Meet and Greet
The ultimate opportunity to come and meet with your food heroes. Postcard pictures, exclusive books and unique merchandise will be on offer and you will find the ultimate keepsake to personalise your day.
| Time | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | George Calombaris | Sarah Graham | Bertus Basson |
| 11:00 | Matt Preston | Gary Mehigan | Matt Preston |
| 12:00 | Bertus Basson | George Calombaris | George Calombaris |
| 13:00 | Lorna Maseko | Sashi Cheliah | Ben Ungermann |
| 14:00 | Sashi Cheliah | Matt Preston | Gary Mehigan |
| 15:00 | Shannon Bennett | Lorna Maseko | Sashi Cheliah |
| 16:00 | Sarah Graham | Siba Mtongana | Sarah Graham |
| 17:00 | Gary Mehigan | Shannon Bennett | Shannon Bennett |
| 18:00 | Ben Ungermann | Bertus Basson | |
| 19:00 | Ben Ungermann |
NB – times are subject to change
Matt Preston
Award-winning food journalist and cookbook author Matt Preston is instantly recognisable as the tall and always immaculately dressed judge on MasterChef Australia – one of the world’s most-watched cooking shows. Matt is a senior editor for delicious and taste magazines and contributes to one of Australia’s best read websites, www.taste.com.au. He has also published six best-selling cookbooks in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Portugal.
Enjoy an intimate cooking and dining experience with Matt at the Chef’s Table Masterclass at Appetite Fest 2019.
Gary Mehigan
Best known as one of the three hosts and judges of MasterChef Australia, British-born Gary Mehigan moved to Australia in 1991 after several years spent working in London at two Michelin-starred restaurants, The Connaught Hotel and Le Souffle at the Hyde Park Inter-Continental (now closed). In Australia, he worked at several restaurants before starting his own business, Fenix Restaurant & Events, and later the Maribyrnong Boathouse. He also hosts Master of Taste on Fox Life India, which has been nominated for several awards.
Enjoy an intimate cooking and dining experience with Gary at the Chef’s Table Masterclass at Appetite Fest 2019.
George Calombaris
George is one of Australia’s top chefs and is instantly recognised internationally as one of the judges on MasterChef Australia - one of the most-watched shows in the world. George’s hospitality group, MAdE Establishment comprises 20 premium and casual dining restaurants that offer his signature Greek cuisine. These include Press Club Projects, Hellenic Republic, Gazi, Jimmy Grants and Yo-Chi. George is highly regarded by the international food industry with a lengthy history of accolades that reflect his passion for food and his attention to quality experiences.
Enjoy an intimate cooking and dining experience with George at the Chef’s Table Masterclass at Appetite Fest 2019.
Shannon Bennett
Shannon Bennett is widely regarded as one of the most successful and well-respected chefs in Australia. He opened his restaurant, Vue de monde, over 10 years ago and it has been awarded the prestigious Chef’s Hat Restaurant Award three times. He also owns a string of successful ventures, Café Vue de Monde, The Lui Bar, Jardin Tan, Vue Events and most recently Iki-jime Seafood by Vue and Benny Burgers. Shannon was a guest judge and mentor on MasterChef Australia from 2014 to 2018, sharing his knowledge and expertise to guide the talented home cooks throughout the series.
See Shannon cook live at the Chef’s Theatres at Appetite Fest 2019.
Sashi Cheliah
Dubbed the “King of Flavour” during the 10th season of MasterChef Australia Shashi Cheliah eventually went on to win the title of MasterChef. Born in Singapore, Sashi was introduced to food through his mother’s café and watching women in his family cook. After completing school, he joined the Singapore Police Force, but by night, was experimenting with Indian, Malaysian and Chinese cuisine in his kitchen. He moved to Australia in 2011 and finally realised his culinary dreams when he entered MasterChef Australia, which he won after securing the biggest margin and highest score ever seen in a grand finale.
Cook Shashi’s signature dish alongside him at Appetite Fest 2019 taking place at Time Square from 13 to 15 September.
Sarah Graham
Sarah is a celebrated South African-based cook, food writer and TV show host. She grew up on a small wildlife conservancy in Zimbabwe, which inspired her food philosophy that focuses on beautiful, clean and nourishing food. She started her food blog, A foodie lives here, in May 2010 and later that year, became the first local blogger to be awarded a cookbook contract with Random House. She has published four books and hosted two TV shows, Sarah cooks Cape Town and Sarah Graham’s Food Safari which aired in South Africa and the US.
Cook Sarah’s signature dish alongside her at Appetite Fest 2019.
Adrian Vaughan
Adrian is executive chef at Time Square and co-founder of Appetite Fest. Before that, he was executive sous chef at The Maslow Hotel where his tantalising signature dishes made the Maslow’s Lacuna Bistro one of the top restaurants in the Sandton financial district.
See Adrian cook live at the Chef’s Theatre at Appetite Fest 2019.
Siba Mtongana
Multi-award winning culinary extraordinaire Siba Mtongana is the first African chef to have a global reach and influence in over 130 countries. Her “sibalicious” show on the Food Network, Siba’s Table, airs in over 60 million homes in the US alone. Siba’s Table has also won five accolades at the US Film and Television Awards, and another four awards locally. Her acclaimed cookbook, My Table, has won two Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.
Cook Siba’s signature dish alongside her at Appetite Fest 2019.
Bertus Basson
Celebrated Cape Town Chef Bertus Basson has a food philosophy rooted in traditional South African food culture with a modern outlook. He opened his restaurant, Overture, in 2007 in the picturesque Winelands and has been awarded prestigious accolades from the Eat Out guide and Rossouw’s Restaurant by Diners Club. He was a judge on the popular TV show Ultimate Braai Master. His food empire includes three restaurants, Spek & Bone, De Vrije Burger and Eike in Stellenbosch as well as a range of condiments.
Explore modern Cape cuisine when you cook alongside Bertus at Appetite Fest 2019 taking place at Time Square from 13 to 15 September.
Claire Allen
Claire Allen is a multi-talented entertainer and online content curator who has combined a successful career in marketing with a sincere and insatiable love of food that was ignited after she competed in MasterChef South Africa. Since then, she has appeared on SABC 3’s Expresso as a celebrity chef contributor and has also headlined several culinary events across the country.
Catch Claire at Appetite Fest taking place at Time Square.
Lorna Maseko
Self-proclaimed “hostess with the mostest”, Lorna Maseko is a celebrity entertainer and food entrepreneur. On her show, The Hostess with Lorna Maseko, Lorna tantalised celebrities and special guests with her creative take on fusion and local cuisine. She has also made guest appearances on Celebrity MasterChef South Africa, SABC 3’s Expresso and Afternoon Express and hosted Top Chef South Africa.
Cook Lorna’s signature dish alongside her at Appetite Fest 2019.
Ben Ungermann
MasterChef Australia finalist Ben Ungermann has been on a whirlwind journey since appearing on the show in 2017. Dubbed the “Ice Cream King” by MasterChef fans, Ben went on to open a retro ice cream parlour called Ungermann Brothers in Brisbane, Australia in 2018. He is set to open two more ice cream parlours in Mumbai and Bali. Ben has also curated menus for top restaurants in Indonesia and India.
Get a chance to snap a selfie with Ben at Appetite Fest 2019.
