ANTHONY “Red” Bourne has made a welcome return to river country.
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Having grown up on the Murray River at Echuca, Red feels his new role as head chef at Albury restaurant Canvas Eatery is the perfect fit.
“The produce in this area is amazing,” he said.
“I am really passionate about food and put everything into it.”
Learning to cook from age eight, Red had solid foundations for his myriad food experiences that took him all over the world.
“My grandfather was Lebanese and I learnt to cook Middle Eastern food from a young age,” he said.
“My old brother is a classically, French trained chef and I have always liked classic food using good technique.”
Having trained at Echuca, Red worked in Melbourne and London before scoring a one-year post on a superyacht in the Mediterranean.
“There’s nothing like going to a remote island off the coast of Croatia and finding out the boss will be on board in two days and you’ve got to put together a menu.”
Having learnt Spanish while living in Barcelona, Red also worked in Bolivia for a year.
Most recently he worked at Melbourne CBD produce-oriented bistro Pei Modern and popular Coburg cafe The Boot Factory.
What's your favourite dish?
Lebanese stuffed vine leaves, a throwback to my Lebanese grandfather.
What are the staples in your pantry?
Olive oil; Murray River salt flakes; all of the spices.
What's the biggest product discovery you have made in cooking?
Smoking chips. We cold smoke our own salmon at Canvas. I love curing and smoking food.
What's your secret vice?
Choc mint biscuits
What is your recipe standby?
At home it’s risotto. At Canvas we do great hashbrowns with smoked salmon and hollandaise sauce.
What is your most unforgettable meal and where?
A degustation with matching wines at MoMo in Melbourne.
What's your favourite cooking utensil?
Chef’s knife.
What's in your kitchen toolkit?
Mandoline, Asian grater, microplane and cake tester.
What did you have for dinner last night?
Thyme crumbed lamb chops, brined for a day, and vegetables from the farmers’ market.
What are you drinking?
Latte in the morning and Pale Ale after work.
Details:
Canvas Eatery,
564 Dean Street, Albury
Phone: (02) 6023 4923