Malouf commenced his training as an apprentice cook at
William Angliss Institute in 1979 where he worked at Watsons, Mietta’s, and Two Faces restaurants. He spent some time in Europe from 1981 to 1983 working in various restaurants across the continent. In 1991 he moved back to Melbourne where he was appointed head chef at O'Connell's Restaurant in
South Melbourne, His reputation for contemporary Middle Eastern food got cemented there and under his leadership the restaurant wins numerous awards. It is the first Middle Eastern restaurant to be awarded a ‘hat’ in
The Age Good Food Guide. In 1999, he published
Saha: a Chef’s Journey through Lebanon and Syria with his then wife Lucy Malouf, the foreword to which would later be written by
Anthony Bourdain. In 2001, Malouf took the helm at MoMo restaurant where his contemporary approach to Middle Eastern cuisine was met with critical acclaim. During his tenure there, the restaurant successfully earned a one-hat status in the
Age In 2012 Malouf was invited to head up the Petersham Nurseries Café in
Richmond,
South London. Under his leadership the restaurant earned a
Michelin Star. In 2019,
Suqar Desserts and Sweets From The Modern Middle East won the
James Beard Award for Baking and Desserts. == Illness and death ==