Celebrity Profiles
Camorra, Frank
MoVida chef and co-proprietor Frank Camorra was born in Barcelona and spent his first five years in his parents' hometown of Córdoba in Andalusia, before his parents migrated to Australia.
Frank spent five years studying architecture before deciding to become a chef, training under the Grossi family at their original Café Grossi in Toorak to head chef roles in their restaurants.
In 2000, Frank returned to work in Spain and was inspired by both the modern and traditional aspects of Spanish cuisine as well as the dynamic tapas culture which he thought would translate to Melbourne’s vibrant CBD.
Returning to Australia, Frank was determined to share his inspiration. In fact, MoVida is named after the art and film movement that flourished in Madrid during Spain’s reawakening. This innovative era, full of exuberant energy and freedom of Spanish character, is another source that MoVida draws on.
The MoVida experience is relaxed and flexible where you can enjoy a mix between the modern and authentic Spanish flavours in a typical Melbourne laneway setting. The food is inspired by the produce and ingredients that came through the front door in the morning. This is the essence of the MoVida spirit.
In 2007 MoVida was awarded ‘Dish of the Year’ at the Age Good Food Guide Awards for the ‘Cecina’. The 2009 awards recently awarded MoVida ‘Two Chef’s Hats’ and ‘Chef of the Year’ for Camorra.
In 2007 Frank published a cook book titled MoVida which was co-written with Richard Cornish and published by Murdoch Books. The book was awarded Best Cookery Book by a Chef at the recent Australian Food Media Awards.
June 2008 saw the opening of MoVida Next Door, more southern Spanish in feel with a focus on sherry and seafood it’s less of a restaurant and more of a casual bar with all the spirit that made MoVida successful only turned up a notch. MoVIda Next Door was awarded the Don Levy Fitzpatrick Award at the 2009 Good Food Guide Awards.
2009 has been a busy year with Frank, again in collaboration with Richard Cornish, publishing MoVida Rustica his second cook book. He also opened a third restaurant MoVida Aqui at 500 Bourke Street, Melbourne. MoVida Aqui is a larger venue than the original restaurant and also boasts a terrace area. MoVida Terraza is located on site offering breakfast on the Terrace.
With MoVida and MoVida Next Door Camorra will continue to present and explore his passion for Spanish food and lust for life to Melbourne.
Carluccio, Antonio
Antonio Carluccio, the Godfather of Italian Cooking, is noted for his gentle manner, gruff voice and wild crop of white hair. The original celebrity cook, he is responsible for bringing the joys of Italian gastronomy ‘out of Italy’.
Antonio was born the son of a station master and travelled the length and breadth of Italy which provided a rare and privileged culinary knowledge. After school, Antonio had a brief spell in the Navy, was a journalist in Turin and a wine merchant in Germany before, in 1975, he travelled to London and made it his home.
Antonio was quickly spotted as being a rare cookery talent and was awarded runner up in the Sunday Times Cook of the Year competition (1981). He was asked to take over the Neal Street Restaurant which he quickly turned into one of the hottest places in London playing host to Pavarotti, Prince Charles and Sir Elton John.
In 1983 Antonio made his first appearance on BBC2 in a programme about Mediterranean food. He subsequently became a regular on BBC’s Food and Drink Programme, Saturday Morning Kitchen and Market Kitchen.
In 1998, Antonio was awarded the Commendatore OMRI by the President of Italy for services to Italian gastronomy, the equivalent of the British knighthood. This was followed by an honorary OBE in 2007 for his services to gastronomy in Britain.
He has written 13 bestselling books, including Complete Italian Food, Complete Mushroom Book and Italia. His latest book Antonio Carluccio’s Simple Cooking (September 2009, UK) is a distillation of his lifetime’s passion for food, full of Antonio’s firm belief that cooking, whether for oneself or for family and friends, is one of the most loving of human skills.
Clergue, Philippe
Born in the Midi-Pyrénées region of France, Chef Philippe Clergue received his professional culinary training in Toulouse where he obtained the "Certificat d’Aptitude Professionelle (CAP)" in Cuisine and the "Brevet de Technicien Hôtelier" (Hotel Professional Diploma). His education included an apprenticeship at the "Relais de la Poste" in Magescq (Landes), a 2-star Michelin restaurant. His professional career started at this same restaurant in 1981.
In 1984, Chef Clergue worked as "maître d’hôtel" at the Elysée Palace (The Presidency of the French Republic) for 1 year. In 1985, he moved to St Tropez to "Leï Mouscardins", a 1-star Michelin restaurant before moving on to become sous-Chef at the "Relais de Saulx", a 1-star Michelin restaurant in Beaune in 1987.
In 1990, he opened his own restaurant "L’Auberge de la Toison d’Or" in the Beaune region of France which he ran for 15 years. During this time, he gave cooking lessons both in his restaurant and in private homes.
Chef Clergue joined the elite teaching staff of Le Cordon Bleu Paris in May 2006. Today, he is jointly responsible for the superior cuisine program and elaborating the menus for Le Cordon Bleu Food and Wine pairing classes as well as our new Sommelier Program.
Philippe Clergue has represented Le Cordon Bleu at several festivals and events worldwide and also worked on written publications with Le Cordon Bleu partners and other professional magazines and reviews.
Cornish, Richard
Richard Cornish is an award winning writer whose love of the land lead him to explore the issues around food, where it comes from, how it gets to us and why it tastes so good. He is a senior writer for The Age Epicure and SMH Good Living and has co-written two books on Spanish food with MoVida chef Frank Camorra
Cundall, Peter
Peter Cundall is one of Australia’s leading horticulturalists and a celebrated television personality. He currently lives in Tasmania's Tamar Valley. He was a presenter of the ABC television program, Gardening Australia, until 2008 (at the age of 81).
Amongst the gardeners of Australia, Peter Cundall has become a household name. The television show and magazine, Gardening Australia, has a devoted audience of both young and old gardeners and admirers.
In an issue of Reader's Digest, he came eighth in a poll of the 100 most trusted Australians (he was beaten by The Wiggles and Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark).
