Name
Adrian Richardson
Position
Chef owner
Establishment
La luna bistro, 320 rathdowne st, carlton north
What inspired you to be a chef?
I have always been around good food & people that love eating good food. I also come from a long line of chef’s, so it was a natural fit.
What was the first meal you cooked & what age?
Mud pie with gravel, grass & bird feather in the backyard & served it up on mum’s new carpet. The whole family remembers that one - 4years old.
What is your favorite ingredient?
The things i use most in my cooking are fresh herbs, salt & pepper
Which kitchen utensil couldnt you live without?
I couldn’t live with out my quiver of knives, i have amazed quite a collection of chef’s knives, many of my knives have been passed on by my grandfather.
It is the knives that are the extension of my hand that allows me to do many of the things i do.
What is your worst cooking disaster?
During the victorian gas crisis, i had just opened la luna, we had a full restaurant & the gas was switched off mid service. I had only been opened three months & having the gas switched off for three weeks nearly destroyed my business.
If you could invite 4 people over for dinner who would they be?
My wife & three wonderful boys. Working in the restaurant i don’t get a lot of time to eat dinner. Anytime i do have i’d rather spend at home with them, than anyone else.
What makes you laugh?
Everything...... I find humour in everything.
Who inspires you the most?
My children
What is your favorite restaurant?
Casa mono, new york. Mario batali’s spanish restaurant
What do you eat most at home?
At home i have three young boys, daddy has to set a good example, a little bit of meat & all of his vegies, that’s why daddy’s so big & strong.
What would you tell the youth of today to encourage them to join our industry?
If you want to work really hard, long hours, for not a lot of pay, in hot smelly kitchens, with people yelling & screaming at you all day, then the hospitality industry needs you.