MARK BEST

head Chef, genting dream, sydney

Mark Best commenced an apprenticeship at the Macleay Street Bistro in 1990. This was the beginning of his passion for French food. It was the heyday of modern Australian cuisine – the fusion of European techniques and ingredients with the flavours of the Asian region – and a flourishing time for Sydney’s food scene. In 1995 Mark won the annual award for Sydney’s best young chef, The Josephine Pignolet Award.

In 1995, he opened his own restaurant, Peninsula Bistro, which soon developed a strong local following and rave critical acclaim. During this time he decided to further his study of French Cuisine in France. In 1998 he worked at L’Arpége in Paris and Raymond Blanc’s, Le Manoir Aux Quatre Saisons in the UK. His time overseas fuelled his desire to start another restaurant. Marque opened in 1999.

Mark has won Chef of the Year in the annual Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide, Restaurant of the Year in Australian Gourmet Traveller, Sydney Morning Herald and Time Out magazine. Marque also featured in The World's 50 Best thre years in a row.

Mark owns Pei Modern an award winning contemporary bistro and recently opened Bistro by Mark Best on the Genting Dream - part of the expanding Dream Cruise lines.

Mark is a published author with Marque a Culinary Journey and Best Kitchen Basics.