Finland's biggest food star opens in Bondi

The launch of Blanca Bar & Dining won't get the TV coverage it might have if it had opened back in Tomi Bjorck's homeland, but this week the Finnish food star will quietly swing open the doors at his new Bondi restaurant. In Finland, Bjorck is like Matt Preston and Justin Hemmes rolled into a pumped, tattooed body; a food judge on television who has opened a group of successful mega restaurants.

Having maintained a financial interest in the Scando food empire, Bjorck explains he had to write six new menus in January.

Blanca's menu got a little special attention, not just because it is his latest venture, but because the 80-seater (one of his smallest) is the chef's current love-child, the restaurant he relocated to Australia to open after falling for Sydney's surfing lifestyle during stints a decade ago at Longrain and Quay restaurants.

"[Blanca head chef] Sam Cole and I wanted to play with Japanese and Asian flavours, mix in a little Mediterranean and bring some European technique," he said.

Bjorck doesn't want to label Blanca's cuisine, preferring to call it "proper food from scratch".

He's a fan of local kingfish, air freighting it to Finland. At Blanca it'll be served with fresh wasabi. The restaurant slides into the Hub development on Hall Street, where China Diner and A Tavola trade. The chef says his relocation to Australia hasn't gone entirely to plan: "With the restaurant opening I haven't had much time to surf."

4/75-79 Hall Street, Bondi Beach, facebook.com/blancabondi

Mon-Thurs, 4pm-late, Fri-Sun, 11am-late.