Hats off as Pavoni departs troubled city Westfield

Two hatted chefs gone, one left. That’s the depressing form guide at Westfield Sydney, where twin-toqued Italian chef Alessandro Pavoni has joined Justin North as another casualty at the shiny central business district shopping centre.

Pavoni opened Spiedo in 2010 at the then freshly redeveloped Westfield, rebranding it six months ago as Pizza Six in a last-ditch effort to reboot it with a more accessible offering. It didn’t work. Last week the chef handed back the keys.

‘‘I’ve come to an agreement with Westfield,’’ Pavoni tells Fairfax. ‘‘I don’t have time for it and haven’t been in the kitchen there. I want to put all my effort into [his two-hat restaurant] Ormeggio at The Spit.’’

No word yet on a newoperator taking the site, but Pavoni’s departure is a worrying trend. Westfield lured some top-shelf Sydney cooking talent for the redevelopment. Former Perama chef David Tsirekas continues to fly the flag at Xanthi, its presence now a must for the centre’s dining credentials.

The team at Aria was close to taking the rooftop space to open a bar but pulled out of the deal.

Scott Bolles' Short Black column is published in Good Food on Tuesdays.