New chef set to cook up a storm

Chef Roberto Gabriel is set to cook up a storm at Mount Morgan’s Grand Hotel.

The Philippine’s import came to Australia five years ago, starting his Australian culinary journey in Perth in Western Australia.

Starting his new role with the Grand Hotel just on six weeks ago, Roberto has taken to the new role with gusto.

“I really like the Mount Morgan area,” Roberto, who favours the hills and valleys of the town said.

Roberto has been a chef for 30 years, 25 of which he has been head chef.

Throughout his career Roberto has plied his culinary expertise in Moscow in Russia, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Jamaica.

“I travelled a lot when I was younger gaining experience and learning about the food of different cultures,” he said.

“I came to Australia because I heard it was a great country and the people were great. I only wish

I had done it when I was younger,” he said.

Before he started working in Australia, Roberto had to get certification from William Angliss College of TAFE in Victoria. He also has a Diploma of Hospitality Management.

Roberto did not always want to be a chef. From a young age he had his sights set on becoming an electronics technician.

“I was always fascinated how radios and television worked. I wanted to know why the voices were in the radios and would pull them apart to see how they worked,” he said.

However, as his parents owned a catering business his growing years were spent assisting in the kitchen, slicing, chopping, dicing and growing to love preparing food.

“My parents were well known for cooking in the area where we lived – everyone would get them for events,” he said.

“I tried to be a waiter, but I preferred working in the kitchen.”

Roberto qualified to become a Commercial Cookery Chef in the Philippines, continuing his passion for preparing food.

When he first came to Central Queensland, Roberto cooked at the Waterline restaurant in Yeppoon, but had to move on due to this restaurant closing because of the COVID shutdowns.

He then worked for the Rockhampton Sports Club for one and half years following the Waterline closure and then he was pirated by the Rockhampton Leagues Club where he stayed until the offer of a position at the Grand Hotel arose.

The relaxed Australian culture has been a real boost for Roberto.

“Australia is not as formal as other countries I have worked. Australians call each other “mate” or call their bosses by their first names. In other countries they would have to call me Chef or Chef Roberto, but here they call me Roberto, Robbie, Rob or mate,” he said.

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Cooking up a Storm...From Page 10

“Australia is a great country and I have been fortunate enough to travel from East to West for work and the Northern Territory and Victoria for travel.”

Chefs and cooks around the world mostly favour cooking with a particular food, whether this was beef, or some other meat cut – for Roberto it’s seafood.

“Australia has so much fresh seafood and product,” he said.

As a “savoury” chef, Roberto is not a fan of making desserts.

“I can make desserts – I can make anything if I have a recipe – I just prefer working with savoury dishes,” he said.

“I don’t like complicating restaurants with lots of desserts.”

Roberto hasn’t made alterations to the Grand menu at this point but would like to add Asian styled dishes to the menu. Roberto would like to introduce Japanese, Korean or Thai cuisine to the menu while maintaining the traditional “pub grub” foods such as parmigiani’s and reef and beef.

Roberto doesn’t plan on leaving for a while, although there are thoughts of going back to the Philippines in five or six years. His son has graduated from university and his daughter will also undertake her tertiary studies in Australia as well.

Rotary Seeks Sign Solution

The Mount Morgan Rotary Club is in negotiations with the Rockhampton Regional Council seeking a solution to get the directional signpost re-erected at the Frank Golding Lookout.

The signpost pointed out the direction to many notable cities of the world and indicated their distance from Mount Morgan. It was erected by the Mount Morgan Rotary club many years ago but recently fell over when it was windy for a few days. A kind neighbor advised the club of the sign leaning over and when it fell placed a witch’s hat on the steel stump left in the concrete. Unfortunately, it disappeared as did a second one.

Club President, Craig Edmonston said that the Rotary Club no longer had the capacity or equipment required to fix the sign and re-erect it, so the club has requested the help of the Council.

“The club is awaiting a response as to what to do next. We are aware that people have noticed the sign has disappeared and advise that it will be re-erected as soon as possible,” Mr Edmonston said.

Meanwhile, the Rotary Club has purchased a sign identifying the site as the “Frank Golding Lookout” which will be attached to the roof over the picnic table at the site.

Further to information provided at the Community Information Night in February 2023, Heritage Minerals is pleased to report that it has continued to progress efforts to secure funding and approvals to develop the Mount Morgan project.

Pending final investment decision, Heritage Minerals advises that on or around 20 June 2023 preparatory earth works for a proposed Gordon Lane access road are expected to commence.

The local community may expect to see trucks and earth moving equipment and the movement of transportable office buildings. These preparatory works will enable further earthworks on the Gordon Lane access road to start from 28 June.

Further announcements about upcoming milestones and community information sessions will occur shortly.

This is a significant milestone for the Heritage Minerals Team and the company would like to thank the Mount Morgan Community, Rockhampton Regional Council, the Queensland Government’s Invested in Queensland Program, and the NAIF (Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility) for the continued support that has allowed Heritage minerals to progress to this stage.

For more information, please visit - heritageminerals. com.au or contact Heritage Minerals via our email address- info@heritageminerals.com.au