George Calombaris has been awarded more accolades for his work than most receive in a lifetime, and this exuberant chef is still under 40 years of age! Alongside old boss and fellow chef Gary Mehigan and food critic Matt Preston, George brings passion and fire to the MasterChef judging panel.
Before joining the MasterChef team, George had been voted as one of the 'Top 40 Chefs of Influence in the World' by the Global Food and Wine Magazine. An internationally successful restaurateur, George owns four restaurants in Melbourne and one in Mykonos, Greece.
His flagship Melbourne restaurant, The Press Club, was awarded The Age Good Food Guide ‘Best New Restaurant 2008’ with George named ‘Chef of the Year 2008’. It was also in 2008 that The Age Melbourne Magazine placed George in the 'Top 100 Most Influential People'.
Along with his many restaurants, George has found time to write a number of cook books including Greek Cookery from the Hellenic Heart, and Your Place or Mine with fellow MC judge Gary Mehigan.
Although George is currently flat out in the MasterChef kitchen, he also manages to find time to inspire his team and create new restaurant concepts such as the recently opened St. Katherine’s in Kew.