The Good Life
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New life for Rae’s By Simon Haslam
Byron Character Despite having lived around Byron for nearly 30 years, I am still in love with it. Although I spend most of my time on the wide, long beaches, the area near the lighthouse has ‘character’. I love the rocks coming down to the ocean, a towering headland looking across a vast ocean, secluded coves and white-sand beaches beneath the cliffs, with trees to shade you. The Rae’s building itself, constructed of stone with little twists and turns, staircases and rounded walls, archways and shutters in the rooms and balconies with views of the ocean, has a decidedly unmodern feel, quite unlike most contemporary resorts. Having a quick tour around Rae’s recently, and sitting in its restaurant looking out over the beach from the secluded corner of Wategos, I was reminded of the thrill of traveling overseas and finding a place like this. Of course you have to pay $600+ per night to actually stay at Rae’s, but it’s nice to be able to come and eat, relatively cheaply, somewhere that makes you feel like you’re travelling somewhere special for a while.
and affable Jordan (Jordy) Catalano, Antony’s 26-year-old entrepreneurial son, founder of the ApartmentDevelopments.com.au guide to apartment sales, and Rae’s managing director. ‘The construction of a 10-car underground garage beneath the existing building will be quite a logistical challenge,’ said Jordy, who expects the carpark to be Attending Rae’s with longtime Echo photographer Jeff ‘Faulty completed by 2018. In the 1950s locals memory card’ Dawson was a trip back in time. Jeff arrived in considered that the banana farm that Byron from Sydney’s northern beaches in the early 80s with his is now Wategos could not be safely surfboard and not much money. One of his first Byron jobs was built upon at all. washing dishes in the restaurant, then known as the Argentine Ant Cantina. The restaurant, which later became known as La Belle Jordy has also other less onerous duties such as ensuring that all Epoque, was located under Ruth Harris’s 1960s house, with its is ship-shape with Sea Rae’s; a white curved walls and movie-star looks – that is now Rae’s. 26.6-metre super yacht, which will be ‘Ruth was quite eccentric,’ said Jeff. ‘Elements of the house design available to charter, as well as offering were apparently inspired by Salvador Dali, and Liberace once ‘The Rae’s Experience’, which will pick played the piano there. Ruth was like Byron Bay’s resident queen.’ up guests from their city, take them Vincent Rae bought Ruth’s house in 1984 for $1.375m and turned to Rae’s in Byron Bay, and then onto it into Rae’s, the luxury boutique retreat that was dramatically the Rae’s super yacht. withdrawn from sale on auction day in 2013 after being sold for a The Rae’s Experience will also include price rumoured to be in excess of $20m to a purchaser, reported Air Rae’s; a private jet, which will be to be London trader William Morris, who failed to complete. offered to charter and fly guests to and from Rae’s.
Ancient history
Vinnie out of the picture
The property’s recent history then began when it went back on the market and a half-share was purchased in 2013 for about $7m by Antony Catalano, CEO of the hugely profitable real estate advertising vehicle the Domain Group, with a planned $1m of renovations in the pipeline, including a 10-car underground garage. However, it was not until Catalano bought out the share of the colourful Vincent in 2014 that the overdue renovations were finally set in motion. Now ‘Vinnie’, as he was known around town, is completely out of the picture, locals will have to rely on their memories for the telling and retelling of their favourite stories about him.
Future plans Overseeing the ongoing transformations is the relaxed
Current look minimalistic The luxe boutique resort, spa and restaurant has just been given a makeover by well-known Sydneybased interior designer Tamsin Johnson. ‘Rae’s is already a very special place to stay or visit, but it hasn’t been renovated since its original owners so we felt it was only time to refurbish the building and rooms to take it to the next level,’ said Jordy. Rae’s engaged Tamsin, who has breathed new life into the building and rooms, using a minimalistic and unpretentious coastal approach that feels more like a home than a hotel. Using natural fabrics and a monochrome muted palette, Tamsin
has incorporated custom joinery, rattan woven furniture in one-off designs, Sisal rugs, obscure pieces and pops of greenery throughout the rooms and building. ‘The overall intention was to pull it right back and start a fresh with a natural and beachy palette,’ said Tamsin of the refurbishment. Tamsin and her team chased every wall in Rae’s to install 63 wall lights that have been designed and custom made in a plaster finish and sculpture design for all the internal fittings and throughout the façade, and all common areas the lights have been replaced with giant sculptural concrete white shells. She sourced and imported a few items from an antique fair in Parma, Italy, including the wrought-iron chandelier and the carved concrete face that sits above a sea of agave plants in the entry. Rattan chairs have been hand woven and custom made to match the cane newspaper holders that will bring the news each morning. Rae’s Restaurant, a 50-seat alfresco dining room that overlooks Wategos Beach and offers a predominately seafood driven menu. Head chef Guy Skinner and his team work with local fishermen to source the best seafood each day with signature dishes such as the Moreton Bay Bug Raviolo and Daily Sashimi. From now until the end of November, Rae’s welcomes locals to come and toast the revitalisation of Rae’s with a complementary glass of sparkling on arrival for bookings from Monday–Thursday. Mention the Locals’ Special when booking your table. More info: Rae’s Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, and bookings are essential. The spa is also available to non-guests and open daily by appointment. Room bookings can be made via www.raes.com.au or call 6685 5366.
Byron Bay chefs win gold Local chefs, Zohar Flantz of Luscious Foods and Ronit Robbaz of Open Table Catering, have just returned to Byron Bay having won gold at the inaugural International Maccabi Culinary Competition in Israel as part of the 20th World Maccabi Games. Both of Israeli heritage, Zohar and Ronit have long been passionate creators of blending their Middle Eastern cooking influences with modern Australian cuisine for Byron Bay locals over the years. ‘Being invited to participate in the first Maccabi Culinary Competition and to be able to represent Australia on the international stage was such an honour,’ said Zohar. Working as a team, they had to prepare a five-course meal showcasing the flavours of Australia and using the freshest locally grown Israeli produce, meat and fish. ‘We are so lucky to have such an abundance of quality, local produce in Australia and were very excited to be able to include some of these flavours, especially macadamias and macadamia oil in our dishes,’ said Zohar. The gold-medal dishes included a Fig and Date Coconut icecream with Pumpkin and Spices Sorbet served with pomegranate syrup, macadamia soil, figs in wine and mint. In case you were wondering, macadamia ‘soil’ consists of crushed macadamia on the bottom of the plate, which creates a bed of ‘soil’ for the rest of the dish. Zohar and Ronit were announced as winners ahead of Team USA and Team Israel and were commended on how complete the
26 July 26, 2017 The Byron Shire Echo
flavours of their dishes were. Nothing more needed to be added, said the judges. ‘Winning was such a bonus for us. Being able to participate in the competition and having the opportunity to learn and be inspired by other chefs from around the world and share our love of cooking together and the flavours of our countries was incredibly exciting’, said Ronit. ‘It was also fantastic to be able to do this with Zohar, representing not only Australia but also our local region, Byron Bay.’ In true Olympic style the next Maccabi Culinary Competition will be held in four years’ time.
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