Chef Mark Best is an Australian-born chef and restaurateur, known for his innovative and award-winning cuisine. Born in 1960 in Melbourne, Best grew up in a family that was passionate about food and cooking. He began his career as an apprentice at the Southern Cross Hotel in Melbourne, before moving to London to work at the Ritz Hotel.
After returning to Australia, Best worked at a number of restaurants before opening his own, Marque, in 1999. Marque quickly gained a reputation as one of Sydney’s best restaurants, thanks to Best’s creative and experimental approach to cooking. The restaurant received numerous awards, including three hats from the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide and three stars from the Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide.
In 2013, Best opened a second restaurant, Pei Modern, which also received critical acclaim. He has also written a number of cookbooks, including “Marque: A Culinary Adventure” and “Best Kitchen Basics”. In addition to his work in the restaurant industry, Best has appeared on several television shows, including “MasterChef Australia” and “Iron Chef Australia”.
Best is known for his use of unusual and innovative ingredients, as well as his attention to detail and technical skill. He is widely regarded as one of Australia’s best chefs, and has been awarded numerous accolades throughout his career, including being named Chef of the Year by the Australian Gourmet Traveller in 2010. Despite retiring from his restaurant business in 2016, Best continues to work on culinary projects, including consulting and teaching at culinary schools.
