Guillaume Brahimi
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Guillaume Brahimi (born 11 August, 1967 in Paris, France) is a French-born chef based in Sydney, Australia. He is currently head chef of Guillaume at Bennelong restaurant located at the Sydney Opera House.[1]
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[edit] Background
Brahimi's career began in France, where following a two year apprenticeship at Aux Charpentiers he secured a position as Commis at the three-star Michelin restaurant La Tour d'Argent, eventually graduating to Chef de Partie after several years. In 1986, at the age of 19, Brahimi took up an opportunity to work with the French master chef Joël Robuchon at Robuchon's Jamin restaurant in Paris. Over the course of four years Brahimi progressed through the ranks to the position of Sous Chef, before deciding to relocate abroad.
It was Sydney, Australia that Brahimi chose as his new home. Here he opened his first restaurant, Pond in Kings Cross [2], which quickly found favour with diners and critics alike, earning the establishment Two Hats from the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide within months of opening.
Following this successful venture, Brahimi accepted an offer to captain the restaurant Bilson's (later renamed Quay) at Sydney's Circular Quay. Between 1995 and 1996, Brahimi lifted the restaurant from its mediocre stature to Two Hat status. By 1998 the restaurant had earned Three Hats from the Good Food Guide, joining the ranks of the few elite Sydney restaurants to earn this accolade each year.
In 2001, Brahimi secured the contract to run the prestigious Bennelong restaurant at the Sydney Opera House. The restaurant underwent extensive refurbishment and opened later that year, renamed Guillaume at Bennelong.
Since its opening, Guillaume at Bennelong has garnered numerous awards from such publications as Conde Naste Traveller and Gourmet Traveller magazine. The restaurant was also awarded Two Hats in the 2004 and 2005 editions of the SMH Good Food Guide, and eventually Three Hats in 2006 and 2007[3]. The restaurant however fell back to Two Hat status in 2008[4].
Today Guillaume at Bennelong is regarded as one of Sydney's iconic dining venues, thanks to its combination of original, high quality cuisine served in the ambience of one of Sydney's most famous architectural landmarks.
Brahimi has written food columns and articles for the Sydney Morning Herald and other publications. He is also actively involved in a number of charities, hosting several charity events at his restaurant over the years. Outside of life in the food industry, Brahimi is known to be an avid rugby fan, and a keen supporter of the French National Rugby Team.
[edit] Food
Brahimi's food has been described as "contemporary Australian cuisine with French influences". His dishes seek to celebrate Australian produce, articulated in modern style through French technique. The dishes might range from his signature East-meets-West entree, "Basil infused tuna with mustard seed and soy vinaigrette", to Italian-inspired "Roasted marron wrapped in proscuitto with risotto, veal jus and truffle", to dishes closer to the classical French repertoire such as his "Duck Confit with pommes pont neuf, foie gras and truffle".
