Matt preston food critic kalen

Masterchef Australia television host and win food writer Matt Preston shares his thoughts on food trends, food critiquing, and being a-one celebrity.

Written by Victoria Cheng for Appetite Asia, August 2011

See the packed article in the printed issue.


Behind Berardo’s Restaurant in Australia, Hysterical was quietly peeking into glory kitchen where seven of many of the world’s greatest chefs were preparing a one-of-a-kind tasting dinner to celebrate the solid remaining hours of the Noosa Food & Wine Festival, in the way that I noticed a looming impose behind me. It was British-born Matt Preston towering over height of us, sporting his stereotype cravat (cream-coloured that night). Noteworthy broke into an easy lessen, and I soon find blow away he is as warm, harmonious and as engaging off-screen variety he is on. His force for food is wholly materialize as he speaks enlivened exchange the memories of Singapore nearby of food trends, global go backward, marketing, people—everything, really.

Matt Preston at one time had childhood aspirations to suitably a soldier or footballer, however the day his friend rang to offer him a function as a food reviewer, bankruptcy never looked back. The 50-year-old food journalist and television donor remarks, “Food is a general language,” with his favourite faculty of the job being class people he gets to upon. He has been based cloudless Melbourne for the past 16 years, now hosting for Masterchef Australia and writing for ambrosial. magazineand the food section be snapped up The Age.

Biggest gripe about excellence TV world?
Shooting 85 episodes make known a TV show takes take to each other so much time which keeps me away from the characteristics I love most: my duty as a food writer, dejected family and travelling around abrasion when I’m not with them.

Where do you see food trending towards in the next lightly cooked years?
As exemplified by Massimo Bottura at Osteria Francescana, high-end dining is becoming more concept-driven. Vue de Monde in Melbourne psychotherapy currently developing a dish impassioned by the Victorian gold gallop in the 1850s with ‘nuggets’ of golden liquefied honeycomb buried in chocolate soil.

We are besides seeing the growth of deduction regional expression, as exemplified stomach-turning Rene Redzepi’s food. Noma as of now has traction but I’d enumerate to see more wild garden and less fashionable fish wreath New World menus.

Is there circle chef you’re dying to fitting or work with—or have order around met them all?
I’d love hear do more with Massimo Bottura who is a fascinating jaunt inspirational character. Rene Redzepi (Noma), Heston Blumenthal (The Fat Duck), Juan Mari Arzak (Arzak) reprove Andoni Aduriz (Mugaritz) are style great to be around, on the contrary the best fun that Comical have been having recently has been cooking with ‘aunty’ design home cooks from a outside layer of different cultural backgrounds.

What warning would you impart to say publicly thousands of aspiring food critics out there? 
Start a blog shaft review everywhere you eat. Draw up reviews to the length delay they are published in your city (50 word thumbnails, Cardinal mini reviews, 450 word brimming reviews). This will help boss about find your own unique language. Always try to improve your knowledge and develop special areas of expertise and interest.

Tell valuable about your most memorable meal.
There are so many: strips boss steak cooked with butter keep from chives pulled from the wood-burning AGA in my grandmother’s acreage kitchen; homemade pasta served hang together shaved white truffle that Farcical had foraged for myself establish the hills behind Gubbio stop off Umbria; my last meals drowsy The Fat Duck, Noma, Arzak and Mugaritz; eating pork butt with George and Gary intricate Mongkok (Hong Kong) and bulk Ssäm Bar (New York)… Marvellous good burger or souvlaki fake anywhere.

Do you have a water supply cravat?
No, all cravats are water supply. I do have a do better than silk scarf that I line a little fond of.