Girl power – Pipit Restaurant’s Chefs Collab series is firing up a fierce line-up of female talent
In recent years, women have shattered barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields, and the culinary world is no exception. Once seen as a boy’s club, the chef scene is now witnessing a surge of talented female chefs making their mark. Pipit Restaurant is championing this movement with its Girl Gang dinner this August.
To celebrate women in hospitality, Pipit Restaurant in Pottsville is gearing up for its third annual Girl Gang dinner on August 5. This much-anticipated event, part of the venue’s Chefs Collab series, will bring together an ensemble of female chefs and front-of-house stars from acclaimed local eateries such as Pipit, Bar Heather, Smoking Camel, Karkalla, The Spotted Pig, Beach Byron Bay and Joy.
If you’re not familiar with Pipit’s Chefs Collab series, allow us to fill you in. Launched in 2021, each event gathers four young chefs, four venues, and four senior chef mentors to whip up a collaborative four-course feast where diners are guaranteed to taste culinary masterpieces. The series has become a cornerstone for nurturing emerging talent and fostering connections between city and regional restaurants.
For the young chefs, the collaboration gives them a chance to experiment with their creativity in the kitchen. Where usually they would be working under a chef, at this event their culinary expertise takes centre stage. For the third Girl Gang edition of the Chefs Collab series, the menu celebrates modern Asian flavours, taking inspiration from Japan, Thailand and the many Southeast Asian ingredients that grow well in the Northern Rivers. Jess Momm from Smoking Camel will take the reins on the first course of grilled octopus, Thofan Boontham from Bar Heather will create a glazed pork delight with potato noodles, Beatrice Hook from Pipit will be cooking up a grilled fish dish and Naomi Hare will be bringing it home with a soy sauce caramel ice-cream. Talk about a culinary adventure in one dinner!
And it’s not just about the food — the drinks menu will spotlight female winemakers, adding an extra layer of girl power to the evening. Co-owner of Pipit Yen Trinh emphasised the significance of female representation in leadership roles: “It’s not that female chefs need female-only kitchens to hold their own, but having role models is crucial for leadership and equality. Seeing women in executive chef roles, management positions, and media can inspire the next generation of female hospitality talent.”
Under the expert guidance of chef mentors Sarah Baldwin (Joy, Brisbane), Mindy Woods (Karkalla, Byron Bay), Iohne Simpson (The Spotted Pig, Lismore) and Katrina Kanetani (Beach Byron Bay), it’s bound to be a night to remember.
Tickets to the exclusive Chefs Collab Girl Gang dinner are $140 per person. Nab a seat at the table here.
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