Former 3 Weeds chef Darrell Felstead steps away from Rozelle's Cat and Fiddle Hotel

Over in Rozelle the news isn't good for Darrell Felstead at the redeveloped Cat and Fiddle Hotel and its recently opened Rita's eatery.

"I'm not there any longer. It didn't work out," the chef told Good Food.

Felstead, who steered hatted restaurants in the city before opening his own gastro-temple, Foveaux, had been in the kitchen at Rozelle's 3 Weeds before Merivale snapping it up last year.

With Merivale's plans for a branch of Totti's at the 3 Weeds pushed back, Felstead stole a march on his old digs with the opening of Rita's in December.

The chef never produces a boring menu, and Rita's was no exception with pork liver parfait matched with blood orange powder, zucchini flower-topped pizza, spag bol served with udon noodles and a kids' menu with beef brisket, sweet corn and smoked tomato sauce.

Felstead side-stepped talk of creative differences, focusing on the future. "I'm back on the market," he says.