Lukas Reilly (Lukes Kitchen) - Altbays Table Talk #224

ALTBAYS

Make Pizza, Not War! Luke is the mastermind behind Kuaotunu's famous spot, Luke's Kitchen, where folks queue up for mouthwatering pizzas and grooving to live music over summer. A proud dad of two, Luke is all about riding the waves whenever he can. Catch him on Altbays Table Talk, where we chat about surf, diving, fishing, Luke’s global adventures, the ups and downs of running a small business, and the art of juggling family and work life.

ALTBAYS Table Talk 224 – Lukas Reilly (Lukes Kitchen)

Welcome to the Altbays Table Talk (Feat. Roimata Taimana and Leo Magri)

Situated in the laid back village of Kuaotunu in the Coromandel, Luke’s Kitchen is a rustic seaside restaurant with a café & art gallery adjacent creating a hub for locals, tourists and families.

Lukas started his journey in the stunning Waitaia Bay, a place reachable only by a rugged 4x4 ride. His early months were all about soaking up the beach vibes. Then came the twist - his parents, Christine and Paul, snagged what's now Luke's Kitchen, originally just a garage where they fixed cars and handled WOFs.

Young Lukas ventured through local Steiner Kindy and Te Rerenga Primary School. But at 13, he made a big leap to MBAS to complete his schooling. Classroom smarts weren't his strong suit due to dyslexia, but he found his groove in practical classes like woodwork, graphics, and cooking.

His culinary journey started at 13 when he tackled dishwashing at the Matarangi golf club. By 18, he had risen to become one of the line cooks and chefs. Although university entrance eluded him, Lukas discovered his love for food and cooking, leading to a fast-track cookery course and city and guilds at Polytec Tauranga.

At 19, he made tracks to Queenstown and at 20, Samoa was his destination, initially for work at a fancy resort, but he ended up as a surf and tour guide with a side of cooking.

A year later, Perth beckoned for further culinary skills, where he met his partner Steph and mastered pizza-making from a couple of wild Italians. At 22, Lukas returned to New Zealand and unlocked the doors to what is now Luke's Kitchen.

In between, he'd sneak off to Indonesia for a tropical surf fix. His deep love for the ocean shaped his passion for cooking and sustainability.

Now, almost 14 years on, Luke's Kitchen is a culinary sensation with two amazing kids and a cozy Kuaotunu home.

ALTBAYS Table Talk invites awesome people to have an honest, laid-back conversation. Our platform focuses on bringing communities together and thrive.