The chef, the publican and the Bondi waterfront deal

My Kitchen Rules judge Pete Evans and publican Fraser Short have teamed up in the hope of serving the food at Bondi's newest waterfront venue.

The massive redevelopment of the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club is under way and Short confirmed the chatter on the Bondi boardwalk that he and celebrity chef Evans have made a play to be the in-house caterer at the venue.

''The building will be finished in the next four months and, yes, we're in the tender process,'' Short says.

''Pete and I are a good team and he has a massive following in Bondi.''

Evans and Short face strong competition, but at least one high-profile rival has pulled out of the race. A spokesman for the catering arm of Aria restaurant has confirmed it will not proceed because there are ''too many restrictions''.

Short, who recently added a share in the Watsons Bay Hotel to his portfolio, marvels that the slick Bondi lifesaving club has progressed so quickly.

''Things are so expensive to build and getting everyone to agree to change is difficult,'' he says.

''It's a real credit to the members of that club to get so far.''