AUSTR ALIA
NEW RULES. NEW GAME. SAME SUCCESS. Since winning the hit TV show My Kitchen Rules last year life has been busy for Dan and Stephany Mulheron. The spotlight may have dimmed and the cameras gone but the desire for success remains.
After filming for the show wrapped up the couple travelled overseas for six weeks, sampling a range of great restaurants in their journey. During this time they realised they were very capable of starting their own venture. After returning home and spotting an empty location for their new restaurant in Queensland’s Hervey Bay they negotiated with the owners and signed the lease. Just three weeks later, in March 2014, they opened Eat @ Dan & Steph’s. With a laid back atmosphere and an all day menu the restaurant features Dan & Steph’s signature approach: innovative, contemporary and seasonal. “We use fresh, free-range, local produce wherever possible”, says Dan. “Our menu is seasonal and we change it every three months. We’re always researching what’s coming into season and
each new menu is usually designed around six weeks before it’s released.” “We also interpret classic meals in our own way, with different techniques. We do a lot of slow cooks, for up to 12-14 hours at a time”, he says. With an all-day menu it was important that Dan and Steph chose equipment that would allow them to produce a wide range of food throughout the day. With their focus on wholesome, slow-cooked meals it was also essential they chose equipment that would allow them to do overnight, after-hours cooking. “Most days we are full”, says Dan. “From Thursday to Sunday there’s a waiting list - but because of our fast turnover customers only wait around five to ten minutes. We ensure that no table waits longer than ten minutes for their meal.”