King Of The Kitchen

Ensconced in the Kitchen of His Seaside Home, Acclaimed Chef Matt Moran Is in His Element

- Katrina O'Brien

MODERN MUSE Matt Moran may be the head chef in his own domain, but in this household, he doesn’t always get his way. Take Marvin the cat, pictured here with him in the contemporary home they share in Sydney. “It’s my bloody fault because I’m not really into cats,” says Matt. “I was out filming at chef Annie Smithers’ place in Victoria for Paddock To Plate, and I accidentally mentioned to the family, ‘If I ever had a cat, it would have to be one of those.’ And the next minute he turned up!” Quite fortuitously, Marvin makes a lovely colour match to the vast concrete island bench where Matt spends much of his time when at home. “I run 30 different venues, so I’m not cooking in 30 venues now,” says the country-born chef who, with his father, also runs a cattle and sheep farm in the NSW Central Tablelands. “So I’m cooking more when I’m at home than I am in the shop these days.”

the lowdown MATT MORAN

Who lives here?

Cook, restaurateur and TV presenter Matt Moran; his novelist/criminal lawyer wife, Sarah Hopkins; son Harry, 16; daughter Amelia, 12; Marvin the cat; and Freddie the dog.

With so many hats to wear, how important is coming home?

Matt: “I travel every week – there’s not a week that goes by that I’m not on a plane – but home is my home. I love it. It’s my little escapism.”

What is your biggest entertaining day of the year?

“Christmas Day is a big thing for me. I cook a massive lunch where I do ham, turkey, pudding, all that sort of stuff. Maggie Beer gives me a goose. I’m in the kitchen all day and everyone is still a part of it. I don’t travel on Christmas Day!”