Storytellers of Tasting Australia

WORDS: Mandy Hall, Food Editor

Chefs, to me, are more than very talented people who understand food and flavours and create plating masterpieces – they’re storytellers too. And not necessarily in the traditional sense. Some tell stories through their dishes or the ingredients. For others, it’s the inspiration behind their food journey or an anecdote about a local fisherman.

And that’s one of the things love most about Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel. This glittering event brings local and international favourite culinary maestros to our gorgeous city for 10 delicious days to showcase their craft. There will be full plates, full glasses and full-bodied stories. And that’s what we all love, right? A good story. So get ready. Because behind every cook, every chef, every dish, every ingredient and every special dining and drinking experience, you’ll find one.

It is a privilege to be hosting The Storytellers series in Tasting Australia Town Square this year. And frankly, I can’t wait for them (and me) to swap out the pressures of the kitchen and bring to life their unique tales. Warm and casual conversations they’ll be, that give rise to inspiring tales of their often very personal journeys. Each of them has achieved success in their own way, and as you’ll see, no two stories are ever the same.

Storytellers will allow us to hear on an intimate level the personalities and methodologies that have shaped the careers of these masters of the art of cooking. We’ll hear about their triumphs and kitchen disasters, gain an insight into their habits, rituals and ingredients they can’t live without. They’ll tell us about their first dishes, favourite childhood meals and the lessons they learned the hard way. We might even receive the invaluable gift of a kitchen tip or two!