NEWS

Position Vacant: Waitstaff

Billy Kwong is looking for experienced professional waitstaff to join the team. Passion and an openness and willingness to learn, along with substantial food and wine knowledge is essential.

Please call Kin Chen on 0412 612 201 and email resume to enquiries@billykwong.org

Billy Kwong wins inaugural Good Food Guide Sustainability Award 2009

About five years ago, I made a commitment to reduce my restaurant’s environmental impact. We use locally grown, organic and biodynamic produce, and in 2007 Billy Kwong became the first carbon-neutral restaurant in New South Wales. I couldn’t be more thrilled to receive this award from the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide for something that is so close to my heart – and so vital for the wellbeing of us all, now and in the future.

Bottled water: just say no!

At Billy Kwong, we’re determined to do our bit to stem the tide of resources that go into producing bottled water by offering only filtered Sydney tap water to diners. The manufacture and transport of bottles, both plastic and glass, adds to greenhouse emissions, and the used bottles are a significant contributor to oceanic pollution. Check out the Bottled Water Alliance to see what you can do.

Slow Food

Billy Kwong is now a member of Slow Food, the international not-for-profit organisation established to counteract fast food and fast life. Our philosophy of thinking globally and acting locally ties in perfectly with Slow Food’s aims of fostering local food traditions and encouraging interest in the food we eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world – people, communities, animals, plants and the environment.  

My China

When My China was named Best Chinese Cuisine Book in the World at the 2008 Gourmand Cookbook Awards, I was especially thrilled by the judges’ comments: ‘This is her fourth book, and her best, taking television through the China she knows, loves and respects . . . It is a pleasure to read, the promise of the feast for all senses is delivered through exquisite book production, talented writing, true emotion, and beautiful photography.’ I was also delighted to see My China listed as one of the summer’s most interesting new cookbooks by the New York Times. The accompanying TV series is currently screening on the Lifestyle Channel.

Green dining at Billy Kwong                                                                                                 
At Billy Kwong, we are constantly striving to reduce our carbon footprint, and being Carbon Neutral is simply a natural progression of this. Through carbon-offsetting company Climate Friendly, we purchase renewable energy credits from a wind farm in the Chinese province of Hebei, effectively making our power consumption 100 per cent renewable. You can help too! Next time you eat at Billy Kwong, please consider donating $1 to offset the carbon emissions embedded in your meal. Each month, we will use the total amount to buy more wind farm credits from Climate Friendly. Together, we can continue our commitment to fighting climate change.

Billy Kwong gift vouchers

Don’t forget you can now buy Billy Kwong gift vouchers through the website, so if someone you know deserves a treat, click here  to order. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

2010

Happiness & its Causes

I’m delighted to be participating in the 5th annual Happiness & Its Causes conference, which will be held on 5–6 May 2010 at Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. Originally conceived as a forum for fostering debate and discussion about the many different approaches to happiness, the Happiness & Its Causes conferences have attracted thousands of delegates internationally in Australia, the UK and the USA.

My session will focus on the happiness that comes from cooking and sharing healthy and delicious food cooked from the heart, as well as addressing the importance of good food choices for happier people and a healthier planet. The session will be followed by a discussion on happiness, consumerism and branding, with panelists including Naomi Wolf, bestselling author of 'The Beauty Myth', Todd Sampson, co-creator of the Earth Hour Initiative and a regular on ABC TV’s 'Gruen Transfer', and Khandro Thrinlay Chodon, female lay Buddhist practitioner, Tibetan spiritual master and teacher.
Please click here  for details and booking information.

PAST EVENTS

Dalai Lama in Australia

In December 2009, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was in Australia to give a series of teachings, and I was deeply honoured to compere his public talk at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Addressing the theme 'Our Future, Who is Responsible?', His Holiness spoke of our individual responsibility for our own actions, the world which we live and for all other living beings we share it with: 'Every individual has a responsibility to help guide our global family in the right direction. Good wishes are not sufficient...we must become actively engaged.' As someone whose commitment to ethical eating and sustainable living stems from the Buddhist practice of mindfulness, I drew enormous strength and inspiration from the Dalai Lama's profoundly moving talk and his compassionate presence. For more information, visit www.dalailamainaustralia.org