Delia has it made with Maha deal

Chef Shane Delia, part-owner of restaurants Maha in the city and St Katherine's on Cotham Road, Kew, with the Made Establishment group has sold his share of the Kew restaurant to the group and bought their shares of Maha to become its sole owner.

Delia said it was “an amicable decision. George [Calombaris, chef and co-director of the group] and I are still best mates”.

Made Establishment, which recently announced it was opening new ventures – including Gazi, where the former Press Club sat, and Jimmy Grants in Fitzroy – have been “amazing to deal with”, Delia said, but he felt he wasn't part of the group's bigger picture.

“I'm an ambitious person and really want to be in control of my own destiny,” he said, referring to his desire to go solo with Maha (named after his wife). Delia opened the restaurant with the group in February 2008.

Delia's new television show is expected on SBS in early May and he said he had “new business partnerships I want to consider”.

Calombaris will continue overseeing St Katherine's and its current head chef, Malcolm Wright, will stay on in the kitchen. The changes will take effect on July 1, the partnership settlement date.