Mushroom Mania Ambassadors 2003 - 2009

2009 - Tobie Puttock
With his Channel 10 hit series ‘Jamie’s Kitchen: Australia’ (2006) and Lifestyle FOOD TV series ‘Tobie and Matt: Europe and Asia’ (2008), the launch of his two best selling cook books ‘Daily Italian’ (2006) and ‘Italian Local’ (2008) and his monthly column for Delicious magazine, the last 4 years has seen Tobie and his wild head of hair fast become one of Australia’s most well known and loved celebrity chefs.  Tobie Puttock heads up Fifteen Foundation in Melbourne.

“Nothing makes me happier than one of my suppliers walking through the door with freshly picked mushrooms, especially when they are local and boutique, like slippery jacks, pine mushrooms or morels. But even the smell of little button mushrooms cooking with pancetta, thyme and garlic fills the kitchen with joy.”

2008 Peter Howard
Peter Howard is a renowned chef and respected industry leader whose career has traversed television, restaurants and the community as media presenter, chef, educator and author of Delicious Living and Delicious Entertaining. His passionate interest in all things edible encouraged him to search out new developments in food and wine, which he presented on weekly appearances on the National 9 Networks Today Show for 14 years as Food Editor. Today, Peter works with Diabetes Australia, represents the Australian Wine industry throughout the world, and plays a major part in the yearly event Gday USA.

Mushrooms are so versatile and easy to incorporate into any meal or any cuisine they are the perfect ingredient for chefs in the busiest of kitchens. And to top it off, customers love mushrooms, so they will be happy too. Mushrooms are one of the real winners on ANY menu.

2007 - Ed Halmagyi
Ed Halmagyi is best known to families throughout the country as Fast Ed, cooking presenter on Australia's number 1 lifestyle show, the multiple Logie-awarded Better Homes & Gardens. Every week Ed helps Aussie families conquer their kitchens with simple and incredibly fast dishes. Ed is also active in a wide range of other media, hosting travel shows, the Better homes & Gardens radio show, publishing magazines and books, and managing his own on-line cooking resource. Ed's new book 'Dinner in 10' is on sale from August 2009. Ed has been a passionate advocate for mushrooms for several years now, both as a chef and ambassador. This Ed wants everyone to remember that 'When you fire up the barbie, don't forget the mushrooms!'"

“Mushrooms are a unique food; they can dominate a dish, or delicately complement other flavours. Few foods are as versatile. Cooking with mushrooms is one of the simplest ways to transform your meal into a work of art. There are certain ingredients that a chef knows will always appeal to customers – and mushrooms are at the top of my list!

2006 - Peter Evans
After opening his first restaurant, The Pantry, in Melbournes bay side suburb of Brighton in 1993, Pete moved to Sydney in 1996 and established his second restaurant Hugos, in Bondi followed by Hugos Lounge in Kings Cross in 2000 and then Hugos Bar Pizza in 2004. Petes restaurants have gone on to win numerous awards including the recent “Best Pizza in the World in late 2005.

"Mushrooms are vitally important to me, as a chef and a passionate cook in my kitchen at home. Mushrooms add a touch of wonder to many of my dishes and I couldn't think of another vegetable that I love to cook with more".

2005 - Serge Dansereau
Serge Dansereau is a chef and restaurateur who respects the service tradition and regards quality produce as the optimum ingredient in his cooking. In a country with a worldwide reputation for restaurant excellence he continues at the forefront. He is considered one of the trendsetters and leading chefs of Australia. In February 2003 Serge became the sole owner of The Bathers' Pavilion, for him a dream that came true.

“People who know me and eat at my restaurant understand my passion for good food. Mushrooms are versatile and I love creating dishes that highlight the smells and flavour of this great product. I am thrilled to know that so many other chefs around Australia will be doing the same.

2003 - Stefano De Pieri
Stefano de Pieri was born in Treviso, near Venice. He migrated to Australia in 1974 and has worked as a newspaper editor, ministerial advisor, restaurateur, cook, political candidate, environmentalist and patron of the arts. He is best known for his television series A Gondola on the Murray and his eponymous restaurant at the Mildura Grand Hotel. He was awarded a Federation Medal for his services to tourism and his restaurant was nominated in Australias top 100 restaurants in the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide for 2007/08.

I love mushrooms because they are one of the most versatile inventions of nature. They suit many cuisines around the world, providing fun for the cook and great flavours for the diners.