Five legends of Australian cooking are being immortalised on a postage stamp as the recipients of the 2014 Australia Post Legends Award.
Chosen by an industry selection panel, are the culinary greats Margaret Fulton OAM, Maggie Beer AM, Stephanie Alexander OAM, Neil Perry AM and Kylie Kwong.
Recognised for their influence over Australia’s food culture and the visionary role each have played in shaping Australia’s palate and laying the foundations of our gastronomic success.
The 2014 Australia Post Australian Legends will be honoured at official Australia Day Council events hosted in all capital cities.
Michael Harden, independent culinary writer and member of the industry selection panel, believes the current food culture we have in Australia would not have been possible without the input of these amazing and visionary cooks.
“The people on this list have been integral to the way we eat now, and their innovation, imagination and integrity will keep the inspiration going into the future. It’s enough to make you hungry just thinking about it,” Mr Harden said.
Ahmed Fahour, Managing Director & CEO, Australia Post, said this year’s award celebrates five Australians who have each played a distinct role in the emergence of a sophisticated Australian food culture.
“These five individuals have taught Australians to appreciate our abundant fresh ingredients and to embrace the flavours of multiculturalism,” Mr Fahour said.
“They are not just cooks, but business-minded authors, teachers, TV personalities and restaurateurs. For this, they truly deserve the title Australian Legend.”
Maggie Beer said she was delighted at being named a 2014 Legend of Cooking.
“I’m a sentimentalist and I’ve got every letter my mother wrote me while I was overseas, so being on a stamp makes me very proud. There have been so many parts of my life that I’ve had to pinch myself about, and this is one of them.”
While Kylie Kwong said she was absolutely chuffed.
“I don’t even think it’s sunk in yet; I’m still digesting the enormity of it. It fills me with such pride and it makes me want to do even more for this country and to take what I do that step further.”
This year’s recipients will join an exclusive group of only 70 others awarded Legend status.
The Legends Award began 16 years ago when Sir Donald Bradman was the first living Australian to be honoured on an Australian stamp. Prior to that, the only living people honoured on our nation's stamps were members of the royal family.
Today, the only other living Australians to feature on stamps are Australian Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallists.
Each Legend will feature on a 60c stamp, with all Legends featuring in a stamp pack, first day cover and set of maxi cards along with a commemorative book titled Australian Legends of Cooking, written by Michael Harden.
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