George Coalombaris is a restaurateur, chef, and television personality. He is probably best known as one of the judges on MasterChef Australia. Colambaris has experienced many highs and lows as a high-profile chef, so he has hit the headlines on many occasions. Despite being relatively well known, there are many things that people do not know about him. Therefore, we have compiled a list of 15 interesting George Colambaris facts that you might not know, including facts about his family life, his career, and George Colambaris’ net worth.
George Calombaris Facts: His Early Life and Personal Life
He Was Born in Melbourne
George Calombaris was born in Melbourne, Australia, on 4 October 1978. His parents are Jim and Mary Calombaris, and the family is of Greek Cypriot heritage. In an interview with Neos Kosmos, Calombaris said he is very close to his mum, and she remains one of his biggest influences, both personally and professionally. His mum is an inspiration to his culinary style, she contributes to his cookbooks, and she has also made appearances on MasterChef Australia.
Calombaris Also Attended College in Melbourne
The high school that George Calombaris attended was Mazenod College in Mulgrave. He then studied catering at the Box Hill Institute of TAFE in Melbourne. After college, he landed an apprenticeship and won the Bon Land Scholarship in 1999. He
Who is George Calombaris’ Wife?
George Calombaris’s wife is Natalie Tricarico. Although they have been in a long-term relationship for many years, the couple did not marry until 2018. Their wedding took place in Greece.
Does George Calombaris Have Children?
George Calombaris and Natalie Tricarico have two children together, says Wikipedia. Their son was born in 2011, and the couple has since welcomed a daughter into their family. The family lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Facts About George Calombaris: His Culinary Career
His Heritage Is His Inspiration
Calombaris’ culinary inspiration comes predominantly from his Greek Cypriot heritage. He also takes inspiration from French, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisines. At his restaurants, the menus consist of Hellenic cuisine with a modern twist.
Calombaris First Became a Celebrity Chef in ‘Ready Steady Cook’
Although he is now more associated with being a judge and presenter on MasterChef Australia, Calombaris made his name on television much earlier. He was already known for his regular appearances on the Network 10 cooking competition ‘Ready Steady Cook’.
He Was a Judge on MasterChef Australia for 11 Series
Calombaris is best known as a judge and presenter on the Network 10 cooking competition ‘MasterChef Australia’ along with Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston. The chef appeared on this series from when it was first aired in 2009 until 2019. Therefore, he was involved in 11 series of the show. Network 10 dropped Calombaris from the series in 2019 following a wage scandal. Andy Allen was one of the replacements, along with Jock Zonfrillo and Melissa Leong.
He Has Published Five Cookbooks
George Calombaris has published five cookbooks. The chef wrote four of these as an individual chef, including ‘The Press Club’, ‘Hellenic Republic: Greek Cooking from The Hellenic Heart’, and ‘Your Place or Mine’. Calombaris also wrote a cookbook in collaboration with MasterChef Australia co-judge Gary Mehigan called ‘Cook with Us’.
His Restaurant Group Went into Administration
In 2020, George Calombaris’ restaurant group MADE Establishment went into voluntary administration, says Mama Mia. The group consisted of 12 restaurants and food venues in Melbourne, including his signature restaurant The Press Club, and one restaurant in Greece. The company collapsed after Calombaris was forced to backpay almost $8 million in wages to current and former employees.
Other George Calombaris Facts
George Calombaris’ Net Worth is £3.25 Million
Celeb Worth estimates George Calombaris’ net worth is $5 million, which is approximately £3.25 million. He has made his money through his work as a chef and restaurateur and his television career.
He is a Football Fan
Calombaris is a huge fan of football, which the Australians call soccer. He supports Melbourne Victory, and he was the No. 1 ticket holder in the 2012-2013 season.
He Has a Huge Social Media Following
Like many celebrity chefs, George Calombaris has a huge social media following. As of January 2021, Colambaris has 474K followers on his Instagram account. As you might guess, he has lots of food photographs.
He Was Charged with Assault
George Calombaris was charged with assaulting a 19-year-old man in May 2017. Calombaris apologized for his behaviour but explained that the man was heckling him. Although Calombaris initially received a fine, he later appealed the conviction. Fortunately, the judge agreed that Calombaris was provoked and dismissed the charges.
Calombaris Has Won Multiple Awards
Throughout his career, George Calombaris has won multiple awards for his culinary talents and business endeavours. For example, the Age Good Food Guide named Calombaris the Chef of the Year 2008, and his flagship restaurant, The Press Club, won the Best New Restaurant 2008. In 2004, the Global Food and Wine Magazine voted him in the top 40 chefs of influence in the world.
He Loves Heston Blumenthal’s Food
In an interview with Conde Nast Traveller, George Calombaris said that he is a good friend of Heston Blumenthal. He has even flown to the UK to dine in Blumenthal’s restaurant The Fat Duck in Bray. Although the menu is full of weird and wonderful dishes, Calombaris’ favourite dish is the scrambled eggs.
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If you have enjoyed reading our George Colambaris facts, then you might like to read our other articles with facts about celebrity chefs and other influential people in the food industry. Some of these include: