Thank you, 2022!
3 min read
Thank you!
What a difference a year makes!
This time last December as I was sitting down to write my final Mangan Digest piece for 2021, little did I know that much of what we all love about Summer in Australia was about about to be completely torpedoed by Omicron. Now, as I reflect on the past 12 months, it’s quite something to think we’ve survived ALMOST a whole year without capacity limits, lockdowns and border closures. And, boy, does it feel great writing that!
My year kicked off getting ready to open our all new Luke’s Kimpton at the Kimpton Margot Hotel in Sydney. COVID and staffing issues meant we had to push the opening back a few weeks to Valentine’s Day but then we were off and racing! A few weeks later we launched our Saturday bottomless brunch offering and they’ve been going strong ever since. Thanks to everyone who’s joined us over the course of the year for our five-course degustation menu, free-flowing champagne, live music and signature tableside Bloody Mary trolley! If you haven’t already dropped in on a Saturday, make a booking for early 2023.
Up the road at glass brasserie it’s also been awesome getting back into the swing of things over the past 12 months after two really challenging years. We’re now back open for dinner five nights a week and lunch from Wednesday to Friday. Our annual Melbourne Cup lunch at the start of November was a stellar day... I reckon it’s now not just “the race that stops the nation”, it’s the lunch that starts the silly season!
The festivities continued in a big way just over a month later outside Hilton Sydney as the glass team and I, together with NSW Premier Dom Perrotet and Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox, closed down the centre of town for the second year running for a massive long lunch. Our sold out “Feast of the Senses” event - which had tables stretching 850m along George Street was one of two big OPEN FOR LUNCH activations this year, the other being at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta. Last year we took the lunch from Park Street to Market Street and this year it was from Park to Hunter. The sun was shining, we plated up the best NSW produce… and we even had a ferris wheel! What more could you want?! You better believe we’ve all got our thinking caps on about how we make things even bigger and better next year… it’s become a Sydney icon!
Speaking of Sydney icons, another highlight of my year has been teaming up with the amazing guys at BridgeClimb once again - this time for a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience on the Harbour Bridge. The first 20 diners sat down at our all-new, intimate Luke’s Table in October, taking in breathtaking views from the lookout level of the Coat Hanger’s south-east pylon while feasting on a three-course menu paired with Penfolds wines. We even had a fireworks display on the first night! I still pinch myself when I climb up the 200 steps of an evening to get to the spectacular spot and think “I have a restaurant in here!” We’ve just had a few dates pop up in March 2023 where we’ll be letting people book out the entire table exclusively. So, whether you're looking for an amazing venue for a corporate affair or a gathering of 20 of your nearest and dearest, send my team an email to find out more... info@lukemangan.com
One of the best things about the view from Luke’s Table is seeing so many cruise ships back at Circular Quay! In mid-April, P&O’s Pacific Explorer became the one to return to the Harbour after two long years and I’ve loved being able to spend some time cruising on the P&O fleet this year, catching up with the talented teams onboard who run my restaurants. If you haven’t set sail on a cruising holiday as yet - or you’re due for another - check out some fantastic holiday options here… and once you’re on the high seas, don’t forget to join us for a meal at Luke’s!
It’s also been fantastic this year continuing my work with the team from Mater Qld. I always say our mission is simple: make hospital food great! A couple of months ago I joined the Mater guys at the hospital’s South Brisbane campus for the launch of an edible garden pilot project - the first of its kind at an Australian hospital being run in conjunction with Bond University researchers - to determine the health and nutritional wellbeing benefits of gardening at work. We all know healthcare workers have been under huge pressure over the past few years… and this project we’ve launched with Vegepod is one way Mater is committed to helping ‘care for carers’. I can’t wait to start using some of the fruits (and veggies) of the team’s labours in our nutritious and delicious menus at Mater in the months to come!
So, it’s safe to say, I have much to be grateful for this year. Sure, we have challenges ahead as we continue to struggle to find appropriately trained hospitality staff for our venues and we all battle the uncertainties of increasingly strong economic headwinds… BUT, there’s no doubt that what we’ve all weathered over the past couple of years will stand us in good stead for 2023 and beyond. I’d so proud of my teams - their hard work, creativity and good humour - and, I’m so grateful for your continued support. Thank you!
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Happy Christmas. It really feels like this festive season is “one for the ages” and I know a lot of people are going all-out to celebrate. If you’re still planning your menu for the big day, check out my Instagram for some great last-minute recipe ideas, including some really inexpensive entertaining options that I’ve worked with the team from Coles to put together.
I’m taking a couple of weeks off to recharge the batteries and also start planning some exciting BIG new projects for 2023… I’ll tell you more about those in January!
’Til then… here’s to a fantastic, COVID-free Christmas!
LM