Delia spicing things up

One of Shane Delia's tattoos carries the family motto, ''fortis et hospitalis'' or ''strength and hospitality'', and it seems his latest business venture - a national partnership with catering powerhouse Peter Rowland - backs that up. The owner-chef of city restaurant Maha (named after his wife) will pair up with Peter Rowland Catering to establish a new arm of the 50-year-old company, called Rowland by Shane Delia.

Espresso spoke to Delia by phone in Trabzon, Turkey, where he is filming episodes of his SBS TV series Spice Journey. ''I've been friends with the guys at Rowland's for a long time and this is a very exciting collaboration,'' he says.

John Isherwood, Rowland chief executive, says the pair had chatted socially about ''how good it would be to have a high-profile chef work with us on a more permanent basis''. The chef and caterer will create a team to work just for Delia and offer ''bespoke functions from five to 5000'', Delia says.

Rowland by Shane Delia will launch in the Peter Rowland Birdcage marquee at Flemington during Spring Racing Carnival and will be dishing up Delia to the public by January 2014.