Chef prodigy Hugh Allen on his new restaurant, creativity – and recognising critics

In this episode, we talk to Hugh Allen. Allen, of course, was made executive chef of iconic three-hat Melbourne restaurant, Vue de Monde, at the tender age of 23. The son of a nurse and a paediatrician – both terrible cooks, it must be said – Allen was once marked at high school as a "struggling" student, but through food, he became a star. Allen just turned 30, yet has already enjoyed stints under chefs such as Neil Perry, Shannon Bennett and the esteemed René Redzepi from Copenhagen institution, Noma. He’s been a popular guest judge on MasterChef Australia, and last but not least, is opening his own Melbourne restaurant later this year, named Yiaga. To celebrate Good Weekend's annual Food & Wine issue, Allen joins senior writer Konrad Marshall for a chat about his life and career – and what’s new in the restaurant industry right now.

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