Guy Grossi is a leading Australian chef, presenter 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 the Chef
“Once you get involved with food, your mind never really switches off it”- Guy Grossi
Guy Grossi began his career at an early age. He began to learn under the watchful eye of his father, Pietro, a renowned chef himself.
Guy has perfected his craft over the years at some of Melbourne’s finest including Tolarno, Massoni Ristorante and Two Faces with Herman Schneider. He has dedicated himself to becoming a master of Italian Cucina. Guy’s attitude to Italian cooking equally reveres the fundamentals and fires of creativity. Guy has received an award from the Italian President in recognition of his service to the Cucina Italiana abroad.
Beginning with Quadri, Guy successfully opened and ran a number of fine Italian Restaurants across Melbourne, including Epoca, Pietro and the famous Caffe Grossi before he fulfilled a long burning ambition to take over one of Melbourne’s most renowned Italian restaurants with a pedigree that stretches to the late 1920’.
Guy Grossi, owner and head chef of the renowned Grossi Florentino, knows that the world’s great cuisines provide scope for ceaseless exploration while remaining true to a cultured tradition. At this Melbournian institution of fine dining; which enjoyed its diamond jubilee in 2003, Grossi takes the traditional Italian palette and lets his imagination go, creating inspired dishes from a splendid variety of produce. It is there he runs the elaborate production of his three kitchens like a finely tuned piano. Each note rings with the tune of his vast experience, passion, innovation and humour.
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 and in 2011 he received a Melbourne Award which acknowledged his contribution to raising the profile of Melbourne within Australia and throughout the world.
Guy’s philanthropy work and vision
Guy is 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 Research Foundation and Muscular Dystrophy Association of Australia.
The HEAT Program is a program that is very close to Guy’s heart. His role as Patron is one that he prides and enjoys immensely and he carries out regular visits to mentor students in the HEAT kitchen and attends and presents at the graduations. The HEAT program provides young people with not only cooking and hospitality skills, but also with hope, positive role models, creative and life changing experiences and a sense of team and belonging.
Guy is 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. He continued his work making an appearance on the 2011 show assisting to raise much needed funds and he aims to be involved again in 2012.
During 2012 iconic American comedian, Jerry Lewis, personally invited 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. Guy is now an official supporter of the Foundation and he continued to work with the organisation at a number of events in 2011 including Jerry Lewis’ last formal trip to Australia in his capacity as international patron for the cause.
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 the presenter and work in the media
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.
He will be appearing as a guest judge in the third season of the successful reality cooking show My Kitchen Rules in 2012 alongside acclaimed Australian chefs; Tobie Puttock, Karen Martini, Liz Egan, Pete Evans and Manu Feildel. He has also appeared on many of Australia’s most popular lifestyle and current affair programs including:
- Postcards, Getaway, Neighbours, MasterChef, Iron Chef, The Morning Show, Fresh, Sunrise, The Circle and The Today Show.
- Guy joined Maeve O’Meara as a co-host of Italian Food Safari on SBS One and has also featured on international shows such as on CBS in New York and Good Day Philadelphia and recently on Italy’s food network, Gamberro Rosso.
- Guy features weekly in the Sunday Herald Sun providing Victorians with simple, tasty recipes for the home cook. His radio appearances include 3AW, 774 ABC, MTR and Brig & Lehmo’s Breakfast show on Mix101 FM as well as on rural radio programs.
In 2010 Guy took 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.
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’ and he took part in the 2011 parade.
Guy has been the ‘face of food’ with the L’Orèal Melbourne Fashion Festival; a fitting title as Grossi Restaurants continues to pioneer marriage between food and fashion with staff dressed by designers Leona Edmiston and Ted Baker.
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.
Industry work and recognition
Guy is often called upon as an industry spokesman for a range of events.
- He 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 was Victoria’s first Skills Ambassador; organisations which like Guy, believe in engaging youth through skills training.
- In December 2010 Guy was selected as Victoria’s best to prepare the farewell dinner for the Victorian component of the Oprah Tour.
- Guy was 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.
- Guy and Grossi Florentino are an integral part of the Melbourne Cup celebrations 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. Guy has just been named as the chef for the 2012 black tie gala ball in LA as well as representing Victoria by hosting an event to showcase the States produce to key personnel in New York.
Guy the writer
Guy is also the author of two exquisitely presented cookbooks:
- Grossi Florentino ~ Secrets & Recipes, which won the Australian Food Media Book of the Year Award in 2004.
- Guy Grossi ~ My Italian Heart
Guy is currently writing two new books with his latest, ‘Recipes from my Mother’s Kitchen’ due for release in April 2012 and Guy will donate fifty per cent of the royalties from this book to Muscular Dystrophy Australia.
Grossi products
This Grossi experience has been extended into the home through Guy’s premium quality product range, available at Grossi Restaurants, select Woolworths stores in Victoria 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.
More information about Guy and Grossi Restaurants can be found at: www.grossi.com.au
Or contact:
Susie Thomson
PR & Marketing Manager
Grossi Restaurant Group
susie@grossi.com.au