British chef Jamie Oliver announces visit to six Australian restaurants in May

ENGLISH celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is heading down under in May to visit his Jamie’s Italian restaurants which he had bought back again in November.

Jamie Oliver will visit his Jamie's Italian Trattoria in Parramatta in May. Picture: Ken Martin

• Western Sydney youth orchestra prepare for their first performance
• Nowruz Mubarak! Parramatta’s Persian community celebrate the Persian New Year

EVERYBODY’S favourite British chef, Jamie Oliver, will soon be enjoying the sights and flavours that Parramatta has to offer, with a visit to the suburb planned for May.

Oliver has announced he will be playing tourist and savvy business owner in the city after a decision was made to buy back his Jamie’s Italian restaurants, which include the Trattoria in Parramatta’s Church St.

Oliver repurchased his company from the Keystone Group after the business failed in November last year.

Jamie's Italian Trattoria in Parramatta will be getting a new menu.

“This is a process that I’ve never been through so it’s all very new, but it’s a really happy ending,” Oliver said.

“I wish I could have done it sooner but we got there and it’s safe to say that every cloud has a silver lining.”

Parramatta’s Jamie’s Trattoria is one of six Oliver owned businesses that will be welcoming the Naked Chef, with the restaurants told to expect a menu overhaul.

Oliver will be visiting the area after he announced he will be buying back all six of his Aussie restaurants.

Ben Shaughnessy, managing director of The Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group Australia, told the Advertiser that the Australian take on the award-winning chef’s food will be “consistent” with what Oliver would expect from his UK eateries.

“We’re bringing Parramatta under the Jamie’s Italian banner to ensure consistency of product and service across all our Australian properties”, Shaughnessy said.

“Jamie’s Italian Australia business has always been extraordinary and, now we’ve gone through this unique process, everything I’ve ever dreamed of has happened,” Oliver said.

“I’ve got a business that I fully own and couldn’t be prouder of ... I believe in Australia and I’m invested in it in so many ways. I can’t wait to get over there.”