Celebrity Australian chef Kylie Kwong is closing the doors of her restaurant and taking a break from the culinary industry.
Sydney-based Kwong has been at the forefront of the nation’s fine dining scene for 30 years.
Her Australian-Cantonese restaurant Lucky Kwong in central Sydney will close next month, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
Kwong says she plans to “relax and reflect” during her break from the restaurant business.
“For all the many challenges that come with being in the hospitality industry, I consider myself fortunate for I have had far more positive experiences than negative,” she said.
But she also admitted the high costs involved in running a business had been a factor.
“Everyone is feeling it. I have never seen the restaurant industry in such tough times as it is right now.”
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Kwong pioneered a new type of cuisine when she opened her first restaurant, Billy Kwong, with co-founder Bill Grainger.
Its menu featured a blend of Australian native ingredients in home-style Cantonese recipes that proved a hit with foodies.
“Integrating Australian native produce into our Cantonese-style food literally revolutionised our menu and viewpoint of the world,” Kwong said.
She says she now plans to pursue her links with Indigenous communities and charity groups in Sydney.