Stephanie Alexander O.A.M.

Stephanie Alexander is Australia's foremost food writer. She is the best-selling author of eleven food books, with The Cooks Companion, becoming an Australian classic, having sold 350,000 copies. The revised and expanded edition was released in October 2004.

For 21 years her restaurant Stephanie's was regarded as an essential Melbourne experience. She conceived the groundbreaking café; fine cheese and food store Richmond Hill Cafe and Larder and was a founding partner for eight years. From March 2005 Stephanie continues as a mentor and food consultant to this exciting business.

Stephanie is increasingly involved in efforts to expand her pilot project the Kitchen Garden at Collingwood College so that primary school children can learn about food in the most pleasurable way, both growing it, harvesting it and then sharing it at the table. To further this work she established the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation in 2004.

Through her writing and her teaching, Stephanie continues to be an outspoken champion of the quality of Australian produce and the importance of good food in our lives. She was awarded an Order of Australia in 1994 for her services to the hospitality industry and to tourism, and for encouraging young apprentices.

Web Address: www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au/