Michael Fantuz - Interview

Food epiphany? The first time I ate at my grandmother's in Italy.

Kitchen Hero? My grandmother

First job in food? I was a dishwasher at the Sydney Sheraton when I was 17.

Favourite ingredient? Cuore di olivo extra virgin olive oil - it enhances the flavour of anything you put it on.

Most overrated ingredient? Bad truffle oil.

Favourite Sydney supplier? Marco Ballestrini (Lario International Pty.Ltd., Unit 16 , 198-222 Young St, Waterloo 2017. 02 9699 5600)

Favourite Sydney cheap eat? Don Don on Oxford St.

Guilty pleasure? Dolcetto D'alba - a really exceptional red wine.

Indispensable kitchen tool? My knife.

Hours do you work in the kitchen per week? 18 hours. The rest is spent working behind the bar and on the floor.

Finest food moment? Eating at Locanda Locatelli in London in September of this year.

Most memorable meal? It has to be Christmas dinner, 1994, in Venice with my grandparents. The spread was something else - I can't describe it. From the first little nibbles to dying on the couch afterwards... It was absolutely unbelievable.

Best food tip for Sydney diners? Go where the people are passionate and care.

Advice to the home cook? Keep it simple - use good ingredients and don't be afraid to pay a little bit more for quality produce. It's usually worth it.

Five ingredients that can conquer the world? White truffle, extra virgin olive oil, Sicilian sea salt, red wine, pork.

Last supper ? A whole gamut of charcuterie, nonna's gnocchi, fresh shucked oysters, suckling pig, a big slab of mum's tiramisu. Then, in my very last breath, I'd have a Bric del Gaian grappa. Then kill me.

Home cooking? I barbecue a lot. And simple pasta with olive oil and garlic.

Weirdest thing you've ever eaten? Minestrone foam in Italy.

Finish these sentence...
Plates...should always be clean
Waiters...should always be warm and have immaculate hands
Sommeliers...are few and far between when it comes to the good ones
Kitchenhands...are unappreciated. They're the best people in the world.
Customers...Are always right, even when they're wrong.

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