Chefs on the move as new year shuffle begins

The Sydney chef shuffle has started the year on simmer, with some notable early movement in the city's kitchens.

James Kidman, a veteran with the National Gallery and head chef at Otto Ristorante on his CV, has departed mega Circular Quay venue Cafe Sydney.

"I"ve been there seven-and-a-half-years," he says. "I've loved it but it felt like a good time to move on. From a kitchen perspective, there was a really solid team. Sarahjane​ Brown [ex-Le Gavroche, London] has stepped up as executive chef. She's excellent, she's got it all," Kidman says.

Last year Kidman knocked back an approach to front a new venture. He says he wants to take a few months off to think about his next move.

"I want to try a few different things. When you are working those long hours, you don't have an opportunity to give it much thought," he says.

Also on the move is chef Tomohiro Marshall Oguro, who was head chef at Bay Nine Omakase, which opened at The Rocks just before Christmas.

Oguro couldn't be reached for comment, but a spokeswoman for the restaurant – which charges $195 for an 11-course omakase menu – confirmed his departure. Chefs Yul Kim and Maria Sheslow, part of the launch team at Bay Nine Omakase, will fulfil his role "for the foreseeable future".

And chef Colin Fassnidge's consultancy role with the Terminus Pyrmont Hotel has ended. The television host's nearly four-year relationship with the restored hotel concluded at the end of January.