Test your design IQ
MANILA, Philippines - Who is the Australian chef and restaurateur famous for his Rockpool and Spice Temple restaurants, as well as for his work with Qantas Airways?
He was born on June 29, 1957, and his career in the hospitality industry began when he managed the Sails Restaurant in Sydney, the place where he learned his floor management skills. By the time he was 24, he found himself gravitating towards the kitchen and realized that his passion was in cooking.
He learned from chefs such as Damien Pigmpöet, Gay Bilson, Stephanie Alexander, Steve Manfredi, and David Thompson.
He then became head chef at Barrenjoey Restaurant in Palm Beach and was also given creative control over Perry’s in Paddington. In October 1986, he opened the Blue Water Grill at Bondi Beach and took the site from a 20-year-old failure to an overnight success.
He opened Rockpool in February 1989 with his business partner and cousin Trish Richards with the intention of establishing one of Australia’s finest restaurants.
After only six months, it was voted Sydney’s best new restaurant in the Good Food Guide. Over the years it has gone on to win a long list of awards both in Australia and overseas
In 2007, he opened Rockpool Bar and Grill in Melbourne. Less formal than Rockpool, the restaurant is an upmarket steakhouse located in Crown Casino. High-quality beef cooked over wood fire girll, supported by a modern and international a la carte menu form the backbone of the food served.
In 2009, he opened Spice Temple, which reflects his passion for Asian cuisine. The inspirations behind Spice Temple are drawn from various Chinese provinces and the dishes delight the senses with their contrasting tastes and textures. The food in Spice Temple is designed for the shared table and is cooked to excite, yet the balance and harmony is never lost.
He is the author of numerous recipe books, which include Good Food, Simply Asian, Food I Love, and Balance and Harmony; and has been a presenter on Lifestyle Channel.
For the latter, he has produced several series around the region like Food Source, Fresh and Fast, High Steaks, and The Rockpool Sessions. On the food retail side, he has created a range of special fresh fruit products with Woolworth Supermarkets.
Today, he heads a team of five consultants to Qantas Airways, and he creates the in-flight menus, which are changed quarterly for international first and business class travelers with the team overseeing the implementation and introduction to catering centers at key ports.
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Last week’s question: Identify the style of architecture pictured
Answer: Gothic
Winner: Anna Marie Ganzon of Navotas City
