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 skills 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.

To date she has published four acclaimed and award-winning books with Penguin Books Australia: Stir, Spice, Christine Manfield Originals and Christine Manfield Desserts. Her new book Fire - culinary adventures of a curious traveller is due for release in August 2008. She is currently researching and writing her sixth book.

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 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 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.