Noma chef René Redzepi has brought his entire team to Australia for their 10-week Sydney residency at Barangaroo and four of the key members are Australian. We caught up with section waiter Tamara Archer to talk days off, catching up with family and friends, and showing the folks from Copenhagen a good time.
Born in…
Brisbane.
Member of the Noma family since…
May 2015.
How did you end up at Noma?
I had lunch there in 2010 and it blew me away. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
What is your favourite Noma dish and why?
It has to be the fresh cheese with bacon dashi I had the first time. That memory is burned so deep.
What are you looking forward to most?
Australia is more than meat pies and Vegemite. We have some real food to show you.
Where will you eat when you’re not working?
The first three places I want to hit are Fleet at Brunswick Heads, and Automata and Sepia in Sydney.
And for a drink?
My sister lives in Bondi, so probably the RSL there. For wine, 10 William Street.
What are your expectations for Noma Australia?
We all want to have fun and make sure everyone enjoys the ride.
Where will you be telling the out-of-towners to go?
The Fish Market, Bills Darlinghurst for breakfast and Billy Kwong.
What’s your favourite Australian flavour or ingredient, and why?
Mooloolaba prawns. I grew up there.
What does Modern Australian mean to you?
Deeply regional, yet influenced by immigrants.
What do you crave when you’re away?
Yum cha on a Sunday.
What’s been your most memorable experience preparing for Noma Australia?
Visiting the Ambassador’s residence in Copenhagen.
Which three things won’t you leave without doing?
Spending time with family, a meal at Orana in Adelaide, and a visit to Long Chim (is Perth closer than Singapore?).
Fast-forward to the 10-week residency coming to an end. How will you celebrate with your Noma crew?
A night out somewhere outside of the lockout area.
