Executive Chef, Albert St Food & Wine.
Philippa Sibley, fresh from having had her final say on desserts with her recent book P.S Desserts, will soon turn her attention to unfussy, fresh and immaculate savoury dishes as the executive chef of Albert St Food & Wine.
Opening in December on Sydney Road, Brunswick, Albert St Food & Wine is inspired by the integrity and abundance of local food from Victorian regions and will bring the country to the city through sourcing the finest quality produce, distilled through Philippa's skilful hands.
Philippa describes her menu as “romantically seasonal.” The highly innovative Mediterranean cuisine will focus on organic and local produce emphasising the ‘country to city’ and ‘paddock to plate’ ethos.
This extraordinary chef previously brought her magic touch to Melbourne’s il Fornaio at the Prince in St Kilda, Bistro Guillaume and before that was renowned for her desserts at Circa The Prince. She commenced around the same time that Andrew McConnell of Dining Room 211 and later, 312, started as Executive Chef. In 2005 the restaurant received its third hat in The Age Good Food Guide.
Circa was Philippa’s stage to secure her title as one of Australia’s best and well known dessert chefs. Monikers such as ‘Queen of the Desserts’ (Gourmet Traveller March 2006); ‘Stellar pastry chef’ (Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide 2006) and ‘Enchantress’ (Age Good Food Guide 2005) are examples of her renown.
Philippa has also consulted on the dessert menus of both The Stokehouse and Comme but is mostly well known for her creation of three iconic Melbourne restaurants: est est est, Luxe and Ondine. All three earned three hats in The Age Good Food Guide, and est est est and Ondine the coveted Best New Restaurant award.
In 2004 Philippa won Chef of the Year (Age Good Food Guide).
In 1999 she published Marriages the est est est cookbook which was awarded Best Cookbook Design, Versailles, France.
Philippa also featured in an episode of A Cook’s Tour by Anthony Bourdain in 2004 but most excitingly, appeared on MasterChef this year for the Celebrity Chef Challenge on Tuesday 4th May.
History
2011 Executive Chef - Albert St Food & Wine
2010 – 2011 Head Chef - il Fornaio
2007 – 2010 Head Pastry Chef - Bistro Guillaume
2005 – 2007 Head Pastry Chef - Circa the Prince Restaurant, Melbourne
2004 – 2005 Pastry Chef - Fenix Restaurant
2001 – 2003 Co Chef and Pastry Chef - Ondine, Melbourne
1999 – 2000 Owner - Luxe Cellar
1998 – 2000 Owner and Consultant Chef - Luxe Restaurant and Wine Bar
1997 – 2000 Owner, Co Chef and Pastry Chef - est est est, Melbourne
1996 Sous chef and Pastry Chef - Mietta’s Restaurant, Melbourne
1995 – 1996 Chef de Partie - La Cote St Jacques, Joigny, France (3 star Michelin)
1993 -1994 Chef de Partie, Sauce, Pastry, Larder - Quaglino’s, Picadilly, London
1991 – 1993 Sous Chef, Pastry Chef - Provincial Hotel, Melbourne
1990 – 1991 Commis -Tansy’s Restaurant, Melbourne
