Stephanie Alexander

Stephanie Alexander AO is regarded as one of Australia’s great food educators.

From her thirty years as owner-chef of iconic Melbourne restaurants to writing 18 influential cookbooks, Stephanie’s passionate commitment to seasonal cooking has revolutionised Australian fine dining and helped shape the nation’s eating habits.

Stephanie’s vanguard restaurant, Stephanie’s, opened in Fitzroy in 1976; moving to Hawthorn in 1980, where it remained until 1997.

In 2004, Stephanie’s commitment to fresh, seasonal food became the catalyst for the establishment of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation. Her strong belief is that the earlier children learn about how to grow and cook food through fun, hands-on experiences, the more confident and informed their food choices will be throughout their lives. In 2013, Stephanie was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia for her pioneering work.

Stephanie Alexander, 2013. Photo: Marcel Aucar.

Her early food life was influenced by her mother, Mary Burchett, a wonderful cook who was interested not just in recipes, but in the culture that inspired the dish. Stephanie studied to become a librarian before leaving Australia at the age of 21 to see the world. France was a great discovery, heavily influencing her approach to cooking, which is rooted in mindful eating, produce-driven dishes, and positive social rituals.

Stephanie’s renowned fifth book, The Cook’s Companion, has established itself as the kitchen ‘bible’ in over half a million homes since its first publication in 1996. In 2026, to celebrate thirty years of this iconic book, Stephanie is releasing a fully-updated edition. Stephanie’s other books include Stephanie’s Menus for Food Lovers, Stephanie’s Australia, Stephanie’s Seasons, Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden Companion, Stephanie Alexander & Maggie Beer’s Tuscan Cookbook, Stephanie’s Journal, Cooking and Travelling in South-West France, Home, Fresh, and her memoir, A Cook’s Life.

Some of Stephanie’s best-selling books. Photo: Brooke Holm for the Design Files.

Stephanie’s influence has inspired generations of chefs, diners, home cooks — and children. Everything she has achieved and worked towards has been driven by her desire to break down anxieties about cooking, to emphasise the beauty of nourishing produce from the garden and to promote the pleasures of sharing a meal around a table.

We are proud to nurture Stephanie’s original vision so future generations can flourish in gardens and kitchens of all shapes and sizes. Her pioneering belief that pleasurable food education links children and their communities to positive health, wellbeing and sustainability practices is even more essential now than it was two decades ago.