Celebrity Chefs
Julia Child, Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay, Nigella Lawson… All internationally renowned and inspirational role-models for any budding cook. It takes a lot of hard work, discipline and experience to become a good Chef. It takes a good chef, heavy marketing and a very good publicist to become a Celebrity Chef.
Over the last few years I have noticed a serious change in the commercial cookery and culinary market in Australia. There has always been a solid interest in food, but it would seem through the power of reality television, we have landed ourselves in the middle of a cooking “boom”.
I am a willing victim to this boom and relish in the well stocked cooking stores, book shops and many shows dedicated to cooking on regular TV and Foxtel. With the boom also came the influx of food and wine festivals and expos – the most exciting being the Good Food and Wine Show.
During the first weekend of July, Perth foodies will have the chance to see some fantastic Celebrity Chefs in action in the Celebrity Theatre. With a choice selection of professionals this year, you won’t stop at one show… I know I won’t!
To get you in the mood for some Celebrity Chef viewing, I have some fabulous bios on each of the Chefs attending the show (including the delicious Manu Feildel). Sadly, I wasn’t lucky enough to interview these Culinary Masters, so I will have to thank the Good Food and Wine Show for sharing the love.
Thank you for reading and enjoy the Good Food and Wine Show!
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George Calombaris – Celebrity TV Chef
George Calombaris is one of Australia’s top chefs. His highly influential style of cuisine has earned himmany accolades (at such a young age) and much respect from culinary aficionados in Australia and around the globe.
George has always been fascinated by food. Inspired by his mother and grandmother, two brilliant cooks, George quickly learnt about food and cooking. At the centre of his early learning was his Greek heritage. With its rich and varied cuisine there was no doubt that this would later become George’s trademark.
George’s short career has been full of exciting moments and many accolades and rewards. In October 2006, at the age of 27, George opened his flagship restaurant The Press Club Restaurant and Bar. This began a new era for George and has cemented his place as a culinary star for his Modern Greek Cuisine – never seen before Melbourne; where modern twists to traditional Greek cuisine has put this restaurant on the global map and has diner’s wanting more.
The success of The Press Club has taken George to new heights. In 2007 he was approached by a 5 Star Boutique Hotel in Mykonos, The Belvedere Hotel, to use his much admired Modern Greek Cuisine style in the luxurious surrounds of their hotel. In June 2008 The Belvedere Club was born – a poolside restaurant, sitting opposite the world famous Nobu Restaurant. George plans to take the world by storm!
With 2008 being a successful year for George, he was also fortunate to have launched his (already successful) first Cook Book aptly named ‘The Press Club’ and in February 2008 opened his second restaurant Maha Bar and Grill, a Mediterranean Middle Eastern restaurant with good friend and renowned chef Shane Delia. At its early age Maha is also proving to be one of Melbourne’s ‘hot-spot’ eateries.
It is needless to say that George is constantly pushing the boundaries and is never sitting still!
Matt Moran – Celebrity TV Chef
Matt was raised on a dairy farm at Badgery’s Creek in NSW and it was while living in regional Australia that he developed a commitment to the land and his love for food and local produce. At age 15, Matt finished school to initiate a career as a chef. He commenced his apprenticeship at La Belle Helene Restaurant, Roseville, on Sydney’s North Shore and it was here that Matt discovered and practiced the art of classical French cooking.
December 1999 saw Matt Moran and Peter Sullivan open the doors to ARIA Restaurant. At ARIA, Matt believes that seasonality is an important basis for menu production and one of the most significant ingredients in achieving a flavoursome, balanced and premium quality menu.
In August 2009 Matt and Peter opened a second ARIA restaurant in Brisbane. Located in the Eagle Street Pier precinct, the restaurant has spectacular views of the Brisbane River and the Story Bridge provides a perfect back drop for diners.
While Matt’s main focus is his restaurants he also enjoys sharing his experience and knowledge to the public through the media, be it on television, radio or in print. Matt was part of ‘The Bank’ on Channel 7’s high-rating reality TV program, My Restaurant Rules in 2004 and 2005. The Bank comprised of a panel of four experts in the food game who give advice and input into the creation of each restaurant.
In 2005, ARIA Restaurant and Matt featured prominently in Heat in the Kitchen, an insightful documentary looking at the lives of three Sydney chefs and their restaurants. The documentary followed the restaurants for a year coinciding with results from the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards. The show aired on SBS in Australia and is still broadcast internationally.
In 2008, while still appearing in many news and current affairs programs as an industry icon, he became the resident top chef on Channel 9’s reality cooking show The Chopping Block and in 2009 one of the guest judges of Channel 10’s enormously successful cooking show Masterchef.
Matt appears regularly as a guest chef at The Good Food and Wine Show in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth joining forces with local and international celebrity chefs.
Matt has written two cookbooks – his first one “Matt Moran” showcases some ARIA dishes adapted for the home cook and his second book was released in September 2009, “When I get home” provides Matt’s favourite recipes that he cooks at home for his family and friends.
Tobie Puttock – Celebrity TV Chef – co-presenting with Matt Skinner
Born in Melbourne, Victoria, Tobie trained at Box Hill Institute of TAFE. His love-affair with Italian food began at age 18, when he was working in Melbourne’s acclaimed Caffe e Cucina. This passion flourished as he worked his way across Europe, working eighteen-hour days in Italian-speaking kitchens, occasionally taking time out for snowboarding excursions and the odd long lunch in mountainside trattorias.
In London, Tobie worked at the River Café, widely regarded as that city’s best Italian restaurant, alongside a bevy of high-profile chefs, including Jamie Oliver. Upon returning to Melbourne, and, once again, an Italian kitchen: a place called Termini.
In 2001 a surprise visit from his mate Jamie (now a well-known celebrity chef) and a request to help him on his endeavor with under-privileged London youth, meant Tobie soon found himself back in the UK. By 2002, Tobie had became head chef at Jamie’s Fifteen London, a restaurant venture that teaches disadvantaged young people how to become industry professionals, and that became the subject of a popular TV series. Back in Melbourne, Tobie opened a new Fifteen in 2006, serving Italian food made with the best produce available, prepared with care, imagination and plenty of heart.
Tobie’s cookbook Daily Italian, released in 2006, sticks to the guiding principle of great Italian cuisine: cooking is, if nothing else, an act of love.
Gary Mehigan – Celebrity TV Chef
You would think two thriving restaurants in food obsessed Melbourne would be enough for an accomplished Chef! But not Gary Mehigan, who is expanding his ever-burgeoning TV career. Gary is currently appearing on series two as the Judge & co-host of Channel Ten’s hugely successful MasterChef Australia series. The show has broken ratings records in Australia and is now airing worldwide.
Gary Mehigan was the most watched Chef in Australia in 2009, and has established himself as a natural TV presenter. He is highly regarded for his passion & integrity for Food & Cooking, and the way in which he operates his two successful businesses in Melbourne.
Prior to MCA, Gary already had a budding TV career, with his roles on 9am with David & Kim, Boys Weekend which airs worldwide in over 100 countries and Good Chef, Bad Chef which is now in its second series.
Gary did his apprenticeship and formative years of cooking in London, where being passionate about food was about the only thing that got you through. Not only was it London, but the Connaught and the Souffle, two of the most elite dining rooms in the UK, at the time. You think he would have learnt his lesson by now!
Gary has called Melbourne home since 1991, and has worked at a plethora of venues including the gracious Burnheim Beeches, Brown’s Restaurant, Novotel Melbourne, and Sofitel Melbourne. He has certainly covered a cross-section of Melbourne dining. Gary is continually in demand as a guest chef and consultant, due to his clean, fresh cooking style, as well as his finely honed business skills and salesmanship.
Dominique Rizzo – Celebrity TV Chef
A soul woman chef, Dominique possesses a passion for creative world food, fuelled by her Sicilian heritage and a deep desire to develop innovative cuisine using quality, safe, clean, fresh produce. Dominique has 15 years experience as a Chef, and was Head Chef and business partner in the award winning Mondo Organics restaurant in Brisbane’s West End for seven years, before launching her latest business Pure Food Cooking.
In 2009 Dominique has become the Ambassador for Gourmet Garden Herb range, Rubbermaid Food Storage products and Lindeman’s Early Harvest wines, a testament to her credibility, honesty and hard work. Dominique is proud of her relationship with all three brands, and is looking forward to the year ahead.
Dominique recently filmed a pilot for a new TV series, has her first book due out in 2011 through Penguin/Lantern books, and will continue to appear around Australia and on various TV shows, in her Guest Chef role.
Dominique prides herself on her integrity, professionalism, effectiveness and success in delivering the same high quality product in any given circumstance or situation. Her experience and food flair is again showcased with her particular forte in cooking, customised recipe and menu development for all dietary requirements including specific food allergies, vegan and vegetarian cooking.
Dominique has also presented on Channel Ten’s Ready Steady Cook series and 9am with David & Kim, Lifestyle Food’s Fenton Fires Up, Great South East, as well as being featured on SBS’s Food Lover’s Guide to Australia and ABC Radio.
Matt Skinner – Wine Connoisseur – co-presenting with Tobie Puttock
Matt Skinner is an author, writer, consultant, and educator well-known to international audiences for his refreshing take on wine, and knack for making it simple. A strong believer that wine is for everyone, and that enjoying it is your right rather than your privilege, Matt has twice been short-listed for the IWSC International
Communicator of the Year Award, is author of the awarded and international bestsellers Thirsty Work (published in 17 countries and 10 languages), Heard It Through The Grapevine, and his annual guide, The Juice – 100 wines you should be drinking.
Day to day Matt consults to a small, yet perfectly formed group of clients around the world, makes regular contributions to Sunday Life, GQ, BBC Australian Good Food, Gourmet Traveller WINE, and Home Beautiful.
In his spare time, Matt likes nothing more than sleeping late, un-crowded surf, sunny days at the snow, and being in charge of the barbeque. Together with his family, he lives, works & plays in Melbourne, Australia.
Matt Skinner is an author, writer, consultant, and educator well-known to international audiences for his refreshing take on wine, and knack for making it simple. A strong believer that wine is for everyone, and that enjoying it is your right rather than your privilege, Matt has twice been short-listed for the IWSC International
Communicator of the Year Award, is author of the awarded and international bestsellers Thirsty Work (published in 17 countries and 10 languages), Heard It Through The Grapevine, and his annual guide, The Juice – 100 wines you should be drinking.
Day to day Matt consults to a small, yet perfectly formed group of clients around the world, makes regular contributions to Sunday Life, GQ, BBC Australian Good Food, Gourmet Traveller WINE, and Home Beautiful.
In his spare time, Matt likes nothing more than sleeping late, un-crowded surf, sunny days at the snow, and being in charge of the barbeque. Together with his family, he lives, works & plays in Melbourne, Australia.
Manu Feildel – Celebrity TV Chef
It seems that Manu Feildel was destined to become a great chef from the moment he was born – his great grandfather was a pastry chef, his grandfather and father were chefs, his cousin is a chef in the United States and his mother is a great cook. But, as a child, he saw his future on the stage rather than in the kitchen, and at 13 years old he joined an amateur circus school.
By the time he turned 15, Manu had decided that the road to becoming a professional clown was a very long process, so he started as an apprentice in his father’s restaurant. After a year, he progressed to a fine dining restaurant where he finished his apprenticeship. Shortly after, Manu was bitten by the travel bug and he packed his knives and headed for London.
His first job at The Cafe Royal was hard, to say the least, as Manu didn’t speak any English. But his perseverance paid off and, after working at restaurants such as Les Associes and Café des Amis du Vin, he took up a position as Chef de Partie at the seafood restaurant Livebait and that’s when he says he really began to understand and love the career he had chosen. Manu stayed with Livebait for couple of years, progressing to Sous-Chef and then Head Chef with the nomination of best seafood restaurant in the UK in 1998.
It seems Manu’s career has turned full circle, as he returns to his roots cooking contemporary French cuisine. And in March 2009 Manu has taken over his first restaurant in Paddington, Sydney, where he will get to share his passion for modern French Bistro food.
Manu is now best known for his role on My Kitchen Rules in 2010, a huge role on prime time television. Manu first appeared on Australia television with TEN’s Ready Steady Cook and he has also been a regular presenter on 9am with David & Kim for two years. He continues to be invited to be Guest Chef at numerous dinners and events around Australia, due to his gorgeous food and fun approach.
