Maeve O'Meara
/maeve-omeara.jpg)
Television Presenter; Food Author and Broadcaster; Director of Food Adventure Company Gourmet Safaris
At the age of 20, sitting on the Acropolis on a year-long voyage of adventure, Maeve decided she never wanted two days of her life to be the same. Pursuing her passion for exotic food around the world and in Australia has enabled her dream to come true - Maeve is an award-winning food author, television producer and presenter as well as director of her own food tour business Gourmet Safaris.
Maeve is best known for her work with the acclaimed Food Safari series on SBS Television. Covering 34 different cuisines and described by The Australian newspaper as “a landmark for Australian food television”, it was soon followed by the glorious Italian Food Safari, celebrating Italian food in Australia, hosted by Maeve and Melbourne restaurateur Guy Grossi, which screened to large audiences and great critical acclaim.
In 2011 French Food Safari, hosted by Maeve and top French chef Guillaume Brahimi and shot in France and Australia also won ratings, hearts and tastebuds. DVDs of the Food Safari series have been a huge commercial success in Australia and around the world.
Maeve is the author of two exquisite cookbooks which have accompanied each series and shot to the bestseller lists - Food Safari – Glorious Adventures Across a World of Cuisines and Italian Food Safari – A Delicious Celebration of the Italian Kitchen.
Maeve’s television work has been honoured by the World Food Media Awards – for The Food Lover’s Guide To Australia, a 5 series opus that is still on air and for her work as Food Presenter on Channel Seven's Better Homes and Gardens.
Maeve currently writes for Selector magazine, providing insights into cuisines and easy recipes. Maeve’s writing has included has co-authoring 11 books, including the cookbook Lamingtons and Lemongrass and the best-selling SBS Eating Guides To Sydney. Maeve is a former Food Editor of Family Circle and New Woman magazines.
She is a regular speaker and MC at many events and is ambassador for the Sydney charity OzHarvest which collects unused food from restaurants, cafes and caterers and distributes it free of charge to organizations that feed needy men, women and children.
An extension of her passion for food and the many cultures within Australia has been her highly successful food tourism business, Gourmet Safaris which has been running for 14 years and voted Best Tour Operator in the Australian newspaper’s prestigious Tourism and Travel Awards.
Gourmet Safaris takes groups on exotic food tours throughout Sydney, regional Australia and overseas. Every week scores of people explore food in Sydney; in Australia trips run to Kangaroo Island, Margaret River and regional Victoria, and overseas to Vietnam and the Greek Islands. A huge success has been Maeve’s newest business idea – Gorgeous Safaris – single perfect weeks for women only focusing on good food, retail therapy and spa treatments which currently runs in Vietnam and Broome.
Maeve comes from a close-knit family who all live within a stone’s throw of each other. She has three children who also love travelling and exploring the world’s cuisines.
Catch Maeve O'Meara at the following Tasting Australia events:
Miele Class Acts - Sat 28 April
Miele Chefs' Showcase - Sat 28 April
Selector Word of Mouth - Sat 28 April
Sticky Rice Tasting Korea with Maeve O'Meara and Mapo - Sun 29 April
Tasting Australia gallery »
Contact visitor centre »
