Top Melbourne chef Karen Martini was crowned the queen of this year’s festival alongside fellow foodie and Moomba king, Guy Grossi.
The monarchs made their mark on Monday, opening the iconic Moomba Parade before thousands of onlookers.
Ms Martini said it was an honour to be nominated as an ambassador of Melbourne in one of Australia’s most famed festivals, which she recalls awaiting with much anticipation every year as a young girl.
“There weren’t many festivals in Australia, unlike in Italy where every weekend a different town has its own event,” she said.
Dubbed “food heroes”, Karen Martini and Guy Grossi are pioneers of a sector which, today, is an integral part of Victoria’s identity within Australia and abroad.
In some ways, Ms Martini embodies the role of spokeswoman for the way we look at food, something which has changed a great deal over the course of her twenty-year career in the industry.
Today, there is much more awareness and knowledge surrounding food products and their origins, and a greater sense of complexity and sophistication in the plates served to foodies, who are more curious and demanding than ever.
Ms Martini’s childhood memories revolve around her grandmothers and the two completely different culinary experiences connected to both women.
Her maternal grandmother, of Irish descent, was involved in the hospitality industry and boasted an array of typically Anglo-Saxon signature dishes, from roast lamb to custard tart, and jam on toast.
On the other hand, her paternal grandmother introduced her to the tastes and aromas of the Mediterranean, from focacce stuffed with tuna to capers with egg, and couscous.
These memories, accompanied by the colours and fragrances of products at the Preston Market, contributed to the burning passion for food within a young Karen Martini, which would lead her to food fame.
“Every morning I check my schedule to work out which ‘hat’ I have to wear,” she explained.
“Will I be Karen the cook for television, or the professional chef Martini today?”
An author of many recipe books (the latest dedicated to turning salads and vegetables into much more than “boring” sides), television personality and judge, owner of a successful restaurant, chef and mother of two, Ms Martini is without a doubt a powerhouse.
Beginning her career at just 16 years of age at Mietta O’Donnell’s restaurant, she has earned herself a tonne of respect in what was once a largely male-dominated industry.
“When I was studying at TAFE, there were 20 boys and three girls,” she recalled.
“Now things have changed and there are far more women.”
Something which hasn’t changed much is the tough and, at times, stressful environment of the kitchen, and long shifts that often coincide with times when others are enjoying the company of friends and family.
“You can’t put your children to bed, because at that moment you’re serving up food,” Ms Martini said.
Though the successful chef explains that everybody in the profession faces the same challenges regardless of their gender, she does admit that it’s not easy to achieve a balance between career and family.
With the help of her husband and family, Ms Martini has managed to juggle her busy lifestyle, picking her children up from school and spending an hour or so with them before throwing on her apron for another evening of work.
To anybody who wishes to pursue a career in the food industry, Ms Martini has one piece of advice: despite what reality cooking shows may portray, you can’t just wing it.
Being a chef is a tough gig and, like many professions, it takes time.
It’s true that one dish can make you famous, but to build a lasting career requires integrity, and many sacrifices will be made along the way.
For example, Ms Martini admits that she has many passions, but little time to pursue them.
She wouldn’t mind studying history and design in Italy, or travelling to an Oriental country to discover its culinary secrets.
In reality, the talented foodie foresees a future in teaching, as she continues to educate people on the value of eating well.
It’s something she already does with her daughters and biggest critics, Stella and Amber.
Following her appearance at Moomba as one of this year’s monarchs, Ms Martini will be heading to the Melbourne Tomato Festival on March 19, to take part in a cooking demonstration, preparing a Sardinian pasta dish “fit for a king”.
