Masterchef - Neil Cunningham

The Age

Tuesday November 18, 2008

David Sutherland

The thing that excites Neil Cunningham most about cooking at the Healesville Hotel is the fact it is smack-bang in the middle of a region rich in beautiful produce.

"We're so close to the source," he says. "Everyone around here seems to be into food, and there's so much great stuff produced in the area. It means we can get our hands on some extremely fresh produce, which is great for a chef."

Cunningham was born in Staffordshire, in England. His first kitchen job was washing dishes at a local golf club when he was 16. He also did the first few years of his chef's training near home. After stints at several restaurants throughout England, including some with Michelin stars, he gave in to a long-held urge to see the world. A few short years later he was working as a chef in Melbourne.

Cunningham has been running the kitchen at the Healesville Hotel for the past 18 months. His sophisticated yet accessible take on modern European and Mediterranean cuisine, using as much local produce as he can get his hands on, has ensured it remains a popular destination for food lovers. -- DAVID SUTHERLAND

© 2008 The Age

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