This month, we welcomed Nelly Vignes to Whaleback as our new Food & Beverage manager. It’s an exciting time for Whaleback, as we are just months away from opening our upgraded F&B facility (pictured below), which will have a real ‘restaurant’ feel and will be a venue that caters for golfers and non-golfers alike.

Nelly, who is originally from France, is a qualified chef and pastry chef with plenty of experience in the catering industry. Her last role was as food and beverage manager at Novotel.

“I’m excited and proud to join the City of Canning and be part of the Whaleback team,” she said “It’s for me an achievement because this place means a lot to me, as I’m living in Parkwood! I have a good feeling that it is for me the beginning of a beautiful story!”

To get to know Nelly a little bit better, we asked her to complete a ‘Quick 9 at Whaleback’:

What is your favourite dish to cook?
I would say that my favourite thing to cook is something I love to eat as well – a nice and creamy coffee éclair.

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever eaten?
I fell in love with a buffalo milk camembert that I ate at a small producer market in the south of France. It was incredibly balanced.

If you could give us amateur chefs one cooking tip, what would it be?
Don’t try to make it complicated, make it simple with good ingredients – less is better.

What are your Top 3 goals for Whaleback over the next 12 months?
1. Building a people-first culture that delivers great service: developing ownership in the whole team to make all players feel proud of what they part of.
2. Establishing Whaleback as a strong local food destination and becoming a recognised local venue.
3. Being approved by Buy West Eat Best to support WA suppliers.

What are some of your hobbies outside of cooking?
I enjoy camping, traveling and stargazing in WA with my husband and daughter.
I paint a lot and will hopefully host my first art exhibition at some point of the year.
I like discovering new food trends and different dishes from different cultures across different restaurants or countries.
I enjoy kayaking in the Canning River.

What is your golfing ability like?
Golf? Well, there’s a first time for everything right?

Which celebrity chef do you think is the best cook?
I would have to say Dominique Crenn (USA), as she is the first woman to obtain three Michelin stars.

What, in your opinion, is the most overrated spice?
It’s a risky opinion, but for me, cinnamon is totally overrated. All the hype, none of the magic!

When the Whaleback F&B building is up and running, what will your signature dish be?
I’ll leave it to the future Head Chef to answer that one, but it will obviously be a hearty and tasty meal. Otherwise, I am also considering introducing homemade ice-cream, just to have the detail that makes the difference!

Welcome to the team, Nelly – we can’t wait to see what you bring to the Whaleback food and beverage experience.

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