Top international chef brings Middle Eastern cuisine to middle earth

Renowned Australian chef and Middle Eastern cooking specialist Greg Malouf is coming to town in early August for a one-off cooking demonstration at Nosh Food Market’s Mt Eden cook school, The Melting Pot.

Malouf is known for instigating the transformation of the Australian restaurant scene with his innovative food and his influence has spread through Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

He is the executive chef at MoMo in Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt and travels widely for master classes and guest chef appearances. He also consults to restaurants in Melbourne, the Yarra Valley, Broome, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Jordan.

Malouf is widely acclaimed and praised for showcasing the traditional ingredients and dishes of the region in his four books, written in conjunction with his ex-wife.

A copy of Saraban, the couple’s latest compendium, is included in the ticket price for Malouf’s Nosh demonstration.

Nosh director Clinton Beuvink says the event is an opportunity to hear one of the world’s foremost Middle Eastern food specialists.

“The whole premise behind the Melting Pot is to provide a best-in-class demonstration kitchen to attract the best and expose New Zealand cooks to top quality international and local talent. Greg is certainly a member of that club.

“There’s room for only 45 in the audience so people need to get in quickly – we would have liked to host more classes however Greg is a very busy man!”

Middle Eastern food is based on traditions dating back centuries and is filled with the mystique, history and passion but with subtle regional differences.

The Middle Eastern Cooking demonstration with Greg Malouf is on Friday 5 August at Nosh’s Melting Pot kitchen (mezzanine level) in Mt Eden. Tickets cost $80 and include a copy of Saraban (RRP$79.99). Tickets can be purchased from Event Finder: http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2011/aug/mt-eden/middle-eastern-cooking-with-greg-malouf