Finnish-born Pasi Petanen arrived in Australia in 1999.

He built his name working alongside Mark Best, as head chef of fine diner Marque.

In 2013 Pasi opened a two-year-long pop-up in Riley Street on the old Café Pacifico site, blocking out the final letters of the old sign to create Café Paci. He was awarded a Good Food Guide chef’s hat and the accolade of Chef of the Year before closing in late 2015.

Next came short-lived pop-ups, events and time in friends kitchens at various spots around town, including Lankan Filling Station, while searching for a permanent Café Paci home. In late 2019 he found it at the eastern end of King St, Newtown, where he’s delighting locals and food lovers from across the city with casual dishes that have a little Pasi twist, such as gnocchi with an XO sauce made from smoked trout and a ham and pineapple riff that makes the combination completely respectable!

Visit Café Paci for more information