Name
Mark Normoyle
Position
Executive Chef
President – Les Toques Blanches
Establishment
RACV City Club
What inspired you to be a Chef?
My father. He had a repertoire of three dishes. If I wanted to eat something different than those three dishes then I had to cook it for myself.
What was the first meal you cooked & what age?
Around the age of 14 I made a mixed grill on the barbeque in the back yard.
What is your favorite ingredient?
It changes, but this week it is cassava root, last week it was plantain bananas.
What is your worst cooking disaster?
In cooking class at secondary school, I turned an oven into an incinerator. Long story!
If you could invite 4 people over for dinner who would they be?
Gordon Ramsay, Mick Jagger, Charlie Sheen and his partner.
What makes you laugh?
Ben, my 10 year old.
Who inspires you the most?
Not one person, I am inspired by people who try to make a difference and improve themselves.
What is your favorite restaurant?
Long Grain – Great flavors and good service
What do you eat most at home?
Lamb shanks from the slow cooker on a Sunday afternoon.
What would you tell the youth of today to encourage them to join our industry?
If you are passionate about food and the industry, it can be a great career. Not many jobs have the freedom and opportunities to travel as a chef. The other bit of advice I like to give is that “your attitude is your greatest asset”.