After working with world-renowned chefs in England and France during the past 15 years, the former James Fallon High School student is the new head chef at Jones Winery Restaurant at Rutherglen.

Having worked in Melbourne, Sydney, London and the French alps, Bradford wanted to come back to the country.

“I moved to Melbourne when I was 18 and haven’t worked here since,” she said.

“Rutherglen has got a history and lovely tradition of wine.”

Bradford developed her passion for French cuisine working with Michelin star chefs Claude Bosi at Hibiscus and Andre Garret at Galvin at Windows in London; and Paul Cooper at Bishop Sessa, Ross Lusted at The Bridge Room, Grant King at Gastro Park and Brent Savage at The Bentley Restaurant and Bar in Sydney.

She said her approach to food was “nose to tail”, wasting nothing and using only seasonal and local produce.

“My style is traditional French technique with a modern twist, pushing the boundaries of flavours and making everything from scratch,” she said.

Jones Winery Restaurant’s owner Mandy Jones, a Cordon Bleu trained cook herself, said Bradford’s food was stunning: “I love its freshness and flavour and not only that, it looks magnificent; I am really looking forward to us working together,” she said.

1) What's your favourite autumn dish?

Duck a l’orange. I try to use as much seasonal produce as possible.

2) What's your favourite season?

Summer. I love cooking with stone fruit; I prefer using them in savoury dishes than in sweet.

3) What are the staples in your pantry now?

Butter, pink flaked salt and lemon oil.

4) What is your earliest cooking memory?

My mum and auntie owned an eatery in Albury. They set up a playroom for me but I was always up on the ladder peeling potatoes! 

5) Which ingredients do you grow yourself?

Herbs like thyme, sage, parsley and bay leaves. We also forage for produce.

6) Which six people would you invite to dinner?

Marco Pierre White, Shannon Bennett, Paul Cooper, Mark McDonald, Rene Redzepi and Ben Shewry.

7) What are you bingeing on TV? If anything.

The Walking Dead

8) What did you have for dinner last night?

Roast lamb

9) What are you drinking at the moment?

2015 Jones Winery LJ 

Details:

Jones Winery Restaurant,

61 Jones Road, Rutherglen

Phone: (02) 6032 8496