Andrew McConnell – Chef/Restaurateur
As a young man, Andrew McConnell had two possible outlets for his creativity. One was food. The other was visual art. Luckily for the Melbourne dining scene he chose the former path. Some of his secondary passion continues to inform his work as a chef, however. He blends and contrasts flavours to bring interest and pleasure to the palate, much as a painter uses the tonalities of paint on a palette.
'When I sit down and compose a dish, I look at the medium I'm working with, take it for what it is, then think about what other ingredients will complement it best,' Andrew says. 'I build it up on the plate in that way. I am conscious of the way it appears visually and of course the way that the different elements taste.'
Andrew's dishes are currently being exhibited at Circa, the Prince (where he is executive chef) and at The Age Good Food Guide 2007 Best New Restaurant, Three, One, Two. 'A restaurant is a social environment, so to see people use it as public space and understand it, while at the same time having the freedom to express myself creatively through my food is incredibly rewarding.'
Markets
'Queen Victoria Market is as good as any market anywhere in the world. From where I live now I can get there on foot, so I do a lot of my shopping there. When I travel I find that the quickest way to understand a region is to go to the closest market, not just because I'm a chef but because it really helps you understand the culture and diversity of a city. Vic Market represents Melbourne's different ethnic groups, produce and seasons, and people working there are happy to stop and chat.'
Drinking
'A great place for a drink is the bar at Comme. It occupies an important building in the history of Melbourne because it was previously the famous Mietta's for many years, and before that it had several incarnations as a gentlemen's club at a time when that truly meant a club for gentlemen. The fit-out is beautiful, very contemporary, and showcases a lot of the good things that we have in Melbourne.'
Shopping
'If I get a chance to unwind I love getting into a good book. Because of my interests, I can't go past Books for Cooks. It is a great spot, both for new releases and antique books. Tim and Amanda who run it stock literally thousands of books, and they are all food and wine related. From there you can go on a bit of a bookworm circuit to a couple of other favourites: Brunswick Street Bookstore and Readings, two of the best bookshops around.'
Galleries
'My main interest outside of restaurants is art galleries. I like the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA), both the building and the art they show. It is a striking contemporary place designed by architects Wood Marsh. A unique space with unique international and local art, curated with flair. It is inspiring. The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square. Again, I enjoy the spaces provided at this gallery. The architectural attention to detail is great. I love the permanent exhibition, plus the different shows that come through.'
On the street
'I like the stencil art in Melbourne's lanes and alleyways. People think it is graffiti and doesn't have a place, but I think it is a valuable if often neglected part of the fabric and landscape of the city. There are some really creative approaches to stencil art on display in just about any laneway in the CBD, plus most of the inner suburbs including St Kilda, Richmond, Fitzroy and North Melbourne.'
