Hailing from a secret global-centre-gastronomique (Barnsley on the River Dearne in South Yorkshire) charming and ever-so-modest chef Matt Wilkinson now calls Melbourne home. His interests in growing the best tasting food, appreciating the importance of food to communities, in partnership with farmers and food producers, sit comfortably with Melbourne life – just as well, Matt’s partner is Melbourne based, plus their pooch Quincy and two hooligans, Finn Thomas and Jay Thomas.
With his business sweetheart (Ben Foster) Matt has an unorthodox East Brunswick eating and drinking papal precinct. Their appointed matriarch, Pope Joan, runs a unique café while presiding over her local drinking house (open from late afternoon on week nights), a kitchen garden, and her very own produce store Hams n Bacon.
Matt is a proud ambassador of the work of the Victorian Farmers’ Markets Association, a partner with boutique casual food eatery Spudbar – enabling his input at the table serving ‘slow food – fast’ – and author of “Mr Wilkinson’s Favourite Vegetables“.