PETER KURUVITA 

Peter Kuruvita, Flying Fish Restaurant

Peter Kuruvita was born in London in October 1963.  From a very young age a range of rich cultures inspired Peter; his childhood memories are filled with the collaborative influences of his Austrian mother and Sri Lankan father.

In 1967, Peter's family moved to his father's hometown of Colombo, Sri Lanka where life was very colourful through the eyes of a young child.  Peter vividly remembers his grandmother's primitive kitchen. "There was no gas or electricity, just a simple wood stove," said Peter.  He spent his early childhood standing alongside his grandmother watching and preparing family meals, created from ancient Sri Lankan spice recipes, passed down from generation to generation.

In 1974, Peter's family relocated to Sydney and in 1979 he started his chef apprenticeship at East Sydney TAFE.  He completed his third and fourth year at the newly opened Ryde Catering College.

After furthering his career in both Sydney and London, Peter took up the sous chef position at Neil Perry's Blue Water Grill.  Following a triumphant twelve months in this position Peter was approached by Michael McMahon to run the kitchen at the renowned Barrenjoey House, Palm Beach.

In 1997 Peter and his wife Karen moved back to Sydney and opened their own restaurant, Avalon at Bondi. This small neighbourhood restaurant served an inspiring range of modern Australian meals to the locals of Sydney for the next two years.

Since April 2003, Peter has taken up the challenge to open and run his own restaurant project, Flying Fish, situated at the restored heritage site of Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont. When Peter is not in the kitchen, he loves surfing and spending time with his wife and two children.

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