Chef Jesse McTavish surfs into North Bondi Fish

Growing up as the son of legendary surfboard shaper Bob McTavish, chef Jesse McTavish was never far from the coast.

Despite forging his name in the kitchens of Melbourne's Kettle Black and Top Paddock, McTavish has long held ambitions to land at Sydney's Bondi Beach, and it has proved second time lucky for the surfing chef.

Zac Syke's departure from the Solotel-owned North Bondi Fish saw fluctuating odds on who would replace him in the kitchen, and McTavish has beaten the field and landed the post.

Back in 2016 McTavish was in the advanced stages of opening a Bondi restaurant with former Vue de Monde head chef Cory Campbell.

When that project stumbled, Campbell eventually took the head chef gig at Solotel's Barangaroo House. Now McTavish has landed its beachside stablemate. He's a keen forager, so expect to find sea rocket on his opening menu.