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Park City • Unless you've been dining or watching TV "Down Under," you likely have never heard of 37-year-old Pete Evans.
But it's a name you should remember, because this popular Australian restaurant owner, cookbook author and celebrity chef is bringing his culinary empire — and Aussie good looks — to the United States.
Evans is halfway through a two-week "working" vacation in Utah. He has been skiing at Deer Valley Resort with his family and has been a guest chef in the kitchens at Deer Valley's Seafood Buffet and Park City's Stein Eriksen Lodge. He also will be cooking with chefs from Spruce on Wednesday, March 9, and The Canyons on Saturday, March 12. (See the schedule attached.)
Evans was invited to Utah by members of the Park City Chamber of Commerce, who dined at his restaurants while on a recent trip to Australia. It's didn't take much to convince Evans' or his long-time partner Astrid Edlinger. She was a member of the Australian Olympic Team and had spent several winters training in Park City.
During an interview shortly after he arrived in Utah, Evans said he is trying to break into the American culinary scene. He will release a new grilling cookbook later this year and is negotiating for a possible cooking show.
That's something Evans has already done in Australia, where he's reached something close to rock star status.
Born in Melbourne and raised on the Gold Coast, Evans and his brother opened their first restaurant in 1993, when Evans was just 19.
Today, he operates the Hugo Restaurant Group in Sydney and Kings Cross which includes Hugo's, Hugo's Lounge, Hugo's Bar Pizza and Hugo's Manly. The restaurants have won 21 "best of Australia" titles and earned the "World's Best Pizza" award at the 2006 New York Pizza Show.
Evans also is the author of four cookbooks on eclectic topics ranging from Fish, a collection of more than 130 fish and seafood recipes; My Party, an entertaining guide; and My Grill, which focuses on the art of Australian barbecue. My Grill (published by Weldon Owen) will be released in the U.S. later this year and will be available through William Sonoma.
Evans said he's never wanted to specialize in one style of cooking.
"I don't want to be pigeonholed," he said in a classic Australian accent. "I find that quite boring."
Evans has worked in television for more than 10 years hosting Australia's most popular cooking show, "FRESH" as well as a fishing series where he and his brother in-law travel around Australia sourcing and cooking the freshest catch. Currently he is a judge on "My Kitchen Rules," a competitive show where teams try to out-dine and out-wine each other to see whose kitchen rules. The show is now in its second season.
And, if that wasn't enough, Evans also has a line of sauces and condiments; and a line of cookware.
Even with his busy life, Evans tries to be home every night to spend time with daughters Chilii and Indii.
"Now that I am a father," he said, "I understand what it's like to rush home from work so you can cook dinner for the family."
Aussie in the house
Here are a few other places to meet Australian chef, cookbook author and restaurant owner Pete Evans:
March 9 • Evans is the guest chef at Spruce restaurant in the Waldorf Astoria, Park City. He teams up with Executive Chef Gavin Baker for a dinner that will be paired with Australian wines. For a reservation or more details, call 435-647-5566
March 12 • Evans will give a demonstration of Australian-inspired barbecue at Red Tail Grill at The Canyons Resort in Park City. The outdoor demonstration takes place at the new Ski Beach with Talisker Executive Chef John Murcko. For details, call 435-615-8068.
Learn more • http://www.peterevanschef.com