Summer Sizzle
Saturday, 31 January 2026
How to win Summer with fish and chips
Featuring:
Viren Rana: The Stunned Mullet, Henley Beach, Adelaide SA
Nothing says summer like fish and chips on the beach. And with over 85% of Aussies living within 50km of the coast, it’s safe to say the fish and chip shops lining our beaches will do a roaring trade this summer. So what are the secrets to turning your place into a go-to for both locals and holidaymakers?
InSeason turned to Viren Rana, owner of The Stunned Mullet on Adelaide’s Henley Beach, which has been serving award-winning fish and chips for over 20 years.
Big shoes to fill
Viren and his wife Bhoomi purchased the business from its founders Dino and Amanda Papadopoulos just one year ago. Since then they have won over the business’ regulars and maintained its reputation as an iconic fish and chip destination, even serving Premier Peter Malinauskas and his family in November.
“The previous owners did a tremendous job,” says Viren. “For 20 years they served the same top quality food to their customers, and everybody was like, you’ve got some big shoes to fill!”
Attention to quality and consistency
For both Dino and Viren, it was important that the legacy continued. “The secret to our success is that I kept everything the same,” explains Viren. “The former owners stayed with me for one and a half months, showing us their routines and introducing me to their suppliers.”
Viren says The Stunned Mullet is known for its fresh fish, attention to gluten free products and great chips. To maintain this reputation, he kept on all the same suppliers and ensured the seafood was fresh every day.
“We also make a lot of things from scratch, like our burger patties, I think that also makes us stand out,” he says. “I really focused on learning their routines, like allowing enough time to prep, so I could consistently replicate each menu item.”
We also make a lot of things from scratch, like our burger patties, I think that also makes us stand out.
Fresh and local
To ensure quality and value for money, Viren works closely with his seafood suppliers and prefers to order fish caught close to home.
“We usually have eight varieties of fish, and our biggest sellers are local ones like garfish, whiting and flathead. Visitors to the area ask us about local fish and want to try them.
“Our fish is fresh every day, and I keep close to our suppliers to make sure I order the right amount,” Viren adds. Having the consistent supply chain is crucial.”
The perfect chip
Viren admits the one thing he changed slightly was the chip cooking method, in line with his previous business. “Some of the customers say the chips are better now than before, which I take as a huge compliment.”
Although Viren keeps his magic chip formula close to his chest, he does say that attention to oil cooking temperature is a big factor. “I keep it to around 170 degrees, if it’s below that the food will be oily, but if it is too high it will burn.”
He also changes the oil frequently, every day when it is busy in summer. He uses premium quality oil and ensures chips are not fried in the same oil as seafood or battered products. In addition to preventing cross-contamination of gluten, he finds the oil used for frying seafood needs to be changed more often than the oil for chips.
Some of the customers say the chips are better now than before, which I take as a huge compliment.
Facts about frying
The experts at Goodman Fielder agree with Viren’s approach. Their five top tips are:
1) Choose the right oil – whether it’s vegetable, sunflower, cottonseed, canola or a blend, all have different smoke points and frying life. Talk to your distributor about the best oils to use for your menu.
2) Cook at the right temperature – the ideal temperature will vary depending on the type of oil you are using.
3) Service your fryer regularly – this will save money in the long run.
4) Filter and top up your oil – skimming and filtering daily can extend its life, and your fryer cooks more efficiently if oil is always at optimum level.
5) Recycle your used oil – your waste oil may be worth good money to an oil management and processing company. If your business goes through a significant volume of oil, it’s worth finding out whether someone will pay you to take the old stuff away.
Kitchen talent
Viren always allows time for staff to learn his systems back and front of house, and he pays particular attention to training with the kitchen equipment. “We tend to hire people with some experience, but I train them to follow my way of doing things.”
One of the challenges for a seasonal business is finding and training staff for the busy summer period. “Staff turnover in this industry is high, so we take care of our team and in turn they care about our customers,” he says.
Staff turnover in this industry is high, so we take care of our team and in turn they care about our customers.
Ready for a bumper summer
Throughout 2025 South Australia was affected by a harmful algal bloom, however by December Adelaide’s beaches were safe with low or no traces of algae. Viren says he and Bhoomi are looking forward to seeing people back on the beaches and enjoying the summer.
“It is fantastic to see people on the beach again, it is only our second summer season, so we are very excited.”
Viren adds that he loves being part of the Henley Beach community, with The Stunned Mullet being a focal point for gathering and catering for family events. “The whole community has been so supportive, and their positive word of mouth is a big driver for us.”
No doubt the locals appreciate Viren and Bhoomi’s laser focus on respecting the heritage of their favourite fish and chip shop, and ensuring the quality and freshness is paramount.
“Summer is the craziest and most rewarding time of the year for us, so if the customers are happy then we are happy!”
Check out the range of frying oils from Goodman Fielder, and talk to your distributor about the right one for your kitchen.
Crisco Canola is non-genetically modified and has a neutral taste, light texture, high smoke point, and excellent nutritional profile with low saturated fat.
ETA Cottonseed Oil is a high performance frying oil that gives a clear, crisp taste. It is known for its very high smoke point and long frying life.
ETA Sal-Fry is a non-genetically modified blend of vegetable oils, with twice the frying life of canola oil. It is a popular multipurpose oil for any kind of frying.
Cottonseed Oil
20L
Using sustainable and compliant packaging is crucial for all takeaways and QSRs, Envirochoice has your back with a wide range of packaging to keep quality high and minimise the impact of waste.
Kraft PLA Lined Heavy Board boxes are fully renewable, suitable for hot and cold foods, and can be put into a commercial composter.
Natural Fibre takeaway containers made from sugarcane are sturdy, leak-proof, and microwave-safe.
Super Flute recyclable boxes and containers in all shapes and sizes are made from corrugated board and suitable for hot and cold foods.
Natural Fibre Takeaway Container
500 x 650ml
Featured Products
Apple Cider Vinegar
6 x 2L
1000ml Natural Fibre Rectangle White Container
500
Malt Vinegar
6 x 2L
120L Garbage Bags Heavy Duty
250
White Vinegar
6 x 2L
1oz Natural Fibre White Round Portion Cup
1500
Oil Canola
20L
240L Heavy Duty Garbage Bags
100
Barbecue Sauce Ezygrip
2 x 4kg
250ml Natural Fibre Square Container
500
Cottonseed Oil
20L
255mm Natural Fibre Round Plate
500
Mayonnaise
21kg
370ml Nature Fibre Rectangle Container
500
Mayonnaise Ezygrip
2 x 3.5kg
750ml Natural Fibre Rectangle White Container
500
Blended Vegetable Oil
15L
75-80L Heavy Duty Garbage Bags
250
Blended Vegetable Oil
20L
All Purpose Catering Foil
6
Heavy Duty Deep Frying Solid Oil
12.5kg
Extra Strength Cling Wrap
6
Catering Spread
2 x 5kg
Handy Bake
4
Margarine Spread
10kg
Heavy Duty Blue Wipes On A Roll
4
Margarine Spread
12 x 1kg
Sandwich Wedge Large
500
Canola Cooking Oil Spray
12 x 450g
Slim fold Paper Towel
20 x 200
Garlic Bread
48 x 88g
White Paper Towel Perforated
4
Garlic Bread Slices
168 x 28g
1 Ply Kraft Compact D Fold Dispenser Napkin
20 x 250
Margarine Spread
12 x 1kg
1 Ply Kraft Tall E Fold Dispenser Napkin
5000
Original Spread
2 x 3.5kg
1000mL Container Rectangular Paperboard PLA Lined Kraft
300
Original Spread
2 x 5kg
100mL Container Round Sauce PLA Lined Paperboard Kraft
1000
