Justin Hemmes’ food feud with Brisbane chef ‘poacher’
Sydney hotel king Justin Hemmes has delivered a stinging message to a Queensland rival, emerging hospitality glamour boy Adam Flaskas, who he accused of luring a number of Australia’s top chefs and restaurateurs away from the harbour city.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Back off and stop poaching my top staff.
That was the message, sent loud and clear, from Sydney hotel king Justin Hemmes to an emerging Queensland rival after a number of Australia’s top chefs and restaurateurs were lured away from the harbour city.
On the receiving end of Hemmes’ blast was emerging hospitality glamour boy Adam Flaskas, who recently launched an ambitious $200 million dining precinct — Howard Smith Wharves — overlooking the Brisbane River.
Flaskas has already brought several big names to his project including at least one of Hemmes’ former top chefs in ex-Queen Chow head chef Patrick Friesen.
But it was his recent moves on Merivale top dogs Dan Hong and Mr Wong head chef Jowett Ku that led to the now-infamous phone call that has quickly become the stuff of ‘hospo’ legend.
It is understood Hemmes called Flaskas directly and issued a stern missive that there were to be “no more” Merivale poachings and that Flaskas “back the f*** off”.
MORE FROM AMY HARRIS:
JUSTIN HEMMES SNAPS UP ANOTHER PUB FOR COOL $5M
LAUNDY LADS TAKE OVER FAMILY’S $500M PUB EMPIRE
Contacted this week, Flaskas, who until recently was married to well-known Brisbane society queen Siobhan Bickle, confirmed the phone call happened.
However he denied approaching Merivale staff personally and claimed all hiring is done through an external recruitment agency.
“(Hemmes) was actually cool … he just said that there were a few people that have already come across from Merivale and that they are some of his good people,” Flaskas said.
“And I just explained that there are people coming here from everywhere … from all over Australia. And they are coming here because they want to.”
Asked is he had recently offered positions to Hong and Ku, Flaskas replied: “Not personally, no.”
Hemmes declined to comment on the poaching attempts when contacted this week.
However it is understood he believes both Hong and Ku — two of his best Asian cuisine chefs — were offered positions by Flaskas at an upcoming Howard Smith Wharves project Stanley — a 200-seat Chinese mega-restaurant.
“Justin is someone who invests heavily in his staff,” said a source close to the Merivale boss.
“When he sees someone messing with that … he reacts.”
However, the issue has people divided with several high-profile restaurant owners saying poaching is just a normal part of the hospitality industry and that staff are “fair game”.
Simon Gloftis, who owns arguably Brisbane’s hottest restaurant Hellenkia, said he makes a policy of not poaching but admits it is more acceptable for senior staff to approach other senior staff.
“I feel in that sense that they are big enough and ugly enough to take care of themselves,” Gloftis said.
Stu Laundy, whose Laundy Hotels empire in Sydney employs more than 1000 people, sides with Hemmes and said he doesn’t believe rivals should “go there”.
“There’s an etiquette among old-school publicans … a kind of gentlemen’s agreement that you just don’t go there,” he said.
“There are a lot of new players in the industry who know nothing about the traditions and respect we generational publicans have for one another.”
Originally published as Justin Hemmes’ food feud with Brisbane chef ‘poacher’
Wakeley stabbing Bishop slams Labor’s misinformation bill
A controversial Sydney church where a priest was allegedly stabbed over his political and religious opinions has blasted the Albanese government’s new misinformation bill.
Almost 500 new homes to be built over Sydney Olympic Metro
Almost 500 new homes will be built on the new Sydney Olympic Park Metro precinct with major construction set to begin after the site was finally approved by the NSW government.