Celebrity Chefs are known as much for their personality as their cooking. Meet a few of Australia's favourite chefs.

While not always reaching fame beyond the coast of Australia, there are a several popular chefs that have entertained and educated Australians about food, cooking and dining over the years.

Bernard King

King was host of his own program King’s Kitchen and an acerbic-tongued judge on talent search programs Pot of Gold and later New Faces. King’s flamboyant and outspoken style is well remembered. He was Australia’s first television cooking personality.

Peter Russell-Clarke

Russell-Clarke hosted a 5 minute cooking program on the ABC during the 80s titled Come and Get It. He had a light-hearted, casual style in his presentation and his own cartoon drawings were incorporated into the program intro. He was involved in an advertising campaign for Coon cheese and “Where’s the cheese?” was one of his catchphrases.

Margaret Fulton

Born in Scotland, Margaret Fulton continues to reign supreme as Australia’s ultimate cookbook guru. As a column writer in popular women’s magazines and through her own cookbooks, Fulton encouraged Australians to try new foods and cooking techniques and break away from routine meats and vegetables. She has published more than 20 cookbooks.

Iain Hewitson

New Zealand born Iain ‘Huey’ Hewitson’s casual, friendly style in the kitchen has earned him a large following in Australia. With his trademark braces and a tea-towel tucked into a pocket to wipe up spills, he has charmed Australians with his casual approach to cooking. Pouring directly from packets instead of pre-measured bowls, he makes even the most complicated recipes approachable for the everyday cook. He has a range of cookbooks and a website providing recipes and cooking tips.

Stephanie Alexander

An enthusiastic advocate for Australian foods and cooking, Alexander’s Cooks Companion cookbook is an encyclopaedic collection of recipes and food information. Alexander has run her own successful restaurant and is a keen supporter of developing knowledge and appreciation of fresh foods in Australian children. Alexander has also worked with friend Maggie Beer, who appears on The Cook and the Chef with Simon Bryant.

Kylie Kwong

A fifth-generation Chinese-Australian, Kwong blends traditional family foods and techniques with modern Australian ideas. Her ABC program Cooking with Heart & Soul appealed to novice and experienced cooks. A focus on fresh ingredients and an obvious love for the culinary heritage passed down through her family make her recipes, cookbooks and program very accessible and enjoyable.

Aristos Papandroulakis

From 2001 – 2003, Aristos graced Australian television screens as the Surprise Chef. He surprised shoppers at the local supermarket and offered to prepare a gourmet meal for them from whatever they had in their trolley and pantry at home. Aristos’ chatty style won a following for the show, but it went the way of many reality programs and had a limited period of success.

Neil Perry

A Sydney chef, Perry has also hosted several programs for The LifeStyle Channel. His successful Sydney restaurant Rockpool has become a brand name for Perry, as well as his Neil Perry Fresh food products available through Woolworths supermarkets.

Maeve O’Mara

A respected Australian food author and broadcaster, O’Mara has offered cooking advice on Better Homes & Gardens as well as hosting The Food Lovers’ Guide to Australia. The latter is a celebration and exploration of Australia’s diverse food culture that provides more interest for the gourmet or travel foodie than the everyday household cook.

An informal style in presentation and food preparation are generally preferred by the laid back Australian public. The most popular Australian celebrity chefs have been those that have made cooking more accessible to the general Australian public.