Ejected from Fifteen Melbourne, restaurant critic Stephen Downes on local radio said perhaps it should be subjected to an independent audit while being interviewed on 774 Melbourne. Apparently Fifteen’s owners regard Downes’ reviews as too tough.
Whether or not this was a stunt pulled by Fifteen to generate publicity for the reality TV show it supports I have no idea. But I do know that none of the local food media – or any media for that matter – has yet asked the Fifteen Foundation, Fifteen restaurant or it’s various owners and investors any tough questions, especially the benevolent investor and property developer Adam Garrisson.
I’d also like to know a bit more about Mr Garrisson who I understand was a partner in the local GPO retail development. There really isn’t a lot in the newspaper archives. Who really is he and where did he come from?
At this point I think we should all remember that Fifteen the restaurant is a business and not a charity. The charity is Fifteen Foundation,a totally separate organisation, which receives a percentage of the restaurant’s profits. In London, the restaurant Fifteen passes all it’s profits to the Fifteen Foundation.
Questions
1. Who are the people who will profit from Fifteen the restaurant?
2. What is the projected donation from Fifteen restaurant to the Fifteen Foundation in it’s first year of operation? What percentage of profits is this? Come on guys, you must have a business plan and you must be meeting targets – you are booked out until the new year.
3. What are the salaries of the five highest paid staff at Fifteen Melbourne? Do any of the staff share in the profits?
4. What is the exact financial involvement of Adam Garrisson? I note that he part owns the Windsor Hotel, which was one option for the location of the restaurant. Does he own or have any relationship with the owners of the restaurant’s current location 115 Collins Street? If so, was Momo paid to move out and make way for Fifteen; has the rental on the property increased with the new tenant or is the rental dependent on the restaurant’s turnover or profits?
5. Will the percentage of profits being donated to Fifteen Foundation be independently audited?
6. What percentage of the profits from the Peace on Earth Olive Oil decanter ($39.95) sold at the restaurant go to the Fifteen Foundation. Is this going to be independently audited?
7. The goods and services given/donated by partners, for example the $100,000 of free hardware and software given by Zynet, the POS systems etc, who owns all this stuff – the restaurant or the foundation?
8. Why to date have we not been told what the financials are? I have not seen one press article that details the percentage of profits that will be donated.
9. Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the government funded anti-drug advertising campaign targeting the restaurant business a couple of years ago. Kitchens are notorious for their long hours and drug use. Is it not tempting fate training reformed junkies for a working life in this environment?
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I must admit I’m feeling a little more vindicated about the reservations I had about the place, that caused me some flack initially on my blog. Ange has since reviewed it cautiously and a recent reader left a comment, in fact a full review, on my blog yesterday. Both weren’t jumping at the idea of going back.
The lack of review, let alone critical reviews in the mainstream media is startling. Time to take the kid gloves off and asking some of your questions. I reckon you are the right person to do it too!
Ange, I’d been meaning to get into this debate earlier and funnily enough have just done an ASIC search. Let the fun begin!
Hey, it’s ITS to show possession. Not IT’S.
I’m not surprised they barred Downes. Not because his reviews are negative, just because they’re not very good.
As a business idea, Fifteen is a beaut. The telly show generates huge interest amongst a lot of people who don’t generally do “fine dining”. The reservation book is chockers. When interest starts to wane, along comes series two! This is a better idea than My Restaurant Rules because series two of that is a different restaurant. Meanwhile the first one disappears and no one really notices.
Another bonus for Fifteen is that they won’t have to rely on repeat customers, because they are tapping into the vast majority of the population who normally wouldn’t dream of spending $250 on dinner for two. So even if it’s a bit crap (which, by the way, I’m sure it isn’t), there’s a constant stream of new customers. It’s not like people will stay away like they would a “normal” restaurant.
Although some people are no doubt lining their pockets through this venture, I don’t necessarily think they deserve a kicking. The fact is, they are giving some pretty disadvantaged people a chance. So it’s not entirely selfish; at worst it’s a bit opportunistic. People are making lots of money elsewhere and giving nothing at all back (have you ever eaten on Hardware St? It’s always bustling, and not because of the food quality).
So why exactly did Stephen Downes get kicked out ? He seems to make a habit of that… For good reason, or just because they can’t handle the flack ?
Personally I couldn’t care less about the details as long as food is great, the service genuine, and the price is right
But I’m all for investigations… so search on.
Ed, you questions seem fair and reasonable, and have raised some interesting points I hadn’t considered. I also agree with AOF, that the mainstream media silence is deafening.
Oh I smell some controversy here. The smell is not as appealing as a well cooked meal, but it sure draws me in like one!
I doubt much will come of it though, as I think many people are only interested in the feel good aspect of the production. Given the great quality and price-point of other local restaurants, I doubt people would think about much else WRT Fifteen….nor spend their valuable time and money eating there.
Hopefully some answers to your questions will still be heard. Maybe a little more controversy will be heard underground too
Matt, Stephen was kicked out because they were worries about a a bad review thatis all. He has a tough reputation but his reviews are fair. The digging has begun. And more will follow…
Andrew, you are right there is a smell and hopefully its source will be found.
Fifteen in London didn’t have a problem with Fay Maschler or AA Gill doing reviews when it first opened. Perhaps they fear Stephen Downes more…
Adrian, perhaps they do fear Stephen more. I do recall AA Gill being thrown out by by Marco Pierre White for wearing bicycle clips. A Gill is more enterainment tha serious reviewing. fay i think is quite scary.
Grammar Police, sorry you were consigned to my junk. I can’t imagine why. Look at the bigger picture with this story. I do make 100% of my money from freelance writing and am quite aware of the rules. What you need to realise that a blog isn’t a newspaper with a brigade of subtors. I snatch a few minutes here and there to post and to get the stories up. No surprise thatsometimes in the rush that my proof reading sucks. You’ll find plenty of other typos etc in my other 398 entries.
Tim, there are plenty of other people helping out disanvataged kids through kitchen but they don’t have a TV show as free advertising. they also are not lining their pockets. The objection is not to the concept but the lack of transparncy. hence, I ask these questions. And as a disclosure, as a journalist, i may just make a little money out of it along the way. I can’t help that. its my job.
I do wonder if there will be a series two. tmorrow I’ll check out the ratings.
Really interesting questions and comments Ed. I’ll be fascinated to see where this takes you and what you find. And while 15 certainly gives some people a break and they benefit from it by launching a career, there are also those whose hopes are dashed, and those who merely through the process they are subjected to are exploited by the TV show. So there are some ethical questions there to be explored. I think not letting Downes in is a gross mistake. If the review is bad, they need to address the problems. One bad review from Downes will not empty the booking ledger. And I don’t give a toss about your typos.
Yeah, you’re right Ed. I saw the show for the first time last night when I switched over after Inspector Rex. I couldn’t believe there were two ads during one break that used the kids to promote different sponsors. I wonder if the kids get royalties? More likely it’s part of the contract they sign.