Precision on a Plate.
27 June 2026
Precision on a plate: Inside the kitchen bringing fine-dining obsession to the mega-banquet
In the Hellenic Club of Canberra, a guest is savouring a perfectly cooked sirloin steak, drizzled with a rich, velvety jus, all of which took literal days to achieve.
In the grand ballroom down the hall, that same melt-in-your-mouth steak is served to hundreds of people.
You might expect that mass catering means cutting corners.
For Hellenic Club Executive Chef Janaka Walakuluarachchi, a plate is a plate, whether it’s destination number one or number 300. In his kitchen, the illusion of the effortless, intimate meal isn’t shattered by scale.
“We commit to excellence on every plate, whether it’s ordered a la carte in the restaurant or served at a gala dinner of 300-plus guests. For us, big numbers simply mean more systems and more staff.”
Janaka is a self-described “yes man” in the kitchen, willing to customise almost any menu to bring a client’s vision to life.
But pulling off a flawless 300-person gala or a dream wedding requires more than just culinary perfection behind the kitchen doors; it takes a synchronised effort across the entire venue. That’s where Hellenic Club Event Manager Lauren Smith comes in.
“We provide the catering, the bar service, the wait staff and the furniture and equipment,” she says.
While decor and entertainment are usually taken care of by clients, Lauren’s team offer recommendations for trusted and tested vendors, and can even provide quotes and assist with organising specific details.
“Every event will take as many meetings, as many phone calls, as many demonstrations as a client needs to feel confident that their event at the Hellenic Club will be a success.”
Read the full article here: https://region.com.au/precision-on-a-plate-inside-the-kitchen-bringing-fine-dining-obsession-to-the-mega-banquet/970381/
Region Canberra | By Dione David
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