#120 George Calombaris: The MasterChef's Rise, Fall & Comeback
Mar 6, 2024
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George Calombaris shares his rise, fall, and comeback in the culinary world. From childhood influences to running successful restaurants. Topics include sustainability, handling controversies, business ethics, and the importance of community support in times of crisis.
Transparency and resilience are fundamental lessons learned from facing challenges, such as the wage incident.
Reconnecting with his passion for cooking and focusing on personal growth has helped George Calombaris overcome tumultuous times.
Deep dives
The Challenging Wage Incident
Facing challenges from a wage incident where George discovered overpaid 51% of the workforce and underpaid 49%, leading to legal battles and negative media attention which impacted both his personal and professional life. Despite this, George learned valuable lessons about transparency and resilience.
Family Lessons and Healing
George's lowest moment was during the wage issue fallout, which deeply affected his family. However, the support and love from his family, friends, and even unexpected sources like Jeff Kennett offered a lifeline. Reflecting on his dad's resilience against cancer, George found strength to push through and focus on his family's well-being.
Rediscovery Through Cooking
After experiencing a tumultuous period, George found solace in returning to his passion for cooking. By spending quality time with his family and engaging in activities like squash, he regained a sense of purpose and stability. This reconnection with his culinary roots led George to redefine his role as a mentor rather than just a chef, emphasizing coaching and personal growth for his team.
Future Endeavors and Resilient Spirit
Despite facing significant challenges, George remains optimistic about the future. His plans include opening a restaurant where he can share his love for Greek cuisine and culture. Through his experiences, George values authenticity, resilience, and the importance of passing on life lessons to his children, paving the way for a hopeful and inspiring journey ahead.
We all love a success story, but what we value even more is a comeback story.
George Calombaris has made his mistakes but he is not hiding from them.
George is an accomplished Australian chef and restaurateur, widely recognised for his culinary expertise and contributions to the food industry. Renowned as a former judge on the popular television show 'Masterchef Australia'. While George's career has seen much success, he has also faced multiple controversies.
We spoke about the highly publicised low-points in his career, our shared love for Greek and Australian food, his childhood, how George got into cooking, the discipline and mindset it takes to be a great chef, what makes up an excellent restaurant, what he's up to now and much more.