G'Day UK 2009

Shane Osborn is the head chef and co-owner of Charlotte Street's two Michelin starred Pied a Terre. The first Australian chef ever to gain Michelin status, Osborn, 38, received his second star in 2004 for his modern European cuisine at the leading London restaurant and remains the only Australian chef with two Michelin stars. In 1996, the Perth-born chef, moved to London to work under Marcus Wareing, at the newly opened L’Oranger in St. James’s and soon became hooked on London’s vibrant restaurant scene. He worked for a period as junior sous chef at the 2 Michelin star The Square in Mayfair before finally joining Pied a Terre in 1998.
www.pied-a-terre.co.uk

Arriving in Britain in 2000, Australian chef Brett Graham landed himself a job in one of London’s most acclaimed kitchens - Philip Howard’s The Square. Just two years later he picked up one of the industry’s most prestigious awards - Young Chef of the Year – and quickly rose to the position of junior sous chef at the celebrated Mayfair restaurant. In 2005 the young chef stepped out on his own, opening The Ledbury, in Notting Hill, with the backing of Howard & restaurateur Nigel Platts-Martin and, within the space of nine months, gained his first Michelin Star.
www.theledbury.com

With a long history of winemaking, Australia is a compelling mix of historic old world tradition and culture with a dynamic sense of new world adventure. (Australia also boasts the world’s oldest soil types and a diverse range of original plant material including pre-phylloxera Shiraz vines). Australia is always at the forefront of research on oenology, viticulture and marketing, producing 25% of the world’s technical papers on wine. The restless pursuit of excellence in grape growing and winemaking ensures that Australia’s wine industry remains one of the most respected in the industry.
Find out more at www.wineaustralia.com

In a wine trade survey, UK retailers were asked which wine writer had the most influence over their customers. The answer was, unanimously, Matthew Jukes. With over 9 million Daily Mail readers a week, Matthew has the most keenly followed wine column in the UK. He also writes a weekly piece for MoneyWeek. He has won the highly prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition's Trophy for Wine Communicator of the Year and he is the wine buyer for Bibendum Restaurant & Oyster Bar, the Masala World group of Indian Restaurants (Chutney Mary, Amaya and Veeraswamy), and the exclusive, private wine club Quintessentially Wine worldwide. He has written all six editions of The Wine List, his annual wine guide, were UK bestsellers. www.matthewjukes.com

Many Aussie producers and chefs have a flair for reinterpreting the traditional rules and creating unique food and wine experiences. Perhaps it’s the diversity of our natural flora and fauna available throughout the regions of Australia - both on land and sea. Perhaps it is our endless love affair with the outdoor living or our diverse population. Austrends 2009 examines some of Australia’s exciting products and trends which have particular resonance with UK consumers: Flavourful Free-from - Super Premium - Real CSR: Less Talk More Action - Enhanced Convenience - Digestive Health. Each trend is analysed and quotes were taken from an online survey of Australian producers conducted by FoodandDrinkTowers.com
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