We meet the face behind this popular local venue right in the heart of Unanderra.
Say hello to Kelly Polzien, the friendly face whipping up the ideas and creations at Wests Illawarra. Kelly is passionate about her team, about being creative and about giving locals tasty eats.
With Kelly at the helm, Wests Illawarra is serving up dishes that are both familiar and fresh, blending local faves with fun ideas. We had a chance to sit down with Kelly to chat about her journey, what makes the menu at Wests Illawarra so unique, and what’s next on the menu.
Join us for a behind-the-scenes lookie with Kelly from Wests Illawarra.
1 // Hiya Kelly! Let’s start at the beginning. How did you end up as the head chef at Wests Illawarra?
I’ve been interested in cooking since I was a kid. My godmother was a chef who even worked in Antarctica [how cool is that?!] Some of my best memories are of being in the kitchen with my mum, dad, and grandmother, and that’s how my passion was sparked.
After finishing school, I took a bit of a detour and did some fruit picking to travel around before jumping into hospitality. I trained at an Italian restaurant in Wollongong, starting as an apprentice and eventually becoming head chef. Then, I moved around to some other restaurants in Wollongong and Sydney. I finally landed at Wests about ten years ago and have been loving it ever since then.
2 // So, what attracted you to Wests?
Wests was an exciting opportunity because it was a new environment with room for creativity. I’d always worked in smaller restaurants, so moving to Wests was a great chance for both professional and personal growth. Working here has been fantastic. I have learnt so much from my colleagues and expanded my skills.
3 // What’s your favourite part about working at Wests?
I love it all, but I have to say I have a soft spot for being behind the grill. There is just something incredibly satisfying about cooking the perfect steak. I also love that we have a menu that changes with the seasons. It keeps things fresh and allows us to highlight local produce. Plus, the team here is excellent, and we collaborate on new ideas, which makes every day exciting.
4 // What are some local faves at the restaurant?
Our honey and garlic pizza has been a hit because it is a fun twist that surprises people [amazing!]. We also run $12 lunch specials that are incredibly popular [also very amazing]. The Wednesday night pasta nights are great. Of course, everyone loves a good schnitty, and our fish and chips are popular too.
I’m excited about our seasonal menu changes, which allow us to showcase the best local ingredients and keep things interesting. We are always experimenting with new specials at Wests Illawarra. The whole team comes together to collaborate on ideas, which is great.
5 // What’s your ultimate dish to cook at Wests?
I would say my ultimate dish is anything grilled. The challenge of cooking the perfect steak or schnitzel is something I really enjoy. Our dry-aged meats are sourced locally as much as possible and stand out. We are committed to quality. I think that really shines through in our dishes. Whether you’re having a classic schnitzel or a new special, we’re all about delivering the best.
We’re all about keeping things hands-on here too. All our fish is battered by hand, and all our pizza dough is 24-48 hours fermented and all hand stretched. We love using an artisan approach to support local producers and maintain quality. Our menu has a great mix of classic favourites and exciting new dishes, and we’re always looking for ways to keep things fresh and interesting
6 // What’s a typical day in the kitchen like?
A typical day can get pretty busy, especially during times when there’s an event or show on. But that’s part of the fun! We’ve got an amazing team that works together to keep everything running smoothly. From prepping ingredients to serving up plates of delicious food, every day is a new adventure. We’re all about efficiency without sacrificing quality, and it shows in the final product
7 // What do you like to do when you’re not in the kitchen?
On my days off, I love exploring the local area and checking out different eateries. It’s a great way to get inspired and see what’s new in the food scene. I also enjoy spending time with my family and soaking up the natural beauty around here. It’s a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the kitchen.
8 // And of course, we HAVE to know, what’s your favourite thing about living in the Illawarra?
I love the mix of natural beauty and fresh local produce. I love hitting the mountains for bushwalks and being so close to the ocean for the freshest seafood. Plus, the variety of quality ingredients around here is a huge bonus. And, of course, there’s nothing like that warm, welcoming feeling of coming home after being away, driving down the mountain, seeing the blue water, and just being part of the local community.
Thanks so much for sharing with us, Kelly! We’re excited to see what’s on the menu next for Wests Illawarra and can’t wait to get our laughing gear around one of those garlic and honey pizzas. Oh, and maybe we’ll have a juicy steak whilst we’re at it, aah and how about a creamy nduja pasta too… there are so many exciting flavours to choose from!
If you’re craving a feast at Wests Illawarra, now’s the perfect time to check it out and experience the fantastic flavours Kelly and her team are serving up.
Wests Illawarra’s eatery is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner and they take walk-ins and bookings. It’s also a wonderful place to bring the family with an indoor playground right in the bistro and a fun kids menu as well.
See you there!
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS ARTICLE
This article features friends and advertisers of The Fold Media.
We strongly believe in the businesses and information we share with you on The Fold and we fully endorse the content we create and share.
We’re excited to share the amazing stories and adventures of our local businesses, and it is our sincere hope is that it helps create more awareness for these local businesses, helps keep them top of mind when locals and visitors next need their products or service, and most of all, contributes to creating a strong and thriving local community and economy.
We are so grateful to the local businesses who choose to work with The Fold Media. Without their belief and support in what we do, we wouldn’t be able to keep doing what it is that we love to do. Which is to create and share information about people, places and businesses in our wonderful region. We want to help everyone #LoveLivingLocal and make the most of this wonderful place we are lucky enough to call home.
And to you, our readers? We want to say a big THANK YOU to you. Firstly for taking the time to read this article, but also for supporting local businesses in general, as well as our sponsors who help make The Fold Media possible.
Together, let’s continue to support our local business community, in turn supporting their team, and our wonderful community overall. So let’s all choose local, whenever we possibly can.