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Mark Olive (aka “The Black Olive”) has been a chef for over 25 years, after becoming interested in cooking as a child through watching his mother and aunts. He was born in Wollongong in New South Wales, but his people are the Bundjalung nation from the state's northern rivers region.
His interest in people and in the arts has guided Mark through an amazingly varied career, and in the midst of it all he has also found time to complete a BA in film and television, at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne.
He initially trained with a European chef and has worked in theatres, universities, health centres, Jewish kitchens preparing kosher food, on film sets and in a la carte restaurants. Along with his TV series, The Outback Cafe, Mark’s previous television experiences includes regular appearances as a celebrity chef on ABC TV's Message Stick program, and more recently on Channel Ten’s ‘The Circle’.
Mark was Chef at Melbourne's indigenous restaurant, the Flaming Bull, and ran his own restaurant in Sydney for a time where he specialised in creating recipes using outback ingredients. Now Mark’s passion for fusing native food and culture with contemporary lifestyle cooking has led to a huge international profile, and the creation of Black Olive Catering, an indigenous catering company and function space in North Melbourne, Victoria.
Along with his daily business operations, Mark cooks regularly for clients such as Tourism Australia at large corporate, public and cultural events around the country and the world, bringing his signature infusions of contemporary outback flavours to every occasion. Mark’s business was chosen to feature in the Victorian itinerary when Oprah travelled to Australia with her Ultimate Audience in 2010. Her guests were treated to a cultural experience of indigenous food, art and storytelling during Mark’s infamous cooking demonstration.
For more information about Mark Olive and his catering business, visit www.blackolive.net.au
Hi Mark, Great food and imagery on your show. Could you let me know where I can buy the ingredients for Tanami Fire please? Anne.
Hi Marka Trying to introduce indigenous food to the Newcastle area and would appreciate any assistance. What would be your fee and availability to do a guest night with local indigenous wait staff and apprentices. 5th Element Restuarant Charlestown.
Hi Mark, i have seen your show numerous times and thought i must find a way to say Hi, I believe Sarah (my twin sister) and i went to school with you. My memories of you is always laughing and this comes across on the TV too. hope the memories give you a giggle. Louise
Tena Koe Mark Cant stop watching Outback Cafe Sunday 7pm on the Maori channel here in New Zealand...Love Indigenous kai... Mauri Ora Bro
Hi Mark, I wanted to know if you can attend and cook a spring/summer BBQ for the launch of PMSurf indigenous surfwear on the 10th September 2011 at the Byron Bay Light House (Bundjalung country).. I lost my son in a car crash 2006 at Broken Head Rd Byron Bay i have designed my own swimwear lable as well as board shorts that have been designed by my late son Paul Morris. You can contact me at maria.bolt@yahoo.com.au. Thank you Maria Bolt.
Hi Mark, I wanted to know which area you mostly work in.I'm an Indigenous Aboriginal Health Worker on the Gold Coast. Last year we ran a highly successful pilot program called the "Healthy Me Program" for overweight indigenous people. We had representatives/players from the NRL "Titans" attend our program on a couple of occasions to engage and motivate our participants.They attended gym sessions, sports activities and healthy, quick cook up sessions + nutrition. we received funding to run the program again this year. So I'm asking if you are in this area would you be able to come visit us during the program for participant motivation and for my own+ staff's interest to meet you. Thank you, Jade Lewis (Kalwun Health Service).
Hi Jade, Please contact me at info@blackolive.net.au to discuss the possibility of Mark travelling to the Gold Coast for your program as mentioned above. Regards, Amber (www.blackolive.net.au)
haii mark this is your cousin debra ferguson and my daughter sam we have been watchin u on the circle and would like to get in contact with you... email us if u want to l_fergie@hotmail.com.au thanks xx
Mark are you from Dapto and have you a brother Darren
Love Love your food and the way you cook....You are a genius....
im at school looking you up your pretty madd i love cooking karlie xo
Hi Mark, I am involved with organising the Cooktown Discovery Festival in June each year. The Guugu Yalanji and Gugu Yimithirr people from the region are activily involved in the festival and participate in the Re-enactment of the landing of Captain Cook told from both the indigenous and european viewpoints. We are a community working together to present our unique history to the world. Some of the bama are interested in organising a guuruma and we thought you might be interested in attending the festival and working with the local people to prepare the feast and dishes to be sold. Please advise if you are interested and I will forward a programme of activities for your perusal. We are taking giant steps forward towards the reconciliation of the Australian people.
Hi Loretta, apologies for not responding sooner. This page is not managed by anyone from Black Olive so it's hard for us to administer these contacts. Please email me at info@blackolive.net.au if you are still interested in organising for Mark to be part of the Cooktown Festival. Regards, Amber (www.blackolive.net.au)
Mark/ Black Olive- Have been trying to work out how to contact you to try to organise an opportunity for our 61 Hospitality students and over 76 Koori students to listen/watch/ talk with you. Can you please let me know how to contact you. Thanks
Hi Sonya, Sorry for the delay in responding. Our direct contact can be found via www.blackolive.net.au
Where can I buy your products? TY
I think you are wonderful cook and a great ambassador for indegenous people
Your coming to My School!!!!
Mark I am fascinated at the way you cook. I have been watching you on television in Goa India Abc Australia Network. I too am a chef with goan cusine. I have 36years experience. I would love to meet you and share some of your receipies. I will be in Melbourne on the 29th of August 2009. Could I have a reply to this message. Cheers Rui
Mark you are a legend.....see you soon Rino
Hi Mark, I love watching your show on ABC and believe you are brilliant in your ability to create new food masterpieces by adding textures, colour with the superb light and shade of bush tucker aromatics and spices. I only wish we had smell a vision with our television because the descriptions of the lemon myrtle in your fish batter and kumera chips oops I mean sweet potatoe and other delights that you added to the batter along with the vinegar and beer is what I liken to creating a Mona Lisa of the palette. May sound weird but it is truly the highest compliment I can pay you. I know just have to work out where I can get a hold of the bush tucker ingrediants. Keep up the excellent and sensational work. Kind regards Julie aka Bossyk
Sorry I meant now not know, have to find out where to get bush tucker in a store local to Darlinghurst Mark cheers once again. Julie aka Bossyk
hey mark its misty i am an aboriginal apprentice chef that is trying to learn more about my culture as you no when you are doing your apprenticship you only learn about french or classic food would you be able to give me ideas about my assignment please email me asap on misty.chuck@yahoo.com.au thank you hope to hear soon
mark, you are my legend!. your show,s great and your pretty cool youself.i,ve always loved my native foods, and you bring these to us in a non complicated and tasty way.keep it up my man!.cheers. craig
Mark, i love your cooking.I am 11 and a koori chef.i want to b a chef just like you! from a major groupie, Kalli ps i have my own page , plz leave a comment!!!
I love your recipes and your shows. Great!
Mark aka Black Olive, I am trying to work out how to contact you to try to arrange a visit to our school and the 61 students studying hospitality as well as the 76 Koori students over yrs 7-12. Having trouble working out how to email you...help