Owner and former Blue Heelers star John Wood is confident that new manager Richard Harrop will bring exciting new changes to the Yarra Valley Deli Wine Bar in Wandin.By Melissa Meehan
YARRA Valley Deli Wine Bar welcomes diners to experience a new and improved style of dining.
Diners are invited to come in and meet new manager Richard Harrop and taste the new dishes and flavours introduced by the new chef.
Gold Logie winner John Wood purchased Yarra Valley Deli five years ago when he decided that he would be spending a lot more time in the Yarra Valley because he was unsure popular television show Blue Heelers would continue.
As it turns out, John says in many ways he is now busier than what he was during his time on Blue Heelers, so busy, in fact, he can no longer continue to fulfil his breakfast cooking duties at the deli.
He is now off to Western Australia for the next 18 months where he will be filming The Club, the David Williamson play about the political workings of a football club, which was relaunched at the Athenaeum Theatre last week after a successful season last year.
“In your career you need to go with your strengths. I’m a much better actor now that I am a chef,” John said.
Over the past five years John’s daughter Meg has managed the restaurant. She has now moved on to pursue a new career in tourism.
John said that it is with great confidence that he hands over the management role to Richard Harrop.
“With Richard’s experience and expertise we plan to make further developments for the customers’ benefit to provide the best service we can in a tasteful and comfortable environment,” John said.
“We are looking forward to the next stage of development of the deli.
“We are confident that our evolving ‘work in progress’ will be thoroughly enjoyed by all.”
Richard said he was excited about the changes to the deli and was looking forward to providing more of an ‘upmarket service’ to customers.
“We are now providing more substantial meals. In the past we have focused on pies and cakes but we now have pastas, risottos and curries,” Richard said.
The deli will now also provide full table service instead of its previous ordering via the register.
“Full table service provides people with a casual cafe environment where people can walk in and get served without lining up,” Richard said.
The deli was also looking to focus on functions and catering on and off site, he said.
Prices for great value meals from the deli range between $5 to $15.
The Yarra Valley Deli Wine Bar, open seven days a week from 8.30am until 5pm, is at 372 Warburton Highway, Wandin.
