Speaking @ Polyfaces
Simon Bryant’s 25 year career includes cooking in Thai, Indian and award winning fine dining restaurants, as well as a one year stretch as a butcher. He became Hilton Adelaide’s Executive Chef in 2003, a role he undertook for 7 years. Simon has cooked both in Melbourne and Adelaide, followed by various promotional stints in Russia, USA, Japan, China and Singapore.
From 2006 to 2009 he co-hosted 152 episodes of ABC Television’s “The Cook and the Chef” with South Australian food icon Maggie Beer. He is the author of “Vegies” and the newly released “Vegetables, Grains & Other Good Stuff” published by Penguin Lantern, with both books including a collection of seasonal vegetarian recipes.
In 2014 Simon was appointed as Co-Creative Director for Tasting Australia – Australia’s premium Food and Wine festival. This year the festival will become an annual event, with Simon continuing in this role for 2016 and 2017. He is also a providore of single origin, traceable, non GM, Australian foods with his brand
dirt(y); and a semi competent organic home vegie gardener.
Simon strongly believes in using his profile to highlight ethical food issues, including paying fair prices to producers for ethically produced food; using local, seasonal, fresh ingredients with minimal environmental impact; the responsible and culturally appropriate use of Australian native foods; and in particular, the ethical treatment of animals in the food chain.
Above all, he is an advocate of simple produce driven cooking.
Ambassador for:
• Animals Asia Foundation
• The Animal Welfare League, SA
• RSPCA Choose Wisely Campaign
• The Department of Environment and Heritage Kitchen Garden Foundation
• Premium Food and Wine from South Australia’s Clean Environment
• Oxfam GROW and FAIR
• Meat Free Week
• Adelaide Bee Sanctuary
• Australian International Year of Pulses
Patron of:
• CheeseFest
Awards and Presentations include:
• 2008 Restaurant and Catering Association (SA) – Chef of the Year
• 2007 Hotel Management Magazine Awards Excellence – Executive Chef of the Year
• 2014 The Advertiser Food Awards – Vittoria Coffee, Adelaide Food Legend