Matt Moran

Career/Business

Matt started his food career at the age of 15, as an apprentice at La Belle Helene Restaurant in Roseville, on Sydney’s North Shore. Here, he discovered the art of classical French cooking, which remains the foundation of his cooking today. Matt opened his first restaurant, The Paddington Inn Bistro, in 1991 at just 22 years old. In 1995 he opened Moran's Restaurant and Café, which was awarded best new restaurant in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide. In 1999, at the age of 30, Matt opened his iconic two-hat Aria Restaurant in an unparalleled location on Sydney Harbour.

He continued to expand the business with the opening Opera Bar in 2006 and establishing Aria Catering in Sydney, Brisbane and exclusively at the Sydney Opera House. ARIA Brisbane opened its doors in 2009, and has been awarded two coveted Chefs Hats like its Sydney sister. Chiswick in Woollahra and Riverbar & Kitchen in Brisbane were established in 2012.

More recent additions to his ever-expanding empire include North Bondi Fish, Chiswick at the Gallery, Chophouse and Paddo Inn Bar & Grill. The next project is set to be the most innovative venture to date, an inspirational three-storey venue opening in 2017 at the breathtaking new Barangaroo precinct. As his business continues to grow, Matt is dedicated to developing the people at the heart of his businesses; fostering their passions, encouraging professional development and providing exceptional opportunities within the food industry.

Among other achievements, he is also a frequent contributor to magazines and newspapers globally and he is a member of the culinary panel for Singapore Airlines designing in-flight menus. He was also awarded GQ’s Chef of the Year in both 2012 and 2014 and has been part of the national judging panel for the coveted Delicious Produce Awards, since its inception in 2005.

Venues

Matt’s venues include Aria Sydney, Aria Brisbane, Chiswick, Opera Bar, North Bondi Fish, Riverbar & Kitchen, Chiswick at the Gallery, Paddo Inn Bar & Grill and Chophouse. His business continues to expand with the announcement of a new restaurant at Barangaroo on Sydney’s foreshore, due to open later this year. In 2016, Matt became joint Managing Director of Solotel, one of the most diverse hospitality groups in Australia.

Check out Matt's venues here:

Aria Sydney - https://www.ariarestaurant.com/sydney/

Aria Brisbane - https://www.ariarestaurant.com/brisbane/

Chiswick - http://www.chiswickrestaurant.com.au/woollahra/about.html

Chiswick at the Gallery - http://www.chiswickrestaurant.com.au/art-gallery-nsw/about.html

Opera Bar - http://operabar.com.au/

North Bondi Fish - http://www.northbondifish.com.au/

Riverbar & Kitchen - http://riverbarandkitchen.com.au/

Paddo Inn Bar & Grill - http://paddoinn.com.au/

Chophouse - https://www.chophousesydney.com.au/

Farmer

Matt is also a fifth generation farmer and still owns a farm to this day. He has a true love of the land and is passionate about farming and creating exceptional produce. Moran Family Farm is located in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia and supplies premium quality lamb and beef to Matt’s restaurants.

Food Philosophy

At the heart of every one of Matt’s endeavours lies a passion for fresh, seasonal produce. This philosophy is showcased in his award-winning contemporary Australian menus that emphasise seasonal ingredients, balanced flavours and premium-quality produce.

Matt is a pioneer of the ‘paddock to plate’ philosophy, and a firm believer in the importance of consumers being connected to the source of their food. Both Chiswick and Chiswick at the Gallery have a kitchen garden that the chefs frequent to pick fresh greens, garnishes, fruit and vegetables each day. If it’s out of season, it’s not on the menu. Matt also loves to support inspirational local and regional producers, growers and farmers—each with their own unique stories, that he believes makes eating so much more special.

This seed was planted early for Matt, who spent his early years on a farm, where a commitment to the land, love of food and seasonal, local produce were instilled in him.

Television

Matt is one of Australia's most recognised, celebrated and influential chefs, having hosted prime-time shows such as Masterchef and Masterchef Junior, Heat in the Kitchen, The Chopping Block, My Restaurant Rules, The Bank, his own conceptualised award-winning TV show Paddock to Plate and The Great Australian Bake Off alongside Maggie Beer, which currently airs on Foxtel’s Lifestyle Food channel. He will also appear on Channel Nine’s Family Food Fight later this year.

Cookbooks

Matt is a published author. He’s written four best-selling cookbooks with another soon to be published.

Matt’s Kitchen Garden (2014)

When I Get Home (2013)

Dinner at Matt’s (2011)

Matt Moran (2008)