Meet The Happy Chef

James Read has had 15 years experience as a qualified chef in Australia. He did the bulk of his apprenticeship at "Cafe Grossie" in Melbourne City - widely regarded as one of Australia's premier Italian Restaurants.

Originally from Ballarat, Victoria, he has travelled extensively, picked up many valuable Trade Secrets along the way, and had chefed everywhere in Australia from Broome to Whitsunday's before finding his way to Tasmania in 1997.

James is currently on his third Restaurant venture in Tasmania. He started with a tiny BYO cafe in East Launceston with only 20 seats, then he moved to a larger premises in Elizabeth Street, Launceston where he began to operate as "The Happy Chef". He was fast to build a strong clientele and great reputation and in 2001, the cafe was recognised as "Best BYO Restaurant in Tasmania" by the Mieta Awards.

After 3 years, "The Happy Chef" then made the move to Quamby Golf and Country Club in Hagley (20kms west of Launceston) which he now operates as a Restaurant and Wedding/Function Centre. His plan is to make Quamby Tasmania's leading Wedding Reception Venue.

After living in Tasmania for six years, James feels like he's almost a local. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have had two children since their arrival from the Mainland and find Tasmania more appealing as the years go by. It looks like these two Mainlanders are here to stay.