The Barn Cafe, Headland Park, Mosman NSW, is surrounded by so many stories it is hard to know where to start. Tucked inside the beautiful grounds of a magnificent restoration and conversion of one of Australia's oldest military bases it is a classic case of how location is everything.

Once a strategic vantage point for the defence of Sydney Harbour and Sydney Heads, Headland Park, located on Sydney's Middle Head, has spectacular main harbour and coastal views in all directions and offers a unique mix of business, art and community facilities.

Housed in the former All Ranks Club built in 1939 The Barn Cafe is on the edge of a cluster of converted barracks now occupied by a branch of the Julian Ashton Art School and artists' studios. Above are more military buildings converted into a campus style business park.

The Barn Cafe was established by trained chef and food service entrepreneur Brendan Millett (pictured above) and his business partner in 2007 in the first stage of the site's redevelopment by Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.

"Our chefs create a daily menu for both breakfast and lunch with a focus on fresh, seasonal dishes" says Brendan Millett. "We serve Italian-roasted Illy coffee and Australia's best teas from T2, as well as smoothies, organic juices and an excellent range of wines and beers.

"We're open seven days a week from 8am to 4pm but closed on public holidays. We have a small space in a great location with potential for entertainment activities such as twilight concerts in the warmer months."

After 30 years in the food service industry in one form or another, including his days as a chef in Melbourne restaurants, Brendan Millett remains an excitable visionary albeit a practical one with the insights and hard lessons of decades of experience.

"The things I like about the industry? Customer contact definitely. I like the involvement with my staff. You have got to have a good chef, you have to have good waitstaff who like being involved with people.

"In the old days chefs were never seen. Now hospitality and open kitchens are so important, everybody is out there. Back of house staff have to relate to customers and each other and work as a team, it is very important for everybody to get involved.

"The Clorox Commercial food preparation and cleaning products are also very much part of my approach to food service because everything you do ends up relating back to the final product that the customer sees, ultimately the customer is king.

"I have been using products such as CHUX Wipes, OSO Food Wrap and GLAD Bake in my operations for more than 15 years because they are dependable.

"If we can't clean properly obviously we can't present the product properly. If the cling wrap doesn't keep the food fresh then we have product deterioration. Clorox Commercial products ensure we have a reliable food chain and this is obviously a big benefit to us.

"I have always used CHUX Wipes because they are durable, stronger and last longer. I have also used them in commercial catering, and anywhere that deals with HACCP related issues CHUX colour-coded cloths are essential.

"OSO Food Wrap is another product we know well, it is tough and durable, it is what we need. GLAD Bake was developed for food service, it was introduced to us many years ago. Reliable distribution is also very important to us.

"We have to maintain hygienic conditions for our staff and customers and because we know Clorox Commercial products work we rely on them to help us keep our kitchens and eating areas clean with the additional and very practical benefit of helping us abide by health regulations.

"Clorox Commercial products are sustainable for us because of their performance and price which is an important factor in itself because in food service we are always trying to keep margins running tight."

The Barn Cafe, Headland Park, Mosman NSW
www.thebarncafe.com.au
phone 02 99682923