Matt Moran reveals his travel dining hot list
The Australian restaurateur loves to travel, but if you’re going with him, you’d better keep up.
Decades of international travel have honed Matt Moran’s packing skills. You’ll rarely find him at a baggage carousel, even after an international flight. “For work, my schedule is always planned so I know what I need for the days I am away, never overpacking,” the chef says.
He’s not the most enjoyable travelling companion, either. “I am a nightmare to travel with; my kids call me the terminator,” he confesses. “I like getting off the plane and home as quickly as possible. My record for getting off the plane is under five minutes.”
Desire for commuting efficiency aside, the restaurateur loves travel, and has just marked 20 years as a Singapore Airlines International Culinary Panel chef. To celebrate, Singapore Airlines has launched a first and business-class menu highlighting the Aria chef’s talents, including a mud crab, apple and cucumber entree; lobster linguine with saffron and tomato main, and strawberry tart with ripple cream, chocolate, cherry and candied macadamia to finish.
I always order this on a flight
I am not a big drinker on flights. However, there is nothing better than starting your travels with a glass of Champagne. Singapore Airlines has the most extensive wine cellar in the sky, with an incredible selection of wines. I’ll likely order a great Burgundy to have with my meal.
An international restaurant I can’t wait to return to
I’d have to say Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. Not only is Gordon Ramsay one of my best mates but Matt Abe, who is chef patron, spent five years cooking with me at Aria. It’s always very special visiting when I am in London.
I always pack
Headphones and an iPad to stay up to date and watch my latest shows on board. I also have a great charging pack that charges all my devices simultaneously.
This city has the world’s best night-life
I’d have to say London and New York City. Both cities have some of the best bars in the world. Whether you’re after a cosy cocktail bar in London, a forward-thinking progressive wine bar in Soho, or a rooftop bar overlooking New York’s skyline – both cities’ bar scenes are the best.
Most memorable culinary travel experience
I am incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to travel so much; there are so many stand-outs. However, one trip that comes to mind would be 20 years ago in Spain, when I travelled through San Sebastian, Madrid and Barcelona, dining at Restaurant Arzak, Can Fabes, El Celler de Can Roca and the very famous El Bulli, to name a few.
City that always inspires my work
I pull inspiration from my travels all over the globe, however the one city that constantly inspires me is New York. It’s always bursting with energy and filled with restaurants that reshape the dining world. I take my hat off to people who open restaurants in NYC. As the saying goes, “If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere.”
The best food market in the world
It doesn’t get much better than visiting the food markets all across regional Europe – buying local and fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables, meats, cheeses, herbs and spices unique to the area and cooking it back at a house I’ve rented. Tsukiji fish market in the centre of Tokyo is another that comes to mind.
My favourite city to eat in
It would have to be Paris. There are so many old-school, classic Parisian restaurants doing the things they’ve always done best. Being a French-trained chef also gives me a further appreciation for the city.
Where I’m travelling to next
My son is going to work in the ski season in Japan on his university break, so I thought I might fly up to Rusutsu on Hokkaido and go skiing with him for a week. It’s also one of my favourite places in the world to eat.
Last meal I ate overseas
I was in Singapore earlier this year and enjoyed some incredible satays, chilli crab and, of course, char kway teow – some of the best of Singapore’s hawker cuisine.
