By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
SINCE its premiere on Channel Nine show Hotplate, Wings and Fins head chef Lauren Klavins has hired another chef, a kitchen hand and two apprentices to keep up with the growing demand.
The bold, friendly, hard-working and down to earth owner of the freshly famous Wings and Fins seafood restaurant in Tooradin, Nola DeLorenzo, has heart and a restaurant full of people.
A former bank manager turned restaurateur, Nola has taught herself everything she knows about crayfish and now it’s paying off big-time.
“I received 74 text messages on my phone after the first ad aired on TV,” Nola said of the experience.
Among the flashing cameras, journalists, interviews and sudden reality television fame, the friends have remained honest and true to themselves.
“I had the restaurant running the whole time we were filming – the phone rings off the hook after every episode and we are nearly booked out every weekend – we’re about good, honest, simple seafood.
“I’ve stuck to my guns and won’t change what works – Lozz and I have taken on board what the judges have said but kept our menu mostly the same,” Nola said.
Now a recognisable face around Australia, Nola poses for selfies with fans at the door, pours drinks, takes orders and stands by her every word.
“We’re going to have our lovers and our haters but I’m not going to read social media, I don’t need to read it and we were happy to wear the judge’s comments on our table settings,” she said.
Since the upgrade to the tired old decor made possible by the show, diners can look forward to a cosy seat in a shabby chic, beachy surround with a pastel colour … palette.
“No longer are people seated with paper tablecloths – we’ve learnt a lot from the show,” Nola admitted.
A Tooradin local of 12 years, Nola is excited to see what the fame will do for the town.
“I’ve had an amazing response which is great for the whole area,” she said.
Bursting at the seams at 12pm on Friday 14 August and impressing cityslicker journalists from Melbourne’s daily newspapers and radio stations, Lozz and Nols prove crayfish done how Tooradin likes it, is a crayfish done just right.
Lozz and Nols are still waiting to find out who wins the $100,000 pay cheque.
