Nourish poaches Soul chef to head restaurant empire

Gareth Stewart will replace Simon Gault as executive chef across Nourish Group's nine eateries.

As one celebrity chef leaves the Nourish Group another is set to enter its award-winning kitchens.

Former MasterChef NZ judge Simon Gault is being replaced with top chef and My Kitchen Rules NZ judge, Gareth Stewart, who will take up the reins of the restaurant group on July 6.

Stewart will replace Gault as executive chef across the group's nine eateries, which include Euro and Fish on Auckland's Princes Wharf, Shed 5 and Pravda in Wellington, Bistro Lago in Taupo, Jervois Steak House in Auckland and Queenstown and the popular Crab Shack in Auckland and Wellington.

Nourish Group owner Richard Sigley has pulled off two coups. Not only has he taken on another famous TV chef, he has also poached Stewart from Soul Bar and Bistro, one of the biggest competitors for his flagship restaurant, Euro.

During his almost eight years as executive chef for Soul, Stewart won numerous accolades, including Best Casual Dining at the 2009 and 2010 Cuisine Restaurant of the Year Awards.

The UK-born chef was the toast of the London chef scene before his Kiwi wife, Angela, saw an advert on the internet for Soul, which was looking for a "world-class" chef.

Delighted to be invited to Auckland to try out for the role, he wowed his future colleagues with his cooking and promptly landed the job, moving to Auckland soon after.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Soul," Stewart told the Herald on Sunday.

But after nearly eight years, he said he was ready for something new.

"The challenge of heading up institutions like Euro and Jervois Steak House along with new favourites like The Crab Shack excites me immensely."

Sigley added his team were looking forward to Stewart's arrival.

"Gareth is a very talented chef," he said.

"He has some big shoes to fill with Simon's departure, but anyone who knows him, knows he is up for the challenge."

Stewart's next few months are busy.

Filming of the new TV2 season of My Kitchen Rules NZ is well under way with co-judge Ben Bayley of The Grove and Baduzzi. This season will see regional cook-offs.

A Soul spokeswoman confirmed it had appointed Philip Wilson as its new executive chef.

He had recently returned from a 10-year-stint in the UK and the spokeswoman said: "Watch this space."