The Cook's Companion

Stephanie Alexander AO is regarded as one of Australia’s great food educators. Her reputation has been earned through 30 years as an owner-chef in several restaurants, as the author of 18 influential books and for her groundbreaking work in creating and promoting the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation. Everything she has achieved and worked towards has been driven by her desire to break down anxieties about cooking, to emphasise the beauty of produce fresh from the garden and to promote the pleasures of sharing around a table. Her strong belief is that the earlier children learn about food through example and pleasurable hands-on experience, the better their food choices will be throughout life.

Stephanie received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1994 for her services to the hospitality industry and tourism, and for encouraging young apprentices. She was named Victorian of the Year in 2010. In 2013 Stephanie was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia for her work with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden project.

Her fifth book, The Cook’s Companion, first published in 1996, is regarded as an Australian classic, and has sold over 550,000 copies.

Among Stephanie’s other books are Stephanie’s Menus for Food Lovers, Stephanie’s Australia, Stephanie’s Seasons, Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden Companion, Stephanie Alexander & Maggie Beer’s Tuscan Cookbook, Stephanie’s Journal, Cooking and Travelling in South-West France, Home, Fresh, and her memoir, A Cook’s Life.