Neil Perry has slammed the concept of the ‘celebrity chef’, admitting he is often ‘disappointed’ in his famous colleagues who fail to make good use of their platform.
The restauranteur, who is behind swanky Sydney venues Margaret and Rockpool, shared his views on Gus Worland’s Not an Overnight Success podcast this week.
Perry, 64, who last year admitted he was struggling to keep Margaret afloat during the Covid lockdown and expressed support for vaccine mandates on restaurants, called some high-profile chefs ‘quite hollow’.
Speaking out: Neil Perry has slammed the concept of the ‘celebrity chef’, admitting he is often ‘disappointed’ in his famous colleagues who fail to make good use of their platform
‘I often get really disappointed that people don’t use that power that they do have to get the government to think about things, because they do listen to people like us,’ Perry said.
‘I do get disappointed that some celebrity chefs are quite hollow and they don’t really stand for anything.
‘I’m often very disappointed with a lot of my colleagues and peers who, in times that it’s important to say something, don’t.’
Standing up: Perry, 64, who last year admitted he was struggling to keep Margaret afloat during the Covid lockdown and expressed support for vaccine mandates on restaurants, called some high-profile chefs ‘quite hollow’. (Pictured on January 28, 2017, in Hollywood)
Last September, Perry drew the ire of anti-vaxxers by calling for a new public health order to ensure only fully vaccinated patrons could visit his restaurant.
He said the temporary health order – which would ask patrons to provide proof of two jabs with a vaccine passport – would protect businesses and the community.
Speaking to Worland this week, Perry reflected on how he ruffled feathers at the time by advocating for a temporary mandate in Sydney.
‘I don’t know whether they [other chefs] are afraid that if they speak up and ask the government to do the right thing, that they’ll have a black mark put against them, or if they say something that might alienate one of their customers,’ he said.
‘When I’m talking about clarity around the health orders when we opened up, and talking about vaccines versus anti-vaccines, I felt I had to say from a restaurateur’s point of view to the government we need real clarity around this.
‘And we have to be backed by a health order, because otherwise you’re asking us to be the police and it’s going to be impossible.’
Ruffling feathers: Last September, Perry drew the ire of anti-vaxxers by calling for a new public health order to ensure only fully vaccinated patrons could visit his restaurant
Perry also said he refuses to call himself a ‘celebrity chef’ despite being a high-profile restaurateur and occasional TV personality.
‘If someone says I’m a celebrity chef, I say, “I work for a living, so not really!”‘ he laughed.
Last year, as Sydney was about to reopen after lockdown, conspiracy theorists slammed celebrity chef Matt Moran and other leading hospitality figures after he said his ritzy Aria restaurant in Sydney would only serve double-dosed customers.
The spiteful backlash left many in the industry fearing for their safety and worried their restaurants could become the targets of fake bad reviews as had been seen in other countries during the pandemic.
Rules: Last year, as Sydney was about to reopen after lockdown, conspiracy theorists slammed celebrity chef Matt Moran (pictured) and other leading hospitality figures after he said his ritzy Aria restaurant in Sydney would only serve double-dosed customers
Josephine Perry, the daughter of Neil Perry, tried to calm the situation by outlining that the provision was handed down by the state government, not restaurants.
‘Every single restaurant in Sydney who plans to open their doors next month will have to announce the same policy as it will be the law,’ she said at the time.
‘You are scaring me, you are scaring my staff, and you’re scaring my friends in the industry to reopen our doors and have to deal with you while all we’re doing is what the government will enforce us to do.’
Restrictions ended late last year and now all patrons, vaccinated or not, can dine at bars and restaurants across New South Wales.
In August last year, Perry told The Sydney Morning Herald he was flipping 200 burgers a day and had been forced to mortgage his house to keep his restaurant empire afloat during Sydney’s lockdown.
‘I’ve mortgaged the house on this, though the bank has been pretty good… so far,’ he said.
‘I had some pretty dark moments in the first few weeks but at least this way, we’ve got the team together, the music is playing and there is a sense we are moving… I’m just not sure where to though.’
Perry owns a number of well-known restaurants across Australia, including Rockpool, The Argyle, El Camino Cantina and The Burger Project.
Drastic measures: In August last year, Perry told The Sydney Morning Herald he was flipping 200 burgers a day and had been forced to mortgage his house to keep his restaurant empire afloat during Sydney’s lockdown
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