner says he was inspired to open his new “healthy” takeaway venue after his dad was diagnosed with cancer.

Dad-of-two George Dulgeri, 44, opened Flames Charcoal Grill along Central Dr, Sippy Downs in August, focusing on organic salads and quality, ethically-sourced organic meats.

His new venue joins another new kid on the block, Sippy Social, a popular and healthy cafe that opened in July on the same street.

Mr Dulgeri said he opened his eatery to encourage and enable healthy eating following his dad, Steve Dulgeri, being diagnosed with cancer more than two years ago.

“It shook me around a bit when my dad got cancer,” he said.

Flames Charcoal Grill owner George Dulgeri. Picture: Asa Andersen.

The businessman said he had been training his dad at a gym and teaching him about healthy eating. His dad now offered a helping hand in his store.

Mr Dulgeri said he was further pushed to open his healthy business model after meeting his now partner, Radhika Colquhoun, 29, who worked at health and wellness store Food Matters in Mooloolaba.

Before his new venture, the Sydney-born man said he had been sharpening his knowledge on healthy eating after being a personal trainer and running a gym in his home city for 10 years.

Flames Charcoal Grill owner George Dulgeri. Picture: Asa Andersen.

His knowledge of food was also refined when working at his dad’s former eatery in Newcastle, New South Wales.

“Food is my game,” Mr Dulgeri said.

Not only is most of his food organic, but he said he also doesn’t use additives, preservatives, or genetically-modified organisms.

The store employs 10 people including young gun Porsha Hope who was a contestant on Junior MasterChef in 2020.