29/08/2006

Award Winning Head Chef for SKYCITY Queenstown Restaurant

SKYCITY Queenstown is pleased to announce the appointment of Duley Nicolson to the position of Head Chef at Wild Thyme Restaurant. For the past nine months Duley has held the position of Sous Chef at the popular restaurant.

Duley recently won the coveted title of ‘Southern Light Open Chef’ at the 2006 Southern Light Salon Culinaire competition held in Invercargill. In addition, Duley secured first place for his seafood market basket, his salmon dish, pork dish, pasta-vegetarian market basket, and second place for his Cervena venison dish.

SKYCITY Queenstown General Manager Mary Whelan says that she is delighted to have a chef of such acclaimed calibre on board at SKYCITY.

“Wild Thyme Restaurant offers an extensive a la carte menu of quality dishes including New Zealand beef, lamb and seafood,” says Mary Whelan. “So obviously we’re thrilled to have one of the region’s top chefs working to deliver these exceptional dishes to our customers.”

Over the past 16 years Duley has worked for an impressive line-up of restaurants and lodges including: SKYCITY Auckland’s revolving restaurant, Orbit; Hotel du Vin; Huka Lodge; Punatapu Lodge; One Tree Grill (in Auckland); and St Moritz.

He credits his success down to his wide experience.

“I’ve trained in all areas of the kitchen, and worked with some of the country’s best chefs over the years,” says Duley.

“It was an exciting and emotional time to win the Southern Light Open Chef title,” he says. “I’d love to have a crack at the Chef of the Nation title one day!”