Guy Grossi
Encyclopedia
Guy Grossi is an Australian Chef and media personality. He is first generation Italian in Australia and draws his inspiration, for his cooking, from his Italian heritage. Guy currently owns and operates restaurants in Melbourne
, Australia
and Bangkok
, Thailand
.
In 1996, Guy was awarded the prestigious L’insegna Del Ristorante Italiano, by the president of Italy
, for his dedication to presenting and promoting “La Cucina Italiana” and life style. Guys Restaurants are consistently rated highly by both the public and the media. Guy has published two cookbooks “Grossi Florentino – secrets and recipes” and “My Italian Heart”.
, Australia
and raised by his parents Pietro Grossi and Marissa Grossi. Guy’s father Pietro came to Australia from Milan
in 1960 to work as a chef at legendary Mario’s in Exhibition Street, Melbourne. Pietro was not only a father to Guy but also a teacher and mentor.
Some of Guy’s most memorable moments as a child were those spent playing Footy or Cricket
on the streets of suburban Melbourne where life revolved mostly around the table. Many of Guy’s school holidays were spent in commercial kitchens peeling potatoes and sweeping floors whilst keeping his father company behind the stoves of some of Melbourne’s best Restaurants.
Guy attended Dallas North primary school before moving to Glenhuntly primary. Lunchtime was a highlight for Guy as a young boy, whether it was going home for a tasty Italian home cooked meal or having his mother bring him a crusty roll filled with mortadella. Guy also attended Caulfield Technical School where he completed up to year 10 before leaving to follow his dream as a chef.
In 1999, Guy purchased the great dame of Melbourne’s Italian restaurants, ‘The Florentino’. Grossi Florentino’ has been part of Melbourne’s restaurant scene and streetscape for more than 80 years. Beginning as a simple Wine café, ‘The Florentino’ progressed with the years, into one of Melbourne’s most significant dining establishments. Its clientele has included prime ministers, politicians, corporate leaders, artists, writers, musicians, journalists, socialites, locals and many of Australia’s visitors.
Always keen for new opportunities to explore and express his culinary art, Guy ventured to secure ‘Mirka at Tolarno Hotel’ in St Kilda. In 2006, Guy assured that this iconic landmark would live on. Guy saw to the immediate restoration of the acclaimed Mirka Mora murals, restored by the artist Mirka herself. The murals were first painted in the 1960s when she and her husband Georges owned the Tolarno Hotel. Mirka at Tolarno Hotel offers continental dining in a beautifully colourful and lively environment.
In 2009, Guy expanded the Grossi brand internationally through a partnership with the Intercontinental Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand where the ‘Grossi Trattoria and Wine Bar’ is now open. Guy also has forthcoming plans for 2010, which will include a new restaurant, ‘The Merchant’. It is to be located in Melbourne’s corporate district and will feature the best food from the Veneto region, where Guy’s mother originates. Guy also intends on travelling to his family’s homeland, Italy, where he will capture the essence of regional Italian cooking and ingredients as inspiration for his third cookbook with Lantern Publications http://www.lantern-books.com.
Guys sister Elizabeth and her husband Chris are also important parts of not only Guy’s family but also the Grossi brand.
Guy brings his passion for food into the home as he embraces his family life with wife Melissa and children Carlo and Loredana. Guy says: “I always find the way to talking to my children is to cook together. There is no outside distraction and it’s a wonderful way to communicate.” After growing up in a tight knit family, Guy places a great deal of importance on his family time. Most Sundays are family days where he will spend cooking for or eating with his whole family.
, Hanover
, Open Family Australia, Food for Trees,http://www.foodfortrees.com.au/ and the Australian Marine Conservation Society http://www.amcs.org.au/. Guy is also a patron for the HEAT program, helping disengaged young people by providing them with valuable hospitality training and support.
http://9am.ten.com.au, Fresh, Postcards http://www.visitvictoria.com/redirect...7/pg.whomepage/, Getaway http://www.getaway.ninemsn.com.au, Neighbours http://www.neighours.com.au, My Kitchen Rules http://au.tv.yahoo.com/my-kitchen-rules/, A Current Affair http://www.aca.ninemsn.com.au, and Sunrise http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/. He has also appeared on various American shows such as CBS http://www.cbs.com/ in New York and Good Day Philadelphia. Guy has been recently chosen as one of 3 Australian iron chefs. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/aussie-iron-chefs-revealed-20100819-12fcv.html
Guy is also a national judge of the Electrolux Appetite for Excellence awards http://www.youngchef.com.au, The Age Good Food Guide Young Chef awards and he is also an ambassador for Skills Victoria http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/.
Guy features weekly in the Sunday Herald Sun http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ providing Victoria with simple tasty recipes for the home cook.
Guy has been involved in various stage productions, demonstrations and corporate events. He is also called upon as an industry spokesman for a range of events.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
In 1996, Guy was awarded the prestigious L’insegna Del Ristorante Italiano, by the president of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, for his dedication to presenting and promoting “La Cucina Italiana” and life style. Guys Restaurants are consistently rated highly by both the public and the media. Guy has published two cookbooks “Grossi Florentino – secrets and recipes” and “My Italian Heart”.
Early life
Guy Grossi was born in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and raised by his parents Pietro Grossi and Marissa Grossi. Guy’s father Pietro came to Australia from Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
in 1960 to work as a chef at legendary Mario’s in Exhibition Street, Melbourne. Pietro was not only a father to Guy but also a teacher and mentor.
Some of Guy’s most memorable moments as a child were those spent playing Footy or Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
on the streets of suburban Melbourne where life revolved mostly around the table. Many of Guy’s school holidays were spent in commercial kitchens peeling potatoes and sweeping floors whilst keeping his father company behind the stoves of some of Melbourne’s best Restaurants.
Guy attended Dallas North primary school before moving to Glenhuntly primary. Lunchtime was a highlight for Guy as a young boy, whether it was going home for a tasty Italian home cooked meal or having his mother bring him a crusty roll filled with mortadella. Guy also attended Caulfield Technical School where he completed up to year 10 before leaving to follow his dream as a chef.
Professional career
In 1980 (completed in 1984), Guy commenced his apprenticeship in commercial cookery at http://www.boxhilltafe.gov.edu.au Box Hill TAFE. At the age of fifteen he began working in a Malvern seafood restaurant before progressing to Tolarno’s, where his father led the kitchen. Guys father Pietro together with Leon Massoni and David Gibson became partners of ‘Massoni’s’, Fitzroy Street where Guy also worked. Following a stint at Two Faces Guy and wife, Melissa opened their own restaurant ‘Quadri’ in Armadale, the first of many successful Grossi eateries. Guy’s Father Pietro rejoined Guy and Melissa when they opened ‘Caffé Grossi’ in 1988 and later expanded the Grossi brand by opening ‘Pietro Ristorante’ and ‘Epoca’.In 1999, Guy purchased the great dame of Melbourne’s Italian restaurants, ‘The Florentino’. Grossi Florentino’ has been part of Melbourne’s restaurant scene and streetscape for more than 80 years. Beginning as a simple Wine café, ‘The Florentino’ progressed with the years, into one of Melbourne’s most significant dining establishments. Its clientele has included prime ministers, politicians, corporate leaders, artists, writers, musicians, journalists, socialites, locals and many of Australia’s visitors.
Always keen for new opportunities to explore and express his culinary art, Guy ventured to secure ‘Mirka at Tolarno Hotel’ in St Kilda. In 2006, Guy assured that this iconic landmark would live on. Guy saw to the immediate restoration of the acclaimed Mirka Mora murals, restored by the artist Mirka herself. The murals were first painted in the 1960s when she and her husband Georges owned the Tolarno Hotel. Mirka at Tolarno Hotel offers continental dining in a beautifully colourful and lively environment.
In 2009, Guy expanded the Grossi brand internationally through a partnership with the Intercontinental Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand where the ‘Grossi Trattoria and Wine Bar’ is now open. Guy also has forthcoming plans for 2010, which will include a new restaurant, ‘The Merchant’. It is to be located in Melbourne’s corporate district and will feature the best food from the Veneto region, where Guy’s mother originates. Guy also intends on travelling to his family’s homeland, Italy, where he will capture the essence of regional Italian cooking and ingredients as inspiration for his third cookbook with Lantern Publications http://www.lantern-books.com.
Personal life
Guy married Melissa Jennifer Gardiner in 1986. They have two children, son Carlo Pietro (b. 1988) and Daughter Loredana Eva (b. 1991).Guys sister Elizabeth and her husband Chris are also important parts of not only Guy’s family but also the Grossi brand.
Guy brings his passion for food into the home as he embraces his family life with wife Melissa and children Carlo and Loredana. Guy says: “I always find the way to talking to my children is to cook together. There is no outside distraction and it’s a wonderful way to communicate.” After growing up in a tight knit family, Guy places a great deal of importance on his family time. Most Sundays are family days where he will spend cooking for or eating with his whole family.
Charity and environment
Numerous donations include: the Starlight Foundation, Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, Camp QualityCamp Quality
Camp Quality is a children’s family cancer charity that believes in bringing optimism and happiness to the lives of children and families affected by cancer through fun therapy and education. They believe laughter is the best medicine.-History:...
, Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, Open Family Australia, Food for Trees,http://www.foodfortrees.com.au/ and the Australian Marine Conservation Society http://www.amcs.org.au/. Guy is also a patron for the HEAT program, helping disengaged young people by providing them with valuable hospitality training and support.
Media
As a media personality Guy regularly appears on various TV shows in Australia including Food Safari http://www.sbs.com.au/foodsafari, Masterchef http://www.masterchef.com.au/ http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/perth-boarding-school-chef-whips-iron-chef-20101110-17mly.html, 9am with David and Kim9am with David and Kim
9am with David & Kim was an Australian morning show which premiered on Monday 30 January 2006 on Network Ten. It aired live from 9am - 11am weekday mornings, and was hosted by former National Nine News presenter Kim Watkins and former Getaway reporter David Reyne...
http://9am.ten.com.au, Fresh, Postcards http://www.visitvictoria.com/redirect...7/pg.whomepage/, Getaway http://www.getaway.ninemsn.com.au, Neighbours http://www.neighours.com.au, My Kitchen Rules http://au.tv.yahoo.com/my-kitchen-rules/, A Current Affair http://www.aca.ninemsn.com.au, and Sunrise http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/. He has also appeared on various American shows such as CBS http://www.cbs.com/ in New York and Good Day Philadelphia. Guy has been recently chosen as one of 3 Australian iron chefs. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/aussie-iron-chefs-revealed-20100819-12fcv.html
Guy is also a national judge of the Electrolux Appetite for Excellence awards http://www.youngchef.com.au, The Age Good Food Guide Young Chef awards and he is also an ambassador for Skills Victoria http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/.
Guy features weekly in the Sunday Herald Sun http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ providing Victoria with simple tasty recipes for the home cook.
Guy has been involved in various stage productions, demonstrations and corporate events. He is also called upon as an industry spokesman for a range of events.
Past and current
- Quadri
- Caffe Grossi
- Pietro’s Ristorante
- Epoca
- Grossi Florentino
- Mirka at Tolarno Hotel
- Grossi Trattoria and Wine Bar
- The Merchant (opening 2010)