 Stamp collecting, was one of my favourite pastimes when I was a child. I still treasure the little orange album full of postage stamps from around the world, which were painstakingly examined with a magnifying glass before being tweezered into place and secured with gummed stamp hinges. I wonder, do the children of today enjoy this hobby? Five legends of Australian cooking have had the honour of being immortalised on a postage stamp as recipients of the 2014 Australia Post Legends Award. These Legends of Cooking have been recognised for their influence over Australia’s food culture and the visionary role each have played in shaping Australia’s palate and laying the foundations of our gastronomic success. This year’s Australia Post Australian Legends, who were chosen by an industry selection panel, are the culinary greats Margaret Fulton OAM, Maggie Beer AM, Stephanie Alexander OAM, Neil Perry AM and Kylie Kwong. Receiving the award, Margaret Fulton OAM, the matriarch of Australian cooking and one of my culinary heroes (pictured above) said 'It’s a very nice honour. I’m getting older, and it’s a lovely feeling to say that you’ve wound up on a stamp.' Managing Director and CEO of Australia Post, Ahmed Fahour, said this year’s award celebrates five Australians who have each played a distinct role in the emergence of a sophisticated Australian food culture. 'These five individuals have taught Australians to appreciate our abundant fresh ingredients and to embrace the flavours of multiculturalism,' Mr Fahour said. 'They are not just cooks, but business-minded authors, teachers, TV personalities and restaurateurs. For this, they truly deserve the title Australian Legend.' The 2014 Australia Post Australian Legends will be honoured at official Australia Day Council events hosted in all capital cities, and each Legend will also be presented with a 24-carat gold replica of their stamp. Michael Harden, independent culinary writer and member of the industry selection panel, believes the current food culture we have in Australia would not have been possible without the input of these amazing and visionary cooks. 'The people on this list have been integral to the way we eat now, and their innovation, imagination and integrity will keep the inspiration going into the future. It’s enough to make you hungry just thinking about it,' Mr Harden said. Australia Post Legend status is bestowed upon only the most inspirational Australians. These are individuals and groups that not only amass substantial bodies of work, but are inspirational and exemplify perseverance, devotion, integrity and compassion. This year’s recipients will join an exclusive group of only 70 others awarded Legend status. The Legends Award began 16 years ago when Sir Donald Bradman was the first living Australian to be honoured on an Australian stamp. Prior to that, the only living people honoured on our nation's stamps were members of the royal family. The only other living Australians to feature on stamps are Australian Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallists. Each Legend will feature on a 60c stamp, with all Legends featuring in a stamp pack, first day cover and set of maxi cards along with a commemorative book titled Australian Legends of Cooking, written by Michael Harden. The stamps and associated products are available at participating Australia Post retail outlets and via mail order while stocks last.  Australian Legends of Cooking 2014... Pictured at Rockpool in Sydney are the Australian Legends of Cooking 2014: Neil Perry, Maggie Beer, Kylie Kwong, Margaret Fulton and Stephanie Alexander, recognised for their influence over Australia’s food culture.  Maggie Beer AM (above): 'I’m a sentimentalist and I’ve got every letter my mother wrote me while I was overseas, so being on a stamp makes me very proud. There have been so many parts of my life that I’ve had to pinch myself about, and this is one of them.'  Stephanie Alexander OAM (above): 'When I want to thank somebody for something special I always hand write a letter because I feel it deserves it and now I’ll be even prouder to put a stamp on it. I think it’s a great honour and I’m in some marvellous company.'  Kylie Kwong (above): 'I’m absolutely chuffed. I don’t even think it’s sunk in yet; I’m still digesting the enormity of it. It fills me with such pride and it makes me want to do even more for this country and to take what I do that step further.'  Neil Perry AM (above): 'It is just such an amazing honour and I am deeply humbled to have been chosen. Monarchs’ and Heads of State are on stamps, as well as music legends like Barnesy, so to be named amongst them feels like an incredible achievement.' The Australian Legends of Cooking 2014 Giveaway... Thanks to the generosity of Australia Post, I have TEN Australian Legends of Cooking 2014 prize packs valued at $30 each to give away to my Australian readers. Each pack includes the Legends of Cooking prestige book (with recipes, see below), the Legends of Cooking stamp set, a complete set of five maxi cards (postcards) and first day covers, which are a collector’s item. Wow! To be in the running to win a prize pack, please subscribe to Good Things (if you haven't already) and leave a comment below telling me in fifty (50) words or less who your food and cooking legends are. Your culinary heroes might be loved ones or celebrities. Readers, please make sure that you enter your current email address (one you check regularly!) with your comment so you can be reached in the event you're selected as the winner. The competition is open to Australian readers only (with apologies to my overseas readers) and closes at midnight on Sunday, 2 February 2014 AEDT. Best of luck and thank you for entering!  And the winners are... Thank you everyone who entered my giveaway. It was fun reading all the entries, many of which made me smile. The winners are Andrea, Sophie P, Maureen, Eha, Muppy, eDig, Rea, Glenda, Soppy and Miss Food Fairy. You will hear from me via email very shortly. For those lovely readers who entered, but didn't win, please stay tuned as I have more exciting giveaways in the pipeline. In the meantime, pop over and visit my friend Amanda at Lamb's Ears and Honey and enter her Legends of Australian Cooking giveaway! Thanks again for your entries and your support and readership of good things xoxo   Dear readers from around the world, tell me who are your cooking legends? And did you collect stamps as a child?
Lise Williams
23/1/2014 09:41:54 am
Great tribute to our great Aussie chefs. 23/1/2014 09:50:56 am
How proud they must all be to be honoured on a stamp. When I was growing up only the Queen was on the stamps! These are all great Australians and it's lovely to see them being rewarded for their efforts to the Australian food scene. I think I would have to say that Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers were my inspiration (very sorry they're not Aussies) because I learned so much from their cookbooks and I have many happy memories of dinner parties coming straight from their books. 23/1/2014 12:32:13 pm
What a well deserved honour for all of them! :D
Lizzy
25/1/2014 02:50:42 pm
Liz, thank you! I think so too! 23/1/2014 02:41:22 pm
Andrea
23/1/2014 05:16:27 pm
I was in the post office today and saw these stamps, they are absolutely gorgeous! Margaret Fulton is an all time favourite of mine, and in the tradition of hinting about which cook book I wanted for Christmas this year, I received her Christmas Cook book and love it! In saying this, I love all of the above mentioned chefs and think its fabulous they have stamps named after them! However, the cook who has had the most influence on me was my mum, she always encouraged me to try different things, I still remember takin over her small kitchen when I was 13 and attempting ratatouille! So I could ramble and talk forever about my memories of cooking with my mum but this post would turn into a book. 23/1/2014 06:25:58 pm
So many cooking legends around! I love all of our Australian legends of cooking - I grew up with them! I find inspiration from Jamie Oliver - I cook a lot like him, Luke Nyugen - love how he makes Asian simple and Heston Blumenthal blows my mind!
Amber Boyce
23/1/2014 10:28:06 pm
Jamie Oliver and Curtis Stone inspire my cooking because they cook such delicious dishes but make them 'home-cook' friendly. I used to collect stamps as a girl - loved it!
Lizzy
25/1/2014 02:58:31 pm
Another stamp collector, Rossella, how wonderful! Ave Vinchi, interesting, I must look her up! Thank you for stopping by!
Vija Leitis
24/1/2014 09:58:02 am
Margaret Fulton's books were The Cooking Bibles for young girls when I was growing up. They have tried and true recipes that are perfect to begin your cooking adventure
Lizzy
25/1/2014 02:56:41 pm
It is indeed something to be congratulated on, Norma, thanks for stopping by. 24/1/2014 10:49:32 am
The stamps look incredible - such an honour for some wonderful people.
Eha
24/1/2014 10:52:19 am
When I first saw the stamp series I literally had goosebumps running down my back as each had played a pivotal part in my journey into food. Margaret Fulton first and foremost of course way back . . . Oh this prize I surely would love!! 24/1/2014 11:22:18 am
Nice piece Liz. So wonderful see recognition of cooking and it's contribution to the overall Australian culture. Also great to see that it's 4 women and 1 man! What a pity stamps these days are self adhesive. Otherwise, the gum could have been infused. Burnt Fig Icecream stamp anyone?... 24/1/2014 01:19:21 pm
All my favourite chefs immortalized on stamps, especially Kylie Kwong who is my personal favourite. But my culinary hero has to be my mum. She taught me the value and importance of making and serving good food to all who walked in through the doors of our home I was so pleased to see such great cooks honored in this way, it's funny to think of who our greatest cooking legends are, when I was young my mum, and as I got older my brother taught me a lot, then I started cooking recipes by Nigella and Anna Gare, the simplicity in bringing out the flavours, it is a constant journey as now I'm loving bread baking and trying out different methods, as well as adapting with technology and loving the world of online recipes and apps like Stephanie's.
Lizzy
25/1/2014 02:53:03 pm
Anita, thank you very kindly : ) 24/1/2014 04:05:51 pm
I was an air force brat and saw a lot of the world in colonial posts - my dad Max helped my passion for stamp collecting, taking me every weekend from Butterworth Air Force Base on the Malaysian mainland to Penang, to fabulous deep, dark shops for collectors. I have an extraordinary collection of colonial colony stamps - thank you for reminding me of their existence! And my mother Heather's passionate collection from her teens. Australian originals. 24/1/2014 05:39:13 pm
There was one and only, Julia Child. And I did collect stamps. :) ela
Lizzy
25/1/2014 02:51:09 pm
Ah yes, Julia... : ) 25/1/2014 03:07:46 am
What fun this is! How nice to honor these legends by putting them on a stamp -- I love this idea. I used to collect pennies when I was a kid (it was all I could afford!), but not stamps. It does sound like a fun hobby.
Lizzy
25/1/2014 02:51:46 pm
My mum collected pennies too, John... the stamps weren't so expensive when I was little... it was fun! Thanks for stopping by. 25/1/2014 11:41:45 am
Well deserved indeed Lizzy! 25/1/2014 06:22:11 pm
What a great honor that would be! I love all of these folks and admire the enormous contribution they have made to the worldwide culinary field but of these, I'd have to choose the joint efforts of Maggie Beer and Stephanie Alexander. Their cooking classes and the Tuscan Cookbook have inspired many a delicious meal at my house. Should I win, I do have an Australian mailing address, despite my place of residence. :)
amanda paleologos
25/1/2014 07:10:46 pm
my favorite food legend would need to be the wonderful Maggie Beer- she cooks with such love and passion for sharing and enjoying the good things- wonderful qualities I admire from all the important women in my life!
karina l
25/1/2014 07:59:07 pm
Zumbo. I have a mega sweet tooth and I just love his delicious desserts!
Jasmine
26/1/2014 07:35:46 pm
I used to collect stamps. I still have my old collection.
Helen
26/1/2014 08:39:29 pm
No stamp collecting for me I'm afraid but I definitely know who changed cooking for me- Donna hay with her beautiful food photography and delicious achievable recipes, and Jamie Oliver who gave me the confidence to try new cuisines. 27/1/2014 09:37:29 am
thanks for this amazing post and what a wonderful inititive of Aust Post!
FiFi from work
27/1/2014 10:50:49 pm
What a great idea with the stamps!! An honour for all 5 chefs!!!
Jocelyn R
28/1/2014 12:27:44 pm
My cooking legends are Margaret Fulton and my mum. Margaret Fulton because she taught my mum's generation to cook and my Mum because she is the most amazing cook and made me a Woman's Weekly birthday cake every year.
Soppy Morley
1/2/2014 03:10:23 pm
I is marvellous to have these wonderful culinary greats being recognised with their own postage stamp! I have always been a huge fan of Beverley Sutherland-Smith and the first cookbook I bought was a collection of her seasonal food recipes from her weekly column in the Age's Epicure section. I received Maggie Beer's cookbook 'Maggie's Harvest' for Christmas and am delighting in exploring new flavours and cuisines. I love everything to do with fresh food, herbs and spices and it's is a constant marvel to be discovering different ways of preparing food to share with those we love. Comments are closed.
|
Welcome...Üdvözölöm
Cooking and writing have been a lifelong passion. Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes; postcards and morsels from my travels; conversations with cookery writers and chefs; and news on food, cookbooks and cooking. - Liz Posmyk
All
NB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
Winner ABC's 2015 Australia Cooks competition,
ACT (mains category)
Meet the Chefs - recipes featured on Australian Asparagus Council website
|