ACCLAIMED Melbourne restaurant MoMo is making way for celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s franchise that trains disadvantaged youth.
The basement premises at the top end of Collins St were yesterday confirmed as the site of Oliver’s first Fifteen venture outside Europe.From September, trained disadvantaged youths will prepare meals for diners at Fifteen as well as appear on a Channel 10 series.
The 20 youths last week began training at TAFE under the guidance of Oliver’s good mate and Australian expat Tobie Puttock.
MoMo’s master chef Greg Malouf confirmed the change yesterday and said it came as a shock. “It wasn’t my decision. The timing was very sudden,” he said.
“It’s a business decision, and the guys (MoMo owners Geremy and Dean Lucas) had an opportunity to take it and these opportunities don’t come along often.
“My main concern is for my three apprentices.”
But Geremy Lucas played down concerns about the loss of MoMo to the city.
“We’ve sold the rights to occupy the premises, (but) we are definitely relocating MoMo,” he said.
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