About
British-born chef/owner, Michael Stride should have been raising cows, ducks and geese in the rolling English countryside rather than making delicious meals out of them. He attended agricultural college and completed his farming apprenticeship but life never goes according to plan.
In the back of his mind was a thought that would not go away – to become a chef. He moved to Australia and did it the hard way with persistent door-knocking and ended up being taken on at Sydney's The Yellow Book restaurant answering to a 15-year-old apprentice. The rest, as they say, is history.
His credentials are varied and impressive. Michael and his New Zealand-born wife, Sarah Doak-Stride, ran The Old Steam Bakery restaurant in Beer (a picturesque fishing village in England), started Poaches in Canberra with his sister and brother-in-law, worked at the famous Greens Champagne Bar in London and also honed his skills with Paul Maroney at Maroney's in Sydney and at Lamberts Vineyards in Canberra.
Most recently, Sarah and Mike ran The Fat Goose in Bungendore, 20 minutes out of Canberra, which they sold but retained the name. After a call from Mike's godfather in Hardy's Bay telling them that the RSL restaurant lease was up for grabs, the couple jumped at the chance.
Now, after holidaying here for the last four years, they are now full-time residents with their two oldest boys enrolled at Pretty Beach School.
His vision for the Restaurant and Bistro is to provide “good food at reasonable prices”. Mike loves cooking with fresh seasonal seafood and game and changes the menu often to keep the selections varied and interesting.
“I want people to be able to come here once a week for dinner and always have something on the menu that will appeal,” says Mike.
He is also going to post a new favourite recipe on his website once a month for people to try out some of his dishes at home and impress their guests. “We want to make people feel welcome and that they feel free to pop in ‘for a gander'. It's all about being part of the community and making this a place people want to come to.”
Most recently, Sarah and Mike ran The Fat Goose in Bungendore, 20 minutes out of Canberra, which they sold but retained the name. After a call from Mike's godfather in Hardy's Bay telling them that the RSL restaurant lease was up for grabs, the couple jumped at the chance.
Now, after holidaying here for the last four years, they are now full-time residents with their two oldest boys enrolled at Pretty Beach School.
His vision for the Restaurant and Bistro is to provide “good food at reasonable prices”. Mike loves cooking with fresh seasonal seafood and game and changes the menu often to keep the selections varied and interesting.
“I want people to be able to come here once a week for dinner and always have something on the menu that will appeal,” says Mike.
He is also going to post a new favourite recipe on his website once a month for people to try out some of his dishes at home and impress their guests. “We want to make people feel welcome and that they feel free to pop in ‘for a gander'. It's all about being part of the community and making this a place people want to come to.”
14 Heath Road Hardy's Bay NSW 2257 (Google Location Map) Bookings (02) 4360 2345 Email contact@thefatgoose.com.au
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