Guillaume Brahimi

French-born Guillaume Brahimi is one of Australia's most popular and acclaimed chefs. He trained under Michelin-starred chef Joël Robuchon in Paris before moving to Sydney in the 1990s. In 2001, Brahimi secured the contract to run the Bennelong restaurant at the Sydney Opera House. The restaurant underwent extensive refurbishment and opened later that year, renamed Guillaume at Bennelong, awarded by Condé Nast Traveler and Gourmet Traveller. The restaurant was also awarded Two Hats in the 2004 and 2005 editions of The Sydney Morning Heralds Good Food Guide, and eventually Three Hats in 2006 and 2007. The restaurant fell back to Two Hat status in 2008 before regaining Three Hats during 2013, awarded in the 2014 Guide. The restaurant closed at the end of 2013 having lost the contract to run the venue. In 2008, Brahimi launched Bistro Guillaume at Melbourne's Crown Casino. The restaurant is styled on the classic French bistro, and serves traditional bistro fare. In 2009, Brahimi published his first book, Guillaume: Food for Friends, the proceeds being donated to a cancer research organisation named after a late friend, the Chris O'Brien LifeHouse at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. His second book, French Food Safari, was co-authored with Maeve O'Mara in 2012. The book was made into a television series on SBS. In 2014 Brahimi opened Guillaume in Paddington, Sydney, following the closure of Guillaume at Bennelong. In 2016, Brahimi launched Bistro Guillaume Sydney. In January 2021 Brahimi was appointed by Crown Sydney as its culinary ambassador helping to promote its dining precinct and the city more broadly as a food destination. Brahimi is the host of SBS's food series, Plat du Tour which airs during the coverage of the Tour de France. Brahimi takes viewers on a tour of great French cooking during the 21 recipes that originate from different regions of France and correlate to the different Tour de France stages. ==Food==

Brahimi's food has been described as "contemporary Australian cuisine with French influences". His dishes seek to celebrate Australian produce, articulated in modern style through French technique. The dishes might range from his signature East-meets-West entrée, basil infused tuna with mustard seed and soy vinaigrette, to Italian-inspired roasted marron wrapped in prosciutto with risotto, veal jus and truffle, to dishes closer to the classical French repertoire such as his duck confit with pommes Pont Neuf, foie gras and truffle. ==Television==

Brahimi has been an in-house chef on the Australian version of Iron Chef on Channel Seven, specialising in French cooking. He has also been featured as one of the presenters of French Food Safari alongside Maeve O'Meara on the SBS Australia Network, and has appeared as a guest on both MasterChef Australia and Junior MasterChef Australia. In the fourth series of MasterChef Australia in 2012, the last six contestants worked under him for one day at his restaurant Guillaume at Bennelong, cooking a meal for 60 people as part of the competition. In 2020, Brahimi took over from Gabriel Gaté as host of a French gastronomy show during the broadcast of the Tour de France on SBS, renamed from Taste Le Tour to Plat du Tour. Brahimi's show is different in that he explores local Australian produce alongside French fare related to the town of each stage location, whereas Gaté would physically visit each stage location to explore local food and wine. ==Charity work==

Brahimi is a supporter of the Bestest Foundation and its Gala Dinner. Bestest raises funds for children who fall outside the standard boundaries of the larger established charities and helps get these children support to battle an illness, obtain equipment for disabilities, gain access to education or provide urgent assistance to children at risk. All funds raised go directly to children in need. In 2008, more than 50 chefs from Australia's best restaurants participated with teams from Matt Moran (Aria), Neil Perry (Rockpool), Philip Johnson (E'cco), Shannon Bennett (Vue de Monde) and Scott Hallsworth (Nobu). ==See also==