{{short description|Australian chef, restaurateur and author (born 1975)}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
'''Scott Hallsworth''' (born 12 July 1975) is an Australian chef, restaurateur and author.
Hallsworth owns and is executive chef of restaurants in London. Hallsworth founded and ran three Kurobuta restaurants located in the city's Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Marble Arch areas until May 2017.
Hallsworth's flagship Japanese izakaya was in Kurobuta Marble Arch. The original incarnation of Kurobuta London was located in Chelsea. In November 2015, Hallsworth opened his third Kurobuta, on the fifth floor of Harvey Nichols's Knightsbridge location.<ref>[https://www.thecaterer.com/articles/360179/scott-hallsworth-to-open-kurobuta-residency-in-harvey-nichols Scott Hallsworth to open Kurobuta residency in Harvey Nichols] The Caterer, August 28, 2015</ref>
In March 2015, Hallsworth opened Joe's Oriental Diner on the site of the original Kurobuta Chelsea pop-up at 251 King's Road, Chelsea.
Hallsworth opened Kurochan at the Mandarin Oriental in Bodrum, Turkey, in the summer of 2014.
In 2015, he has been forced to turn off Kurobuta's neon signs saying “prostitutes available” and “sluts” in Japanese after angering women's rights campaigners and local Japanese journalists.<ref>[https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/kurobuta-chef-to-remove-sleazy-signs-after-feminist-protests-a3086401.html Kurobuta chef to remove 'sleazy' signs saying 'prostitutes available' after feminist protests] The Standard, 9 October 2015</ref><ref>[http://withne.ws/200eHCf 高級住宅街に「売春婦あります」看板 「日本を侮辱」猛抗議で撤去へ] Withnews, 2015年10月23日</ref>
Hallsworth sold his Kurobuta restaurant group in June 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/People/Freak-Scene-Japanese-restaurant-London|title=Scott Hallsworth sells Kurobuta and launches new pop-up |newspaper=www.bighospitality.co.uk |date= July 24, 2017 |author= Sophie Witts |accessdate= July 28, 2017}}</ref>
In July 2017 Hallsworth opened his pan-Asian Freakscene pop-up restaurant concept<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2017/07/freak-scene-scott-hallsworth-launches-pan-asian-popup-farringdon/|title=Freak scene: Scott Hallsworth launches pan-asian popup in Farringdon |newspaper=www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com |date= 25 July 2017|author= |accessdate= July 28, 2017}}</ref> in Clerkenwell.
In March 2018 Hallsworth opened a permanent Freakscene restaurant in London's West End at 54 Frith Street<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2018/03/21/Scott-Hallsworth-to-open-permanent-Freak-Scene-in-Soho|title=Scott Hallsworth to open permanent Freak Scene in Soho |newspaper=www.bighospitality.co.uk |date= 21 March 2018|author= |accessdate= March 21, 2018}}</ref> in Soho.
In March 2023 Hallsworth opened a permanent Freak Scene restaurant in partnership with the Australian comedian, radio and television presenter Adam Hills, in the Parsons Green area of London's Fulham at 28 Parsons Green Lane<ref>{{cite web |url=https://london.eater.com/2023/1/11/23550164/adam-hills-last-leg-london-restaurant-freak-scene-scott-hallsworth |title='Last Leg' Comedian Adam Hills Is Getting Into the London Restaurant Business. He's backing Scott Hallsworth's latest revival of Freak Scene, in Parsons Green |last=Hansen |first=James |author-link=James Hansen |publisher=Vox Media |date=January 23, 2023 |website=Eater London |access-date=January 11, 2023}} </ref> in Parsons Green.
In January 2024 Hallsworth opened a second, permanent Freak Scene restaurant in partnership with Hills, in the Balham area of London at 1, Ramsden Road, Balham, SW12 8QZ.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/restaurants/london-restaurants-opening-january-juno-josephine-ben-mccormack-b1128489.html |title='From Balham to Baker Street, London Bridge to Notting Hill, Ben McCormack has the hottest restaurant launches in January|last=McCormack |first=Ben |author-link=Ben McCormack |publisher=The Evening Standard|date=January 1, 2024 |website=Standard |access-date=January 1, 2024}} </ref>
== Early life == Hallsworth was born and raised in Collie, Western Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bunburymail.com.au/story/1689129/collie-chef-feeds-the-famous/Elysia/ |title=Collie chef feeds the famous |newspaper=Bunburymail.com |date= |author= |accessdate= June 6, 2016}}</ref> As a teenager he was an avid cross country runner and twice raced at national events, where his highest placing was 6th. He also competed at state level track and field events and won silver medals for both 800m and 1500m events. Influenced by his brothers Craig and Gary,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/10873141/Soul-Food-Scott-Hallsworth-on-champagne-barbecues.html |title=Soul Food: Scott Hallsworth on champagne barbecues |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=June 6, 2014 |author=Scott Hallsworth |accessdate= June 6, 2016}}</ref> who were in Perth-based bands in the 1980s The Bamboos and Healers, Hallsworth formed several small garage bands while in high school.
== Career == Hallsworth left high school when he was 16 to take up an offer of an apprenticeship with ex-La Gavroche sous chef Alain Doisneau.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://foodservicegateway.com.au/archives/9547 |title=Foodservice Gateway » Aussie chef's Japanese cuisine spawns London success |newspaper=Foodservicegateway.com |date= |author= |accessdate= June 6, 2016}}</ref> As an apprentice, Hallsworth went on to compete in cooking competitions, during which his achievements included a Gold medal 3rd year apprentice at the Western Australian state competition which lead to inclusion on the Western Australian State cooking team. At national level, Hallsworth won Gold for his pastry and a Bronze award for his buffet work.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.austculinary.com.au/teams/australian-culinary-team |title=Australian Culinary Team |work=austculinary.com.au |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307212726/http://www.austculinary.com.au/teams/australian-culinary-team |archivedate=7 March 2013 }}</ref>
Post-apprenticeship, Hallsworth moved to Perth where he worked for the Hyatt Hotel<ref>{{cite web |url=http://london.tastefestivals.com/chef/scott-hallsworth/ |title=Scott Hallsworth - Taste UK |newspaper=London.tastefestivals.com |date= |author= |accessdate= June 6, 2016}}</ref> and the popular 44 King Street Brasserie. Following a 6-week road trip around Australia, Hallsworth decided to stay and work at Hayman Island Resort, situated on the Great Barrier Reef in North Queensland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foodandfun.is/chefs-2013/scott-hallsworth-2 |title=Food and Fun - Scott Hallsworth | work=foodandfun.is |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302091656/http://www.foodandfun.is/chefs-2013/scott-hallsworth-2 |archivedate=2 March 2013 |accessdate= June 6, 2016}}</ref>
Hallsworth joined Nobu London in 2001 as a chef de partie.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hardens.com/uk-london/03-05-2014/interview-scott-hallsworth/ |title=Interview: Scott Hallsworth |newspaper=Hardens.com |date=May 3, 2014 |accessdate= June 6, 2016}}</ref> Hallsworth spent six years at the Michelin starred Park Lane address where he became head chef.
In 2007, Hallsworth moved to Melbourne, Australia to work on the opening of Nobu Melbourne. The following year, in 2008, Hallsworth moved to Dubai to help open Mirai restaurant.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Grove|first1=Peter|title=Chef Scott Hallsworth|url=http://www.resthof.co.uk/scotthallsworth.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730004416/http://www.resthof.co.uk/scotthallsworth.htm |archivedate=30 July 2014 |accessdate=June 6, 2016}}</ref> In 2009, Hallsworth opened his third restaurant in three years, Wabi<ref>{{cite web|title=Collie chef feeds the famous|date=7 August 2013 |url=http://www.bunburymail.com.au/story/1689129/collie-chef-feeds-the-famous/}}</ref> in Horsham, West Sussex. In 2012, Hallsworth oversaw the opening of Wabi London.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/articles/348890/wabi-london-administration-exposes-bitter-dispute-between-partners#sthash.HF9ZCifn.dpuf |title=Catering & Hospitality News |newspaper=thecaterer.com |date=June 17, 2013 |author=Neil Gerrard |accessdate= June 6, 2016}}</ref>
In 2013, Hallsworth created, devised and opened the Kurobuta concept.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultravie.co.uk/blog/2013/07/23/kurobuta-london-traditional-japanese-cuisine/ |title=Kurobuta London |newspaper=UltraVie |date=July 23, 2013 |author=Robert Westacott|accessdate=June 6, 2016}}</ref>
==Books and media== A book by Hallsworth, ''The Japanese Foie Gras Project'', was published in 2007, and contains a foreword by Nobuyuki Matsuhisa.<ref>{{cite book | title=The Japanese Foie Gras Project | publisher=Jepsen & Co | author=Hallsworth, Scott | year=2007 | pages=173 | isbn=978-8791770432}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/article/20090810/ARTICLE/308109927/1057 |title=In the city: Great Scott! |newspaper=Khaleej Times |date=August 10, 2009 |author=Adam Zacharias |accessdate= June 6, 2016}}</ref>
Hallsworth's barbecue pork belly in steamed buns with spicy peanut soy appeared on Channel 4 cooking programme ''The Sunday Brunch'' with Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer on 11 May 2014.
Giles Coren reviewed Kurobuta in ''The Times'' on 7 June 2014, and awarded the restaurant nine out of ten for food.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/london-travel/giles-coren-reviews-kurobuta-london-zk9k0r2gvzg |title=Giles Coren reviews Kurobuta, London |newspaper=The Times |date=June 7, 2014 |author=Giles Coren |access-date= June 6, 2016}}</ref>
A book by Hallsworth, ''Junk Food Japan'', was published in 2017, and contains specially commissioned photography by David Loftus.<ref>{{cite book | title=Junk Food Japan | publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing | author=Hallsworth, Scott | year=2017 | pages=272 | isbn=9781-472-919-922}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/articles/501928/book-review-junk-food-japan-addictive-food-from-kurobuta |title=Book review – Junk Food Japan: Addictive Food from Kurobuta |newspaper=The Caterer |date=May 5, 2017 |author=Andy Lynes |accessdate= July 17, 2017}}</ref>
== Awards == On 10 October 2014, Hallsworth was awarded two AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence, 2014–2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaa.com/restaurants/london-kurobuta-3793348 |title=Kurobuta - Restaurant - London w2 - The AA |newspaper=Theaa.com |date= |author= |accessdate= June 6, 2016}}</ref>
On 7 April 2015, Hallsworth's Kurobuta restaurant was awarded the BMW Square Meal Award for Best New Restaurant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/news/kurobuta-wins-best-new-restaurant |title=Kurobuta wins Best New Restaurant |newspaper=Squaremeal.co.uk |date=April 7, 2015 |author=Ben McCormack |accessdate= June 6, 2016}}</ref>
== Personal life == Hallsworth loves to cook at home and will barbecue in any weather.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/10873141/Soul-Food-Scott-Hallsworth-on-champagne-barbecues.html |title=Soul Food: Scott Hallsworth on champagne barbecues |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date= June 6, 2014 |author=Scott Hallsworth |accessdate= June 6, 2016}}</ref> He has three children. He likes to mountain bike, play guitar, snowboard and travel.
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * [http://www.scotthallsworth.com Scott Hallsworth] * [https://twitter.com/scotthallsworth Scott Hallsworth Twitter] * [https://www.facebook.com/pg/ChefScottHallsworth Scott Hallsworth Facebook] * [https://www.freakscenerestaurants.com/ Freak Scene Restaurants] * [https://twitter.com/freakscene Freak Scene Twitter] * [https://www.instagram.com/freaksceneldn/ Freak Scene Instagram] * [https://www.instagram.com/freaksceneSW6/ Freak Scene Parsons Green Instagram]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hallsworth, Scott}} Category:Living people Category:1975 births Category:Australian television chefs Category:People from Collie, Western Australia Category:Australian emigrants to England