IMAGE: Jamie Oliver Group
The famed ‘Naked Chef’ is dipping his toes back into the restaurant business, with a brand-new franchise concept.
Jamie Oliver, perhaps best known for his approachable style of cooking and war on unhealthy school meals, is starting a new international restaurant venture: Jamie Oliver Kitchen.
The first two locations for Jamie Oliver Kitchen are set to open on November 21, on Katu beach, Bali, and November 28, in Bangkok, Thailand. These two sites will be conversions from previous Jamie’s Italian locations – Oliver’s now largely defunct restaurant that entered administration in May of this year, leading to the closure of all but three of its U.K. restaurants.
The Bali and Bangkok locations for Jamie Oliver Kitchen are just two of the planned 19 sites in development, scheduled to open before the end of 2020. Both will be operated in partnership with franchisee, HPL, and will serve a menu partially inspired by local cuisine, and partially influenced by Oliver’s international experience as a renowned chef.
“Over the past 20 years, I have traveled around the world to discover exciting flavor combinations, picking up incredible influences along the way,” said Jamie Oliver. “The new restaurants will bring those inspirations to life and serve some of my absolute all-time favorites.”
“Whether you want to grab a quick bite in a relaxed setting, have a proper sit-down meal with friends and family, or grab a quick drink at the bar,” he continued, “we have created a beautiful space for everyone to enjoy the food I truly love.”
Paul Hunt, chief executive of The Jamie Oliver Group, said of the new restaurants: “We wanted to add to our portfolio and create a concept that allows us to really showcase the best of Jamie Oliver, while giving our franchise partners in each market the flexibility to adapt menus to local tastes and trends.”
Local palettes can already be seen on the Bali and Bangkok menus; visitors to the Bangkok restaurant will be able to enjoy a soft shell crab burger with a green papaya salad and sriracha mayo, whereas Bali diners can sample Jamie’s insanity burger, summer rolls, and a beef cheek cooked in local Indonesian spices.
Currently, there are no plans from the Jamie Oliver Group to open Oliver’s new international restaurant concept in his home market of the U.K.
