After a career working in big city hotels and restaurants, before feeding thousands at Port Kembla Steelworks, chef David Crowley has opened his own eatery.
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The veteran chef, who opened Sea Swell Cafe on George Street in Warilla two weeks ago, grew up in Sydney but spent much of his youth visiting his grandparents' holiday home on Little Lake Crescent.
During those regular trips to Shellharbour, he was taught to surf by 1982 World Surfing Champion Jenny Gill, who just happened to be their neighbour.
Crowley never quite mastered the surfboard but has found another perfect break in the kitchen at Sea Swell Cafe.
When he opened the new eatery on the site previously occupied by Or-Sum Surf Cafe, people kept asking for a Breakfast Long Board.
Crowley quickly realised he needed to master the popular breakfast item and put his own twist on what continues to be a Warilla favourite.
The Sea Swell Long Board is served on a surfboard-shaped board and a 32cm baguette.
"It can be for one hungry person or you can be cut it up and share it," he said.
Another feature of the new cafe is that kids have their own menu to order from because "it makes them feel important".
Mr Crowley started his training as a chef with Travelodge in Sydney. He went on to work at The Boulevarde and Gold Coast International Hotel as well as a number of restaurants, before moving to Wollongong in 2000.
"The company I was working for were doing the cafeterias at the steelworks," he said.
As a single dad he found it hard to work long hours so he went to work in other restaurants, cafes and clubs so he could be with his children during the day.
Chef Crowley then met Elysia Viles and they have become partners in business very near to where his grandparents holiday home was.
"I used to come down here four or five times a year and grew up on Warilla Beach.
"I tried to surf and the one person who tried to teach me was Jenny Gill.
"We lived behind them and there was a gate between the two houses.
"Her brother and I used to muck around together".
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