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What motivates a person who has gained his pilots’ license at 16, and whose father was also a pilot, to change tack mid stream and become a Chef? An inherited passion for cooking from his Grandfather could be one explanation, but whatever the reason, Melbourne and its food scene, were the fortunate ones. Adrian Richardson is what you would call a “Quiet Achiever”. His restaurant, La Luna is a successful and bustling place in North Carlton, serving up clean, fresh and innovative food.
From the age of 14 this passionate young Chef began working in Cafes and bistros. After completing Year 12, his boss at the café he was working at, offered him an Apprenticeship and the rest, as they say, is history. Richardson spent time training at the Victoria Arts Centre, Le Restaurant at The Regent Hotel under Dietmar Sawyer, Liam Tomlin & Russell Armstrong, O’Connell’s Hotel with Greg Malouf, in the UK with Antony Worrall-Thompson and in Canada. But it was under the watchful eye of Michael Bacash at Toofey’s where he rounded off his experience and set upon his current course to open his own place.
Adrian has a simple philosophy with his food, which he calls “modern Mediterranean”, and that is to use the freshest ingredients and keep it simple. His rule for all his fish on the menu is fresh fish or No Fish! He is so passionate about his food; he ripens his own avocados and tomatoes, makes his own pasta daily, ages his beef on the bone and uses mushrooms that have only been picked hours before arriving at his restaurant. This must be love!
And now Adrian is receiving the recognition he deserves with his well regarded appearances alongside Tobie Puttock in “Jamie’s Kitchen Australia”. Adrian’s restaurant La Luna Bistro, even received a personal endorsement from Jamie Oliver himself in front of a live audience of 6000 people, in Melbourne during Jamie’s live tour (Sept 2006).
Adrian is one of the team of regular Chefs on Channel Ten’s new hit TV series “Ready Steady Cook”, which is now in it’s third season, and has filmed a number of cooking segments on the Channel Nine’s ‘Boat Show’ and “Car Show”. He has appeared on Channel Nine’s ‘Fresh’ and ‘Switching Lives’, and Channel Ten’s “Good Morning Australia”. Adrian has been a regular guest on talkback radio, and is in constant demand as a Guest Chef.
La Luna continues to thrive and is considered one of Melbourne’s best Mediterranean Bistros, and with various projects in progress, there is never a dull moment in this passionate Chefs’ life.
Adrian, since I've discovered your "Secret Meat Business" and "Boys Weekend" shows, I've started taping them. You are amazing, funny and fun to watch!
Hey there Adrian, love your show's, & look forward to learning more, can't wait to Visit your Restaurant, hope your there when we go..When i book, i'll make sure you will be there, thank's i think your great. :o)
Hi Adrian, I did not like cooking shows until I saw you. I found them boring and difficult to follow. I can understand, enjoy and create from watching you. Your an amazing teacher. Thankyou for taking me to a whole new place of wonder and delight. Sheryl
Adrian, I don't wish to offend, but a little grandmotherly advice : I love your food but I cannot recommend your recipes to anyone of lesser experience who cannot 'read between the lines'. You need an editor. Times and temperatures, and juxtaposition of ingredients need to be detailed. XXX
For me it doesn't get much better than Adrian Richardson. The mrs turns 40 next year. La Luna will be on the top of our 'to do' list as we fly in for the weekend. AWESOME!
Had a fantastic night on Saturday night with Adrian the chef for a private part...amazing, fantastic food with the beautiful joy and smile of a chef having a great time...couldn't have been better...Robyn
Hi Adrian, Just wanted to let you know we love your relaxed attitude to cooking a lot of chefs now are a bit to pedantic for me. Keep up the great job. Sue
Hi Adrian, I was watching "good chef bad chef " on sat 25th Feb and you made chocolate brownies with macademia nuts, in food processor and would love the recipe. I have searched but to no avail, so if you can send me the recipe I would much appreciate as it looked soooo easy done in the processor Angela
HI ADRIAN I HOPE YOU ARE READING MY COMMENT I WATCH YOU SHOW EVERY WEEKDAY IAM A BIG FAN OF YOURS KEEP UP THE FANTASTIC PROGRAM I WHOULD LIKE TO ENQUIRE CAN YOU COOK A TURKISH RECIPE FOR ME AND MENTION MY NAME ON YOUR PROGRAM AFTER YOU MAKE PLEASE SAY THIS FOR YOU NICK WHAT A CRACKER DISH PLEASE FOR ME? SO FAR I HAVENT SEEN YOU COOK ANY TURKISH CAN YOU MAKE A DONER KEBAB OR LAMACUN AND PIDE BREAD ON LEBANESE BREAD SERVED WITH YOGURT DRINK NEXT TO IT YOU FAN NICK
HI ADRIAN I HOPE YOU ARE READING MY COMMENT I WATCH YOUR SHOW EVERY WEEKDAY IAM A BIG FAN OF YOURS KEEP UP THE FANTASTIC PROGRAM I WHOULD LIKE TO ENQUIRE CAN YOU COOK A TURKISH RECIPE FOR ME AND MENTION MY NAME ON YOUR PROGRAM AFTER YOU MAKE IT PLEASE SAY THIS FOR YOU NICK WHAT A CRACKER DISH PLEASE FOR ME? SO FAR I HAVENT SEEN YOU COOK ANY TURKISH FOOD CAN YOU MAKE A DONER KEBAB OR LAMACUN AND PIDE BREAD ON LEBANESE BREAD SERVED WITH YOGURT DRINK NEXT TO IT YOUR FAN NICK KITAPCI
Love watching your show GOOD CHEF /BAD CHEF and feel like an absolute idiot as you were on the very next table to me at O'Neills Restaurant in Sale Victoria, l was just a tad to shy to say hi, but felt lucky to be dining the same day you choose and that is my favorite country restaurant in my home town but hoping to have a meal in your melbourne restaurant, l just like your relaxed cooking manner and like you l prefer butter you just cant beat it and even though l do watch what l eat l still have to have butter, take care and enjoy cooking l know l do and just for the record my father was a pilot also and l love flying and have worked in aviation doing log books so that is my passion also :) - cheers maree
Love watching your show GOOD CHEF /BAD CHEF and feel like an absolute idiot as you were on the very next table to me at O'Neills Restaurant in Sale Victoria, l was just a tad to shy to say hi, but felt lucky to be dining the same day you choose and that is my favorite country restaurant in my home town but hoping to have a meal in your melbourne restaurant, l just like your relaxed cooking manner and like you l prefer butter you just cant beat it and even though l do watch what l eat l still have to have butter, take care and enjoy cooking l know l do and just for the record my father was a pilot also and l love flying and have worked in aviation doing log books so that is my passion also :) - cheers maree
La Luna wow I had the ultimate pleasure of eating at this most wonderful Bistro last night. This was one of the highlight experiences of my life the food was an experience of skill and honour of the palate. The serving team where friendly, warm and welcoming. Adrian and team I will be honouring you amongst my friends like your culinary efforts honoured my friends and I last night.
Hi Adrian still enjoying your show you must be busy now because you don't respond anymore. That's fine there were just some questions I asked you, I got my answers else where. Glad to see that you are going well . Cheers!!
Hi Adrian, my husband and I are big fans of your TV shows, and last night I did your texan spicy beef ribs, my first time with your recipes. We both though we had gone to meat heaven. Absolutely awesome, thank you, I am now going to try your Mexican Mole Chicken. Thank you for your inspiration, Sharon.XXOO
Hi Adrian, I have made Mille Feuille and it was great. I was wondering if you can freeze the pastry? Would like to make in advance as you know how time consuming it is. Have been to Paris and my pastry was on a equal par.... Thanks Adrian
Thanks Adrian Will you ever expand your horizons and think about opening restaurants beside Melbourne? Perth needs you!!!!!
Hi Jan I don't have a specific recipe for a chorizo sausage but you can tweak my basic sausage recipe to make a chorizo sausage, just ask your local butcher for their advice. Cheers Adrian
Hi Adrian, you have now joined Good chef Bad chef. What a difference the show is now with you in it. I enjoy watching it now , Adrian do you have a chorizo sausage recipe? Thanks
Lifestyle Food - please start improving your posting of Adrian's Recipes!!!! Where is the Brownie recipe & Papaya Salad? The Satay Beef & Uzbek Dumplings have parts of the recipe missing. I LOVE watching Adrian (and eating at La Luna) and want to make his recipes at home but I can't as they are not complete.
Hi Tiny Dancer Thanks for the lovely feedback. Please contact Lynda at lalunabistro@bigpond.com.au & she will forward any recipes missed. Cheers Adrian
Adrian I have tried 4 of your recipes brother and they are all winners, biryini thats a just easy and tasty healthy (I will be cooking this recipe forever) Portugese Chicken and Potato Salad awesome, I will be trying more recipes. You cook with an easy style flare and passion which is just fantastic and contagious. The lady who cook with you is ok !! ha ha
Hi could you please explain what sewit is and where you can get it from?
Suet is fat, beef is the best for the pie recipe. Just ask your local butcher
Not sure we think the production company out sourced the recipe, apologies... suet not sewit
Someone should run a spell check over your latest recipe for Aussie Meat Pie - they've spelled suet SEWIT! Probably some vegetarian who had no idea what the devil suet was & too embarrassed to ask anyone...lol
Totally agree
Hi Adrian your show is just fantastic never get tired of watching it. Could you please give us a recipe for homemade pasta one day? Have made my own which is fine ,but would love to hear your version. Thankyou
There are some fantastic recipes & master classes for making pasta in my new book "The Good Life" due out on the 26th of July.
Love your food Adrian!!! More Please
can not wait until the new series hopefully
hi adrian with all due respect would you be able to contact my husband please his trying to get through to you but cannot reach you i know your a very busy man his number is 0426297027 please its urgent thank you . thanking you desperate wife .P.S my husbands name is nick........
How great is Adrian! love love love the way he cooks he is THE GOOD CHEF.
Thank you for the lovely feedback Rosanna Cheers Adrian
Hi Adrian, I am keen to make the mini lamb pies for a family dinner we are having, are you able to put up the recipe for the lamb pie mixture the recpie is talking about. Thanks, Amanda
Hi Amanda Recipes can be found here, or contact Lynda on 03 9349 4888, she will also be able to assist. Cheers Adrian http://www.goodchefbadchef.com.au/recipe_categories/11/recipes?page=1
hi, i am looking for your coleslaw recipe that you and jannelle made a couple of week's ago as i cannot find it, thank's.
Hi Helen Recipes can be found here, or contact Lynda on 03 9349 4888, she will be able to assist you. http://www.goodchefbadchef.com.au/recipe_categories/11/recipes?page=1 Cheers Adrian
Hi Adrian. The recipe you made on Good chef etc...on 17/1/2011, making canapes: the one using cous cous or similar and a blue cheese. Is it possible to obtain this recipe? Many thanks Alex
Hi Alex Recipes can be found here, or contact Lynda on 03 9349 4888, she will be able to assist you. http://www.goodchefbadchef.com.au/recipe_categories/11/recipes?page=1 Cheers Adrian
try keeping the onions in the fridge then you won't cry
Thanks Rosma
Love your show. I definately have to move there. To Aus, I mean. I love your hair, dont cut it. Try making gnocchi with ricotta and sweet potato( lots ofparmesan, herbs, etc) its delicious.You guys look like you are having such fun, Aus looks magical. lol Bridgot
i have just seen your cooking of steaks on tv in new zealand,well done you have just endorsed everything i have been relaying to my customers regarding cooking steak 1.a good butcher 2,price, 3 treat it like a rotissarie pig,brilliant,regards buzz the butcher@ westown butchery, new plymouth new zealand
Hello Adrian, I am interested to know what year you finished your trade school training as I might have done my schooling with you in melbourne and at Brighton technical school.I finished my schooling in 83 and my apprenticeship in 84. Regards Robyn.
i finished my trade schooling a few years after that , sorry
just to say that your new haircut looks fantastic - and really suits you Looking forward to coming back to La Luna very soon - have told so many people about this restaurant - yummy
Wow, I'm so looking forward to our next weekend away, not 'cause I'll have some peace away from the kids, but 'cause I'm in love with the food at La Luna!!!
man this dude is a seriously talented chef.Adrian makes meat sing on your palate like a fine wine dances on your tongue. If I was that way I would definately invite him over to cook my meat.
A quiet achiever, great cook. Very calm and dam great cook
the alaskan beans looked fantastic, I liked the part about using a koala, keep me smiling Adrian
A big fan of yours from ready steady cook and 9am show, great for you to share more of your sense of humour and recipes
Great and Humble Chef, that's what we need. thanks adrian
What an exciting show, give me more please!!!!
Love your meat cookbook, When is the next one coming??? I have already tried most of the recipes, keep me inspired Adrian.
Your Ace Adrian, I can't believe you have cut your hair!!!! YOu Look hot and your cooking is hot. I love La Luna Bistro, I dream about your food
Seen you at food shows, great to see a real steak man out there !!!!
Funky food show!!!!! Got to see more of it, Good to see you in it Adrian!!! I am honoured to have gone to one of your cooking demonstrations at essential ingredient, you have another humble follower.
You always keep me and my stomach entertained Mr.Richardson. You write a great cookbook "meat" and I can not wait any longer to taste one of your steaks at your restaurant la luna I have booked in for next week. Maybe you can give me the alaskan bear recipe????
Entertaining Show with a great chefs, fantastic!!! I always enjoy watching you cook Adrian and love tasting your food at La Luna, looking forward to my next visit to Melbourne and eating your steak.
Us girls watch and drool over the food and the chefs on Boys Weekend, Adrian we love you!!!! We don't watch desperate housewives anymore now that the boys weekend is on. Give us more please!!!
Man what an ACE SHOW!!!! About time, as nice a Nigella's face was here is a WOW show that actually is great for all of my family. My wife loves it, the kids love it and I love it . Well done Boys Weekend and well done chef Adrian. We await the DVD series to buy!!!!
Got his book "Meat" love it and love the boys weekend, fantastic Chef. Loved him on ready steady, loved him channel 10's 9am show, give us more please!!!!!!
Love Boys Weekend it is fantastic, four gorgeous guys that can actually cook!!!!! I would love to send my husband away with them to get a few tips maybe that could be a competition that lifestlye could do??? I must say that my favourite is Adrian, although it is hard to choose. Hope that you will sell the series on DVD as it would make great presents for my family and friends.
I am amazed by Adrian's Passion he has for cooking great food, and now he is in a fantastic cooking show. I would love to see more and more of this wonderful food lover (chef), I love his alaskian beans recipe especially the part about trying to put a koala bear in it, he has a great sense of humor. Amazing!!! I look forward to the next episode of the boys weekend.
Just love Adrian and his La Loona restaurant. I went a number for times to and was never dissapointed. Adrian is a refreshing personality who makes no fuss. Find him very entertaining and passionate about his food and family. Can't wait for the next show.
Adrian has gone from strength to strength: the restaurant is wonderful, the book inspirational -- I can't wait to see the show.
Just saw Adrian on 9am on Channel 10, what an amazing Chef, no fuss. Staright shooting straight talking chef. bring it on we need more like him. Enough of the fluffs foams and tricky, more real food.
Love Adrian, and La Luna is just great. Looking forward to the new show
I love Adrian I am looking forward to seeing what this show has to offer
Great food, atmosphere and service at La Luna! Adrian always makes the time to come over and chat! very charming indeed! and his MEAT book is amazing. Looking forward to the new show!
I was inspired to go and eat at La Luna after seeing Adrian on some morning TV show and I wasn't disappointed! What an excellent restaurant - can't wait to see what he and the boys cook up in this show. Hopefully we'll learn the secrets to some of his awesome snags - seriously the best sausages I've ever eaten!
I had a wonderful wedding anniversary meal at La Luna and the food was devine. I have always enjoyed watching Adrian cook on TV and can't wait to see the new show.
Great restaurant - delicious food, great service - and I just love using the MEAT cookbook - a meatlovers bible. Can't wait to see the new show on Foxtel - sounds a hoot!!
We have eaten at La Luna many, many times and have always enjoyed the fantastic flavours and different dishes available. The deliciousu food, friendly, very competent service, fabulous wine selection and general atmosphere has always ensured a great night out. We look forward to many more.
I can't believe I'll miss his new show (just had Foxtel disconnected)! I've been to La Luna a few times and have to say the food and atmosphere are fantastic. We were made to feel so welcome by the staff and Adrian. It's the first time we've ever been to a restaurant where the Chef came out to see, and actually talk to, us and showed us around his "kitchen". A Saturday night dinner with adults was amazing, and a Sunday breakfast and baby 'chino for our 4 kidlets was just as good (save for the whining of the kidlets that is). Keep it up Adrian, I know we'll be back there again.
I think he is terrific chef and I enjoy watching him cook, I can not wait to see the new show boys weekend.