Hospitality | Rata Dining
Master of Michelin Underneath his Michelin stars, Josh Emett is a typical Kiwi. Brought up on a farm outside Hamilton in New Zealand, his love of food was fostered at a young age. A typical active farm boy found him always hungry and he was encouraged to cook something rather than complain.
Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s with good friend and colleague Mark Sargeant.
The opening was a huge success and, based on that, 18 months later Josh was asked to be Head Chef alongside Chef Patron Marcus Wareing to reopen The Savoy Grill, following the much talked about refurbishment. In By the end of his schooling he knew what he January 2004, Josh and Marcus’s efforts didn’t want – a nine to five job – and instead, were rewarded when The Savoy Grill won a Michelin star, its first in more than 100 years he pursued his love of food. He trained at Waikato Polytechnic in Hamilton and spent 18 of operation. months at Cin Cin on Quay in Auckland – the In late 2006, Josh moved to New York to jewel in the city’s food scene in the 90s. oversee Gordon Ramsay at The London NYC and later opened Gordon Ramsay at The Like so many New Zealanders, Josh had a London West Hollywood. Within 10 months, yearning to see the world and in 1994 he Gordon Ramsay at The London NYC was headed overseas. He spent two years in awarded two Michelin stars and later Gordon London and specifically a year working at Coast restaurant in Mayfair with Steven Terry. Ramsay at The London West Hollywood one Michelin star. His next move took him to Australia where he worked under Donovan Cooke for three Josh received exceptional reviews for his years at Est Est Est, one of Melbourne’s most cooking in both the American and British highly regarded restaurants at the time. press. Additionally Josh was also named In 1999, Josh left Melbourne and headed back New York Rising Star Chef in 2008, appeared to Europe, this time for the south of France to in Hell’s Kitchen USA as a guest judge and cook on luxury yachts, save money and make appeared in Food Network’s new show “Chopped” which he won hand’s down it possible to get back to London. Once back against three other NYC chefs. in London he boldly headed to the kitchen of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea and In 2010 Josh moved to Melbourne to open asked Gordon Ramsay for a job. Gordon Ramsay’s first two restaurants in Australia – Maze and Maze Grill, along with At the time this was considered one of the the entire food and beverage operation in most ferocious kitchens in London but this did not intimidate Josh. He joined Restaurant Crown’s newest and largest hotel in Australia, the Crown Metropol. Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea as Senior Chef de Partie and quickly worked his way up Josh appeared on MasterChef Australia as the ranks in the kitchen. Restaurant Gordon celebrity chef and later in the year as guest Ramsay was awarded three Michelin stars, judge on MasterChef NZ. These appearances making it the only three-star restaurant in caught the producer’s eye and soon after was London. This further fueled Josh’s drive for asked to join MasterChef NZ as full time judge perfection and success. for the second and third seasons. The second series totally exceeded rating expectations, In 2001, Josh was selected to be included in the third aired in January 2012. the team to launch the critically acclaimed
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The discreet location of our Queenstown restaurant adds to the intrigue and the venture is inspired by a joint passion to create that hard to find ‘real’ restaurant experience. In simple terms, one that combines a relaxed dining room with a neighbourhood feel, great service and delicious food. - Fleur Caulton
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European Bakery The taste • The crunch • The texture Proud to supply Rata Restaurant and other businesses in Queenstown and Otago
European Bakery Ltd Ph: 03 442 3909 • Fax: 03 442 3509 Mob 027 33 99 673 email: europeanbakery@xtra.co.nz
www.canterburytoday.co.nz September/October 2012 | 89