Christine Manfield Profile

CHRISTINE MANFIELD is a highly regarded Australian chef, author, food writer, food manufacturer, presenter, teacher and gastronomic traveller whose culinary work draws on the exciting tastes and flavours of many cultures, whose passion and commitment to culinary excellence are world renowned.

Legions of fans, followed Christine Manfield and front of house, Margie Harris, her partner, from Paragon at Circular Quay in 1990, to the Phoenix in Woollahra and then to the legendary Paramount in 1993.

Since closing the celebrated Paramount Restaurant in Sydney in December 2000, Christine has continued to expand her knowledge and expertise, regularly travelling internationally as a culinary ambassador for Australia’s gastronomy.

Christine relocated to London in October 2003 to open East @ West in Covent Garden to instant critical acclaim. It was awarded Best New Restaurant by the 2004 London Tatler Restaurant Guide plus the Catey’s Award for Best UK Menu 2004. It closed in early 2005 when the property was sold by the owners. Christine returned to Sydney and opened Universal Restaurant in August 2007 to an enthusiastic audience and instant critical acclaim.

Universal offers an a la carte menu of tastes inspired by flavours of the world and Christine’s extensive global travels, with distinctive and definitive flavour combinations that are not limited by traditional boundaries. The menu seeks

to broaden the parameters of the dining experience and appreciate the natural symmetry between food and wine. Boutique wines with an emphasis on small producers across the globe have been sourced to reflect her philosophy of universality.

Christine has published seven acclaimed and award winning books with Lantern Penguin Australia: Christine Manfield originals, Christine Manfield Desserts, Stir, Spice and Fire. Tasting India,Christine’s sixth book Tasting India, released in October 2011 has won several awards (see Books). Journey through India with Christine as she traces the food, spices and culture of this amazingly diverse country. Cook your way through more than 250 traditional and contemporary home-style recipes collected by Christine during her extensive travels. The book includes a comprehensive travel guide of where to sleep, eat and shop throughout India. Fire and Spice, released in May 2012, is a synopsis of a life built around food, a hand picked, rich and evocative selection of some of her personal favourites from two previous, much loved recipe books

A love of spices and an understanding of the home cook’s need for authentically flavoured simple sustaining food led Christine to develop the Spice Collection – a range of Asian and Mediterranean inspired pastes and condiments now marketed in Australia and abroad. Christine also hosts regular ‘Spice’ gastronomic luxury travel adventures to exotic destinations including Morocco, Tunisia, India, South East Asia, Spain and Turkey.

These and other diverse culinary projects all focus on her uncompromising belief in the complementary and sustaining nature of good food, wine, people, pleasure and learning.

Christine has been a mentor and judge for Electrolux Appetite for Excellence Young Restaurateur of the Year since 2008. She has appeared as a guest chef and judge on Masterchef Australia, Series 2 (2010) and Series 3 (2011) and Junior Masterchef 2010.

Christine is an ambassador for Plan International’s ‘From Cup to Crop’ and ‘Because I am a Girl’ campaigns. www.fromcuptocrop.com.au She starred in Plan’s television documentary FOOD FOR THE FUTURE filmed in Zimbabwe in December 2010 and screened on Channel 10 in June 2011. She was also chosen as one of Australia’s ambassadors for Amnesty International’s ‘A Taste of Freedom’ national campaign to celebrate their 50th birthday.www.amnesty.org Christine also contributes and lends her support to ‘Room to Read’, a brilliant educational program for girls in third world countries, a commitment to the belief that world change starts with education. www.roomtoread.org

Christine Manfield is one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs, a perfectionist inspired by strong flavours, a creative spirit whose generosity and skills have inspired young chefs, a writer whose successful books have spiced up the lives of keen cooks from Melbourne to Mumbai and Manhattan.