Christine Manfield
Christine Manfield is one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs, a perfectionist inspired by complex flavours and a writer whose successful books, Paramount Cooking (re-released as Christine Manfield Originals), Christine Manfield Desserts, Spice and Stir, have spiced up the lives of keen cooks around the world. Her fifth book, Fire, released in October 2008, is part cookery book, part guidebook and part memoir. Her range of spice pastes and condiments are sold throughout Australia and at limited retails stores in the UK and Canada.
After working with some of Australia’s best restaurateurs, she opened Paramount Restaurant in Sydney in 1993 with partner Margie Harris, which established her international reputation and was regarded as one of Australia’s finest by critics and the dining public alike. Since its closure at the end of 2000, she has broadened her global food interests, working alongside respected chefs around the world and hosting gastronomic tours to exotic destinations including Morocco, India, Spain and South East Asia.
Christine surrendered to the demands and excitement of kitchen life in late 2003 and opened a new restaurant and lounge bar in London. At East@West, in the heart of the West End, she introduced Londoners to the unique kaleidoscope of Asian tastes and textures, with her signature modern Asian food inspired by the traditions and flavours of China and South East Asia. The restaurant received several awards during its 15 month life: Tatler’s Best New Restaurant, Best UK Menu at the Catey’s Awards, 3 rosettes at the AA Restaurant Awards, runner up for the Best Vegetarian menu at the Time Out Restaurant awards, as well as Christine’s nomination for UK chef of the Year at the Harpers Moët Awards. Sadly, the restaurant closed its doors in January 2005 when the owners sold the business.
Christine continues to explore and challenge herself with the never-ending possibilities and potential that the world of gastronomy offers. Her latest restaurant Universal, which opened in Darlinghurst in August 2007, offers a menu with flavours from around the world. With a philosophy that centres on pure clean flavours and integrity of produce, the menu and wine list reflects her exotic global travels, crossing cultural boundaries with confidence and showing respect for culinary heritage.
Christine is teaching at Sydney Seafood School on the November 2010 - February 2011 program, stay tuned for more details.