MEET A LOCAL CHEF

COFFS COAST ADVOCATE - Thursday 13/1/2011

Name: Neville Mott
Restaurant: Lucky's Grill, Plantation Hotel
Phone: 6652 3855

Why did you become a chef?
I'm half Italian and have always been in the kitchen. I grew up in Griffith with all the "good stuff", a vegie garden, fresh chook eggs and my Nuna (grandmother) Zia (auntie) and Nan all giving me a love of cooking from an early age.

What is your signature dish?
Making gnocchi with my Zia has always been a favourite but at Lucky's I enjoy cooking great steak. The new menu being introduced next week has a few surprises on it which I am excited about.

Your greatest kitchen disaster was ....?
As a 16 year old apprentice I was told to clean the deep fryer straight after service. I dropped my steel into the fryer and put my hand in to retrieve it. You only do that once.

What is the most essential item in your kitchen?
My chef's knife and the team behind me.