Sam’s passion for food started in his mother’s kitchen in the north of Lebanon and evolved into a successful career managing cafes, catering, functions and consulting.

He is driven by a love of good quality cuisine that brings joy to his customers, and families together. Everything produced by Grounds Keeper must pass Sam’s test – if he would proudly serve it to his family, he will share it with his customers.

Sam creates spaces and cuisine for all tastes. He draws inspiration from his Lebanese background to serve home-style classics, and has experience creating fine feasts, grazing tables and desserts to celebrate any occasion.

Chef Sam Hayek launched his hospitality career in 2007 with a deli dedicated to his son, Jacob. Jacob’s Delicious Deli Cafe saw Sam master the art of coffee under the guidance of Gabriel coffee founder, Sam Gabrielian. During his time at the helm of the deli, he also expanded his knowledge of quality ingredients and built contacts with their suppliers.

In 2010, Sam’s passion for sharing food his led him to expand into the café scene by opening Hangry in Rozelle. Hangry saw Sam to experiment with the flavours of his childhood to develop his modern take on Middle Eastern cuisine and his signature cooking style. The café flourished, backed by Sam’s passion for quality, service and attention to detail and two years later, he sold Hangry to open Grounds Keeper Cafe.

The first Grounds Keeper Cafe was opened in 2013 in Ryde out of a love for hidden gems and rapidly became a buzzing hotspot. Today, Grounds Keeper café is tucked away in Blacktown’s Francis Park, and draws in locals seeking the perfect cup of coffee paired with memorable dishes. Sam feeds his customers the way he feeds his three boys, using premium and flavorsome ingredients.

He operates on the principle that if he would not use an ingredient in his own cooking for his family, he would not serve it to customers.

The Grounds Keeper brand has blossomed, and now offers functions and catering to suit all milestones, celebrations, meetings and events.

Chef Sam Hayek also harnesses his experience and contacts to provide consulting for cafes, from the design and build right through to the menu and operations. At the core of everything he does is his belief in absolute quality, paired with his business acumen.

​Sam’s specialty is transforming an empty space into a thriving, profitable hub.