Stephanie Alexander

Stephanie, how has the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival changed since your first event there back in 1993?

MFWF has just become bigger and better over the years. It seems to be well ahead of the trend and the line-up of international guests is always exciting. The mix of local events with those from abroad has been well managed I think.

How do you think the average Australian household has changed when it comes to home cooking since the release of your The Cook’s Companion in 1992?

Sometimes I wonder how much home cooking actually still goes on. Especially in households headed by the under-30s. The proliferation of cafés and food destinations offers seductive alternatives to doing it yourself. However, not many families can afford to eat out five times a week. I think The Cook’s Companion is still relevant although modern mums may well have chosen to purchase the app. To have it in your pocket is much easier than taking all 2.5kg of it to the supermarket!

Food trends, as we’re well aware, come and go. But what doesn’t go out of style in the food world?

Fresh fruit and vegetables. We are fortunate in Melbourne in having such a range of fresh food markets and specialist farmers’ markets as well as our strip shopping greengrocers. No one needs to be buying their fruit and vegetables on a tray wrapped in plastic.

Where is your favourite place to do the grocery shopping in Melbourne?

I frequent an IGA for the basics. It is small and personal and has a great selection of specialist lines such as good Australian olive oils, cheeses, fresh pasta and artisan baked goods. I also go to specialist delis such as my favourite, Laikon in Bridge Road, Richmond.

What are you most excited about in this year’s Melbourne Food and Wine Festival?

The fresh produce market, HARVEAST, which I am curating (together with Richard Cornish) at Eastland, to be held on Sunday April 9.

What’s your favourite dish in Melbourne at the moment and why?

No answer! Favourite dish is a concept I cannot relate to. It is always the last delicious thing I have tasted. And more often I have cooked it myself. Delima Shanti