George Calombaris Biography

George is a restaurateur, chef, author, and TV personality. he has been awarded many accolades for his work and contribution to the hospitality industry in Australia. Recognised internationally, George was voted by the Global Food and Wine Magazine as one of the worlds Top 40 Chefs on Influence.

George's fascination for food started early. Inspired by his mother and grandmother, two brilliant cooks, George quickly learnt about food and cooking. Although born in Melbourne (Australia), his Greek heritage pathed the way of his successful future. Cooking food from the heart and drawing on childhood memories, George's philosophy on food is to cook with love, cook fresh and cook what's in season.

George's career as an apprentice began at Melbourne's Hotel Sofitel cooking under culinary geniuses and friends Gary Mehigan and Raymond Capaldi. In amongst his graduate groupe his own culinary genieus was obvious winning the Bondlan National Apprentice of the Year and also being selected represent Australian at the Bocuse d'O International Culinary Grand Prix in Lyon, France.

Opening his first restaurant in October 2006, his flagship The Press Club Restaurant & Bar, Melbourne's first Modern Greek restaurant, put George's  culinary prowess on the map, locally and internationally. The success of The Press Club snowballed as it was named by the Age  Good Food Guide as 'Best New Restaurant 2008'. George was also awarded 'Chef of the Year 2008' and was named as one of Melbourne's  Top 100 Most Influntial People by The Age Melbourne Magazine.

Following the success of The Press Club, George soon opened and has been behind a string of successful Melbourne restaurants - Little Press, Hellenic Republic, Mama Baba, St Katherines, PM24, Maha Bar & Grill as well as The Belvedere Club at The Belvedere Hotel in Mykonos, Greece.

George's busy schedule has also seen him write a host of successful cookbooks including The Press Club Modern Greek Cookery, Greek Cookery from the Hellenic Heart, Yoour Place or Mine, Cook With Us, and Georgie Porgie.

His success in Australia has been phenomenal. On top of being a chef, running his restaurants, writing cook books, his success as a judge on Australia's most successful reality TV show, network 10's cooking jugganaut, MasterChef has escalatedhis profile locally and internationally.

First name: George

Last name: Calombaris

Full name at birth: George Calombaris

Date of birth: 4 October 1978

Place of birth: Melbourne, VIC

Nationality: Australian

Partner: Natalie Tricarico

Son: James George Calombaris

Follow George on Twitter: @gcalombaris

source: georgecalombaris.com.au