Win a private dinner with Matt Preston

Australia’s favourite foodie, Matt Preston, says snooty Michelin stars are irrelevant to Aussies, who just want to feast on fun. Find out how to win a chance to dine with Matt Preston.

It might be the world’s oldest and most recognisable food guide, but Matt Preston says the Michelin Guide would struggle with relevance if it launched in Australia.

Famous for its three-star hierarchy of ranking restaurants, Preston said although Australia’s top restaurants were up there with the best in the world, the challenge for Michelin would be in awarding its highest three-star rating to any restaurants here.

“They’d have to be judged within the three star parameters from around the world. So, does that mean 32 petit fours on a tray, and a champagne trolley and a salt trolley and 30 waiters on the floor for 30 customers? (If so) it’s hard to see whether we’d have a three star.”

Table for two: Join Matt Preston for dinner. Picture: Sarah Matray

He said the parameters of how Michelin judged a restaurant was anathema to how the delicious. 100 guide judged restaurants, which was about rewarding dining experiences that offered amazing food and value as well as a great time.

“We look for a great experience with our friends, that we can go to — if you’ve got the money — once a week, once a month. The Michelin star system is not like that, it’s about the very top end.”

Rumoured to be part of a new food program with Gary Mehigan on Seven next year and with his latest veg-focused cookbook, More, about to launch, post MasterChef Preston is as busy as ever.

But not too busy to skip dinner.

Country Style: Gather at Coriole in McLaren Vale was named No.1 in South Australia Picture: Matt Loxton

As part of this year’s delicious. 100, one lucky voter in the People’s Choice will have a private dinner with the country’s favourite foodie.

Preston said one of the biggest changes he has seen in Australian dining in the delicious. 100 was the growth in regional dining across the country.

“Regional dining has never been stronger, it’s unbelievable. In Queensland, South Australia, in Victoria, almost half of the top 20 is outside Melbourne,” he said.

It’s not just a move towards great gastro getaways that the delicious. 100 uncovered across the country, with suburban dining another exciting development.

“Food’s never been better in the suburbs. The old days where fine dining was in a posh suburb or city based, I don’t think that’s the case anymore. You could go to the outlying suburbs of any city and find spectacular dining,” he said.

Fresh is best: Alanna Sapwell from Arc in Brisbane.

A move towards simpler, more straightforward food was another trend Preston saw when dining throughout the year.

“What Alanna Sapwell’s doing at Arc (number 1 in Queensland), what Coskun’s doing at Tulum (number 1 in Victoria), it’s pretty straightforward stuff, interesting and delicious. Adelaide’s gone mad for pizza, while Italian is big in Melbourne and Sydney,” he said.

Tulum chef/owner Coskun Uysal with his dishes at the Victorian number 1 restaurant. Picture: Alex Coppel

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“We’re in a renewed period of casualisation. Fine diners are really strong, but the new places that have opened like Alberto’s (NSW number 1), they’re quite casual dining rooms, no white tablecloths, service is friendly. The most important thing about Australian service is warmth and the desire to see your guests have a good time. You see it to the nth degree at Citta (Victoria’s best new restaurant) because you have two of the best front of house people in the world, but you find it across the country. I think our service is up there with the best in the world, it’s just different to a classic French. The invasive sommelier and waiter you see a lot in Europe isn’t done here. And that’s a good thing.”

Vote for your favourite restaurant in the delicious. 100 People’s Choice award for the chance to win a private dinner with Matt Preston. Vote at heraldsun.com.au/delicious100