Matt Bidner has been looking at a new business venture that his family can embrace, and found it, and much more at the Thai Satay Hut.

Pa and Chris Knight, who are passing the baton onto the Bidner family are sad to leave, but are looking forward to retiring after 25 years in the business.

Matt has been looking for an opportunity to start a family business in hospitality. An opportunity slipped while Matt was unwell, and the Thai Satay Hut became a reality shortly after.

It wasn’t a complicated decision; Matt said, “I walked in here one Monday night to get some dinner, and Chris hit me up, I haven't seen you.” Matt explained his situation, and the reply came back, “ Why doesn't your family look at this? And we did, and here we are.”

Matt says the menu will not change, “The plans are to stay the course, not changing anything. Chef stays everything, everything's the same, except the owners.

Pa is helping them out with the transition this week, and on the three occasions I have been in The Hut, people have been popping in and wishing Pa well for her future and telling her that she will be missed. 

A little shy, Pa was hesitant to comment, saying that her Facebook post said everything she wanted to say. The undercurrent of emotion is tangible.

(Thai Satay Huts farewell Facebook post.)

Matt has been studying the menu, learning about the business and trialling some new culinary tastes. 

“Tuesday was the first time I have ever tried Pad Thai,” Matt thanked Master Chef Boone for his prowess and said, “Delicious is an understatement. I never knew what I was missing out on.”

The family that will be taking on the business is extensive, “All of them - wife, five kids, sisters of wife; they'll all be down here cooking.”

Josie, one of Matt’s daughters, has been at the shop taking it all in and learning a lot, “Boone's pretty good at teaching. It's a big eye-opener, a different culture's food. It's not like hot chips and chicken nuggets, but that's alright. It's interesting.”

It will take some time to get everyone trained up, “We've got a couple with young babies that are sort of still working through timing, so they haven't been in yet. 

“Once we've got a roster done up, and they all know when they're coming and going and when they're all up to speed, I'll step back.”

When Matt got unwell, it gave him a bit of a shock. He doesn’t want to overstep the mark and take on too much, “It's not going to own me like my tilt tray does!”

Pa says they have no plans for the Knight's retirement at this stage. If you want to see Pa before she goes, pop down today and welcome Matt and his family.