Guy Grossi
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Guy Grossi is a leading Australian chef, presenter and food and media personality. He is the owner and head chef of Grossi Restaurants including esteemed international and Australian restaurants: Melbourne’s iconic Grossi Florentino, the colourful Mirka at Tolarno Hotel in St Kilda, Grossi Trattoria, Bangkok and Merchant Osteria Veneta located at Rialto Collins Street. Guy is frequently sought out to present his love and expertise in Italian culture and hospitality both in corporate settings and across many media platforms including international and national television and radio.
Just recently Guy starred as Australia’s Iron Chef alongside chefs Neil Perry and Guillame Brahimi. He has also appeared on Australia’s most popular lifestyle and current affair programs including Postcards, Getaway, Neighbours, My Kitchen Rules, MasterChef, A Current Affair, The Morning Show, Fresh, Sunrise, The Circle and The Today Show. Guy joins Maeve O’Meara as a co-host with Italian Food Safari on SBS One this year and has also graced American television screens, on CBS in New York and Good Day Philadelphia.
Guy features weekly in the Sunday Herald Sun providing Victorians with simple, tasty recipes for the home cook. His radio appearances include Melbourne Talk Radio 1377, 774 ABC Radio and Grubby and Dee Dee on Gold 104.3 FM as well as on rural radio programs.
He is also called upon as an industry spokesman for a range of events. Guy is a national judge of the Electrolux Appetite for Excellence awards and The Age Good Food Guide Young Chef awards. He is a dedicated Patron of Hospitality, Employment and Training (HEAT) program and is Victoria’s first Skills Ambassador; organisations which like Guy, believe in engaging youth through skills training.
A champion of presenting la cucina Italiana in Australia, Guy was awarded the prestigious L’insegna Del Ristorante Italiano, by the president of Italy in 1996.
With his unique vibrancy and insight into food and culture, Guy is often involved in promoting tourism and hospitality. The reinstatement of the 2010 Moomba Parade saw Guy as a chef representing the Melbourne is Food and Wine float.
Guy has been the face of food with the L’Orèal Melbourne Fashion Festival for the past three consecutive years; a fitting title as Grossi Restaurants continues to pioneer marriage between food and fashion with staff dressed by designers Leona Edmiston and Ted Baker.
Guy and Grossi Florentino are also an integral part of the Melbourne Cup and Spring Racing carnival with iconic events such as Cup Eve Luncheon and the Cup Farwell dinner hosted at the Restaurant. In 2010 Guy Grossi celebrated the Melbourne Cup’s 150th anniversary as Tour Ambassador where he travelled internationally with the cup, its first stop being Tokyo. Guy also designed menus for the gala dinners held worldwide. Back home in Melbourne, Grossi Florentino welcomes VRC members to six specialized events during the year.
In January 2011 Guy joined leading Australian personalities at G’Day USA 2011 as Australian food ambassador, selected by the Australian government Guy prepared and presented at the AAA black-tie gala dinner in honour of Anthony Pratt at Cipriani, New York and hosted the Victoria Taste IT event held in San Francisco to promote our regional produce to export markets.
In December 2010 Guy was selected as Victoria’s best to prepare the farewell dinner for the Victorian component of the Oprah Tour.
Guy has also been engaged by the Victorian Government as Victoria’s face of food and wine during the Shanghai World Expo 2010. The expo expected to attract a record 70 million people. Guy designed menus for a series of prestigious dinners held in Guangzhou, Beijing and in the Australian Pavilion during Victoria Week, which ran from 17-21 May. Guy, a passionate advocate for Victoria’s culinary pedigree highlighted the State’s premium produce to a global stage and through cooking demonstrations for Chinese delegates.
Within the same year, during Melbourne’s 175th year celebrations Guy was recognised as a finalist for his individual contribution in raising Melbourne’s profile and continues to do so with vigour.
In 2010 we also saw Guy take to the stage in his own highly acclaimed production, In The Raw Dinner and Live Show with Guy Grossi and Luke Mangan. Guy shared the set with long-time friend Luke to deliver this cabaret-style show in Melbourne.
In addition to making corporate appearances, Guy consults on various projects and developments. In 2010 Guy worked with renowned developers Bayside Project Management and cutting-edge architects Hecker Phelan & Guthrie to design 10 sophisticated kitchen spaces within Flora Apartments in Brighton.
This Grossi experience has been extended into the home through Guy’s premium quality product range, available at Grossi Restaurants and specific Essential Ingredient stores. His hand-crafted range includes: extra virgin olive oil, grissini, antipasto, passata, verjuice, red wine vinegar, panforte, torrone, pink salt, spice mixes, chocolates and a variety of pastas just to name a few.
Guy is also a committed philanthropist with particular consideration for sustainable practices and social responsibility. He dedicated much of his time to work with selected charities. These include: Hospitality Employment and Training (HEAT), Australian Marine Conservation Society, Starlight Children's Foundation, Ovarian Cancer and Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Guy, an avid supporter of the Royal Children’s Hospital was invited to attend the 2010 televised event which raised a record $14.462 million for the medical and clinical care of our children.
The year also saw legendary performer Jerry Lewis personally invite Guy to design a menu for his highly publicised Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraising dinner event, of which Guy was instrumental in raising awareness and funds.
Other events which Guy has designed menus for this year include: Melbourne Winter Masterpieces luncheon, the Committee for Melbourne’s 25th Annual Dinner, themed Melbourne After Dark and the canonisation of Mary MacKillop in Sydney.
Guy is also the author of two exquisitely presented cookbooks: Guy Grossi ~ my Italian heart and Grossi Florentino ~ Secrets & Recipes, which won the Australian Food Media Book of the Year Award in 2004. Guy is currently writing two new books, due for release in the next two years. One of which he will donate 50% of his royalties to MDA.
More information about Guy and Grossi Restaurants can be found at: www.grossi.com.au
Catch Guy Grossi at the following Tasting Australia events:
Enoteca with Guy Grossi - Fri 27 April
Miele Class Acts - Fri 27 April
Selector Word of Mouth - Sat 28 April
Miele Chefs' Showcase - Sat 28 & Sun 29 April
Kids in the Kitchen Presented by San Remo - Sat 28 & Sun 29 April
Zema Estate and Guy Grossi present La Dolce Vita - Tues 1 May
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