“That’s what it has to be about. It
was also a big motivator for us, to do
things differently and go against what
most people in Perth typically do when
they have a seascape or a landscape...
trade off the view and forget about the
basics of brilliant food and service. I think
only a few places on the coast have a
culinary agenda like us.”
Kailis’ time on the water as a young
surfer and his dream of opening his own
venues is built on firm ancestral ties to
food. In Western Australia, the Kailis name
is synonymous with seafood (okay, pearls,
too). George’s grandfather began hisbusiness after landing from the Greek
Island of Kastellorizo. He started out selling
fish door-to-door from a wheelbarrow,
before moving on to a motorbike and
sidecar, and the establishment of G.P. Kailis
& Sons in 1928. Various wholesale and
retail seafood operations flourished,
expanding across the city (and country),
and George followed his father, Victor, into
the family business.
“All through school I was sweeping out
fish guts (at Fremantle’s Kailis’ Fish Market
Café), but then I went off and travelled,”
says Kailis.
He’s humble, especially given his travels
came from being a state champion surfer
who’d often compete against surf legend
Taj Burrow. Burrow would go on to twice
become runner-up on the international pro
tour, while Kailis landed in New York as an
in-demand male model.
“I was 19 or 20. It was a great
opportunity to see the world, but
[modelling] was never something I
thoroughly enjoyed – standing around
posing in my jocks wasn’t really for me.”
So it was back to Perth and back to the
family business. However, George saw
more than just seafood. A pizza slice joint
in the CBD followed – “Perth had no idea
about real pizza back then” – so too theIsland Market sits on
prime oceanfront; (left)
The Shorehouse enjoys
an enviable spot at
Swanbourne Beach.FROM TOP: Island
Market is lighting the
way; its roasted
pineapple dessert;
Kailis’ Fish Market Café
in Fremantle; pastel
hues at Island Market.
“I THINK ONLY A FEW
PLACES ON THE COAST
HAVE A CULINARYAGENDA LIKE US.”
delicious.com.au 143LOCAL TRAVEL.