Chef Craig Wright

Private Chef In Newstead

My food philosophy is all about simple, honest food. I am passionate about forging great relationships with local producers and utilising quality ingredients to create delicious dishes. I believe giving each guest a memorable experience is what catering is all about.

From the beginning, my professional career has given me amazing experiences & teachings. From adapting to the remoteness of Cottage Point Inn, Sydney, to expanding my skills as a personal chef to a family in the Hamptons, NY USA, I have grown tremendously as a chef.

I have had the opportunity to work at the Establishment Hotel, in Sydney’s CBD, an early part of Justin Hemmes’ hospitality empire, Merivale. I spent 4 years in Vancouver, Canada, learning new techniques with produce. I have had fantastic experiences which exposed me to industry leaders with incredible vision and a great sense of contemporary hospitality.

My watershed moment came in 2009 when I started working for Sean Moran at the fabled Bondi restaurant Sean’s Panaroma. I was struck by the honesty and integrity of the food. Since then, I have been inspired to strive for that level of quality and pure deliciousness without pretention.

For me, cooking is...

My life, my passion.

I learned to cook at...

I learned under several industry titans including Sean Moran's farm to table institution 'Sean's Panaroma' in North Bondi.

A cooking secret...

Keeping things simple by choosing fresh, high quality produce & letting the produce speak for itself in home style cooking with a fine dining twist.

My menus

Christmas 2024

STARTER

All inclusive

Queensland’s finest seafood platter, hand selected premium seafood including King prawns, Moreton Bay Bugs, citrus cured ocean trout & freshly shucked oysters, served with condiments & lemon

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Deluxe antipasto, selection of Italian cured meats & cheeses, pickled vegetables, wood fired bread & condiments to be shared

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Gooralie free range pork belly, apple purée, Savoy cabbage & almond salad

Cape Grim Beef sirloin slow roasted, potato purée, portobello mushroom & Barolo jus served family style

Deboned whole roast Free range organic turkey, with all the trimmings, stuffing, Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots & gravy

DESSERT

Choose 2 dishes

Cheese board, Australian cheese, crisp breads, fresh & dried fruits & nuts

Fresh Queensland tropical fruit platter served family style

Flourless chocolate cake, mascarpone cream, fresh raspberries

Joyeux Noel 2024

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Comtè cheese Gougères, savoury cheese profiteroles

Sautéed escargot, crisp bread & parsley sauce

Beetroot cured Tasmanian salmon, frisèe salad & tarragon vinaigrette

Blue swimmer crab croquettes, lemon aioli

Freshly shucked Coffin Bay oysters, mignonnette dressing (GF)

Lobster bisque espresso , crème fraîche & chives (GF)

Vichyssoise espresso , crème fraîche & chives

Delux charcuterie selection of French and Australian cured meats & cheeses, pickled vegetables & wood fired bread TO SHARE

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chilled Mooloolaba King prawns, kipfler potato salad & dill vinaigrette

Roquefort cheese soufflè, Riesling poached pear & watercress

Pan roasted quail, puy lentils, chestnuts & celery heart salad

French onion soup, Gruyère cheese & herb crouton

Free range duck Liver Parfait, confit onion & toasted brioche

Rabbit & Free range pork terrine, cranberry chutney & toasted sourdough

Queensland’s finest seafood platter, hand selected premium seafood including King prawns, Moreton Bay Bugs, citrus cured ocean trout & freshly shucked oysters, served with condiments & lemon TO SHARE

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Gooralie free range pork belly, apple purée, Savoy cabbage & almond salad

Duck a l'Orange, whole free range duck, classic accompaniments, served family style

Whole roasted field mushroom, goats cheese and hazelnut stuffing, petit herb salad

Cone bay Barramundi, steamed asparagus, confit onions & piperade (GF)

Deboned whole roast Free range organic turkey, with all the trimmings, stuffing, Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots & gravy

Cape Grim Beef sirloin slow roasted, potato purée, portobello mushroom & Barolo jus, SERVED FAMILY STYLE

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate Pot de crème, fresh rasberries & almond tulie

Vanilla crème brûlée

Coconut bavarois, glazed pineapple & native finger lime

Flourless chocolate cake, mascarpone cream, fresh raspberries

Strawberry galette, vanilla bean ice cream

Fresh Queensland tropical fruit platter, SERVED FAMILY STYLE

Chic & Casual

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Crisp fried zucchini flowers, ricotta, Parmigiano-Reggiano, pine nuts & lemon

Citrus cured Ocean trout, salad of blood orange, shaved fennel & dill

Deluxe antipasto, selection of Italian cured meats & cheeses, pickled vegetables, wood fired bread & condiments

Freshly shucked Pacific oysters, Bloody Mary vinaigrette

Byron Bay corn chips, guacamole & heirloom tomato salsa

Queensland’s finest seafood platter, hand selected premium seafood including King prawns, Moreton Bay Bugs, citrus cured ocean trout & freshly shucked oysters, served with condiments & lemon

Chilled cucumber soup, creme fraiche

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chilled Mooloolaba King prawns, avocado mousse, iceberg lettuce & dill vinaigrette

Coconut chicken salad, wombok, peanuts, toasted shallots & chilli

BBQ corn , chipotle cream, lime & coriander

Salad of heirloom beetroot, radicchio, goats curd & walnut vinaigrette

BBQ chicken wings, honey ginger & lime

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Victorian Lamb shoulder served family style, creamy Parmesan polenta, steamed green, lamb jus & salsa verde

Whole roasted field mushroom, goats cheese and hazelnut stuffing, petit herb salad

Baked whole Petuna ocean trout, walnut, mint, & chilli salad, lemon vinaigrette

Cape Grim Beef sirloin slow roasted, potato purée, portobello mushroom, asparagus & Barolo jus

Roasted de-boned whole free range chicken, baby heirloom carrots, parsley salad & tahini yoghurt

Pan roasted Cone Bay Barramundi, creamed corn, pancetta, parsley & pine nuts

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Classic Tiramisu

Chocolate Pot de crème, fresh rasberries & almond tulie

Fresh Queensland tropical fruit platter served family style

Coconut pannacotta, fresh pineapple & freeze dried raspberries

Make your own ice cream sundae bar with all the fun stuff!!!!!!!!

Strawberry sorbet, fresh strawberries, vanilla ice cream

Spanish

STARTER

Choose 3 dishes

PAN CON TOMATE, Crusty bread, confit garlic & olive oil

ACEITUNAS ALIÑADAS, Marinated mixed olives

SETAS SALTEADAS, Pan roasted mushrooms, olive oil, garlic, sherry vinegar & Manchego

PATATAS BRAVAS, Traditional fried potatoes, brava sauce & chipotle aioli

CROQUETAS, Leek & Mahón cheese with aioli

FIRST COURSE

Choose 3 dishes

CABRA, Baked goat cheese, Romesco sauce, pine nuts & crispy bread

BOQUERONES, Marinated white anchovies, parsley salad & sourdough

OSTRAS, 6 Pacific oysters, chives, aged sherry vinegar

JAMÓN SERRANO, Spanish Mountain ham, crusty bread, tomato, garlic & olive oil

PINCHO CORDERO, Lamb tenderloin skewers, salsa verde

PULPO A LA GALLEDA, braised then grilled octopus, kipfler potatoes, smoked paprika & lemon

CHORIZO A LA BRASA, Grilled chorizo, pimientos, sherry vinegar & grilled bread

ALBONDIGAS, Beef & pork meatballs, brava sauce, Manchego & crusty bread

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

CORDERO, Victorian Lamb shoulder, creamy Manchego polenta, steamed greens, lamb jus & salsa verde

PAELLA DE POLLO, Chicken, chorizo, mushrooms, green peas, pimientos, saffron rice & parsley

PESCADO, Grilled swordfish, braised baby peas, romesco & lemon

SETAS, Whole roasted field mushroom, goats cheese and hazelnut stuffing, petit herb salad (VEG)

DESSERT

All inclusive

TARTA DE QUESO “LA VIÑA”, burnt Basque cheesecake, berry compote

FLAN DE CHOCOLAT Bitter chocolate Pot de crème, fresh raspberries & almond tuile

FRUTERO, Fresh Queensland tropical fruit platter served family style

TABLA DE QUESOS, Cheese board, Spanish cheese, crisp breads, fresh & dried fruits & nuts

Mexican Fiesta 2024!

STARTER

All inclusive

Byron Bay corn chips, guacamole & heirloom tomato salsa

Queensland tiger prawn & avocado tostadas

Seared tuna, pickled radish, chilli crema tostadas

Roasted butternut pumpkin, black bean & pine nut tostadas (VEGAN)

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

BBQ corn esquites, chipotle crema, queso & coriander

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Slow roasted Victorian Lamb shoulder make your own taco station with traditional accompaniments including, soft flour tortillas, guacamole, salsa, green mole, crema & lime

Char grilled achiote chicken make your own taco station with traditional accompaniments including, soft flour tortillas, guacamole, salsa, green mole, crema & lime

DESSERT

All inclusive

Fresh Queensland tropical fruit platter served family style

Mexican Fiesta!

STARTER

All inclusive

Byron Bay corn chips, guacamole & heirloom tomato salsa

Queensland tiger prawn & avocado tostadas

Seared tuna, pickled radish, chilli crema tostadas

Roasted butternut pumpkin, black bean & pine nut tostadas (VEGAN)

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

BBQ corn esquites, chipotle crema, queso & coriander

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Slow roasted Victorian Lamb shoulder make your own taco station with traditional accompaniments including, soft flour tortillas, guacamole, salsa, green mole, crema & lime

Char grilled achiote chicken make your own taco station with traditional accompaniments including, soft flour tortillas, guacamole, salsa, green mole, crema & lime

DESSERT

All inclusive

Fresh Queensland tropical fruit platter served family style

Brunch

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Seasonal fresh Queensland fruit, vanilla yoghurt & toasted almonds

Danny’s assorted breakfast pastries, croissant, pain au chocolat & danish’s

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Smashed avocado toasted sourdough pistachio, chilli & mint

Smoked salmon bagel creme cheese cappers, picked shallots & dill

Housemade muesli natural yoghurt honey, fresh banana & berries

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Shakshuka eggs, free range organic eggs baked in a roasted tomato stew with Persian feta & mint

Scrambled free range eggs, Danny’s sourdough bacon chipolatas roasted field mushrooms & roma tomatoes

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Vanilla bean pancakes with blueberry compote & maple cream

Brioche French toast with fresh strawberries & clotted cream

Autumn 2024

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Harvey Bay scallops, garlic butter, petite herb salad

Cape Grim beef tartare, capers, shallots, parsley & crostini

Blue swimmer crab croquettes, lemon aioli

Freshly shucked Appellation oysters, mignonette dressing

Mooloolaba King prawn slider, dill, lemon

Crisp fried zucchini flower, goat’ s curd, marjoram, romesco

Golden beetroot, whipped Persian feta, thyme, rainforest honey

Quail ballotine, celeriac purée, roast chestnuts

House made broad bean & herb falafel, muhammara (VEGAN)

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chilled Mooloolaba King prawns, kipfler potato salad & dill vinaigrette

Confit ocean trout, golden beetroot puree, granny smith apple & fresh herb salad

Free range duck Liver Parfait, confit onion & toasted brioche

Mooloolaba Yellowfin tuna, tahini, pistachio, lemon & sumac

Roast Moreton Bay Bug Tail, soubise, shaved brussel sprouts, bacon

Handmade buffalo milk burrata, roast heirloom beetroots, balsamic, basil & crostini

Slow braised bacon, cauliflower purée, crispy shallots

Duck tortellini, pumpkin purée, hazelnuts & parmesan

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Homemade potato gnocchi, baby zucchini, buffalo curd, toasted almonds & brown butter

Victorian Lamb shoulder served family style, creamy Parmesan polenta, steamed green, lamb jus & salsa verde

Cape Grim Beef sirloin slow roasted, potato purée, portobello mushroom & Barolo jus served family style

Roasted whole free range chicken, walnut, parsnip & parmesan stuffing, homestyle gravy

Roast whole free range duck, creamy mash potato, cavalo nero, hazelnuts & sour cherry jus

Pan roasted Coral Trout, fondant potato, heirloom vegetable ratatouille, pistou (GF)

Roast cauliflower ‘ steak’ , creamy white bean purée, chimichurri (VEGAN)

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Vanilla bean panacotta, raspberries, almond praline

Classic Tiramisu

Cheese board, Australian cheese, crisp breads, fresh & dried fruits & nuts

Flourless chocolate cake, mascarpone cream, fresh raspberries

Chocolate Basque cheesecake, whipped butterscotch, caramelised banana

Apple Tarte Tatin, double cream

Coconut pannacotta, roasted pineapple & raspberry granita (VEGAN)(GF)(DF)

Show me more

Chef Craig's reviews

4.88

•

33 services

Chef Craig and Amy were amazing! The food Craig produced was incredibly. Everyone all agreed how amazing the food was. Amy was so attentive and such a pleasure to have around. They made an amazing team and we are definitely going to book them in again for next year’s Christmas dinner. 5 star service!

An amazing experience! Craig and Amy ensured our special family dinner was a huge success. The food, communication and attention to detail was of the highest standard! We couldn’t be happier!

Craig and Amy were phenomenonal - we can't speak highly enough of them. 5 stars

We would like to thank Craig and Amy for turning our little family dinner into a lifelong memory. They created a culinary masterpiece and accompanied with their awesome hosting making it such a special night for us all. The quality of the food was by far the best we have ever had in our lives.

Amazing food and amazing service.

Craig was awesome. The service was second to none with our very own waiter on hand. Craig explained each dish before we got stuck in! The food was unbelievable! The whole process from the booking all the way through to the dining experience was an easy process with Craig and will be using Craig and his team again.

Chef Craig was excellent and highly recommended

Where to start!? While respectful and professional, Craig was highly engaging and walked us through what was the perfect five course at-home dining experience. We can’t wait to recommend Craig to our friends and family.

Amazing job. Chef Craig was very engaging and a good entertainer while he prepared his menu. Most importantly the food was incredible and we would definitely recommend to a friend.

Chef Craig was amazing, his food and service was professional, he made my mum and dad's wedding anniversary a very special occasion. Thank you so much.

A wonderful evening made special by a fabulous chef and staff. Exceeded expectations! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Left the kitchen in better shape than he found it.

Craig and his team were outstanding, they provided us with great service and amazing dishes that were enjoyed by everone. We can't wait to have them back again soon.

Craig was simply brilliant. While the food was some of the best we have every had, it was his wonderful manner and great personality that made it a special night for us. We will certainly use his services again, and would highly recommend him to anyone.

Craig was a delight. He engaged in conversation with us, was professional, adaptive and compassionate. The food was wonderful & we were both heavily impressed with the experience. Would definitely recommend Craig in the future :)

Craig and Amy were amazing. the food was excellent. Would highly recommend.

Wow! Craig is a magician. Amazing experience, highly recommend!!!

The experience overall was amazing. Every dish was delightful;. Chef Craig was warm and friendly .