By Leigh O’Connor.
More than 20 years ago, Tom Laws and wife Maria made the sea change to Shellharbour on the New South Wales coast with their six-month-old daughter Hannah.
Fast forward and they are still there with a loyal local following for their restaurant, Relish on Addison. Creative Modern Australian dining in a smart contemporary space is what you’ll discover at this culinary destination, which oozes rustic charm with well-worn brick, recycled timber and potted greenery.
"I met my wife on the Gold Coast, she was travelling from the UK and also working in restaurants,” Tom tells AGFG. "I moved to the UK living in London to be with her and worked in various restaurants for five years, with my last position being Sous Chef for the London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square.”
Relocating back to Australia, the couple and their daughter decided the coast was the place to be and opened Relish in May 2002.
"I have always enjoyed food and cooking in the kitchen with my Mother from a young age. Starting as a kitchen hand at the local English pub at the age of 14, I just loved the banter and kitchen life.
"I always knew I wanted to be a Chef and that it would be a great career as well as a way to see the world, working in different kitchens with different styles of food.”
Describing his style as using French cooking techniques with a Mediterranean influence, Tom loves the location and area where the family lives along with the restaurant’s large and loyal local following.
"It sounds cliché, but guests can expect great produce cooked with love, big flavours, value for money and friendly, attentive service when they dine with us. I love the joy that comes from pleasing our customers with great food and service,” he says.
His dish of citrus and passionfruit tart – which he shares with AGFG home cooks - has been on the menu since the doors opened and was his late Mother’s favourite dessert; regular diners also love it and it will likely never disappear from the menu choices.
With two German Shepherds, you’ll often find Tom walking them at the beach when he’s not on the pans in the restaurant kitchen, before heading home to devour his wife’s steak and kidney pie!
