The Van Haandel Group has this week announce its appointment of award-winning chef Oliver Hansford (of Stokehouse Melbourne) as the new Executive Chef of Stokehouse Q, Brisbane.
Ollie returns to Brisbane and Stokehouse Q, having been awarded the Brisbane Times Good Food Guide Young Chef of the Year Award in 2016, and following on from his current role with the Group as Head Chef at Stokehouse St Kilda, overseeing the relaunch of the iconic Melbourne restaurant.
Ollie is recognised for his work in Leicestershire, England where in 2011 he helped run the Two AA Rosette award-winning Woodhouse Restaurant; he headed to Australia in 2013 and quickly landed a position commenced his career in Down Under at Stokehouse Q in 2013, prior to taking up an opportunity at Gauge Brisbane as Head Chef. Ollie returned to the Van Haandel Group in late 2015, before being appointed to his current position at Stokehouse St Kilda (Melbourne) in 2016.
‘There is no one who knows Stokehouse better than Ollie and he was our obvious choice to take over the helm at Stokehouse Q,’ says Frank van Haandel. ‘Following on from our renovations at Stokehouse Q late last year, we are excited to have Ollie bring his talent, energy and passion to Brisbane.’
‘It has been an incredible 48 hours for me; to be offered this opportunity to take another step up with the Group which has shown so much faith in me since I came to Australia, is really humbling,’ says Hansford. ‘I know the Stokehouse Q team well and am looking forward to working with them all again, particularly Marcel (Head Chef). It is an honour to be named Executive Chef of another iconic Australian restaurant. I have learnt so much in my time at Stokehouse St Kilda, I can’t wait to bring this knowledge to Stokehouse Q and to continue learning from the industry there.’
Ollie’s passion for food started from a young age and his background is rich in food experience with an impressive European pedigree. He studied at London’s finest catering college; Westminster Kingsway and has worked at London’s Soho House, before moving on to learn his trade under Michelin star chefs Simon Hague at Mallory Court and Galton Blackiston at Morston Hall in Norfolk.
Stokehouse Q
Sidon St, South Brisbane, Queensland
stokehouseq.com.au
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