Acclaimed Barossa chef Mark McNamara launches his Food Luddite enterprise

Acclaimed chef Mark McNamara is forging an exciting new path with the launch of his Food Luddite enterprise.

Widely acclaimed as Executive Chef and partner in Appellation restaurant from 2005 to 2012, Mark’s philosophy on regional provenance and focus on true seasonality saw the elegant eatery rise to be one of Australia’s leading regional restaurants.

A stalwart of the Barossa food scene, he has long been in the forefront of the imperative to preserve its food heritage with the establishment of Food Barossa and the Barossa Farmers Market.

Now Mark’s focus is on giving people food experiences that are genuine and fun, real and shared, based on the traditions of cuisines around the world.

“After more than 30 years as a professional chef, I have come to understand that the basic elements of good food and the ability to cook well do not always require years of training, exotic ingredients and expensive equipment.  For me cooking is instinctive, and mostly common sense once the mystique is removed.”

His exciting new concept is a Cooking School Without Walls.  Here he seeks to mentor and empower, pass on time-honoured skills and demonstrate simple, delicious, rustic cooking. 

Creating the Long Table is an immersion experience for a small group who work alongside Mark to create a multi-course lunch, then sit down with him to enjoy it.  A wide variety of other classes are listed and available for bookings on the Food Luddite website.

Mark says simply, “My aim is to share what it takes to cook simple, uncomplicated and delicious food.”

The weekly Sunday Long Table Lunches at Artisans of Barossa are themed on the season. Shared at one long table, with a winemaker in attendance, this is lunch as it is meant to be.

The Food Luddite program also includes a series of one-off culinary events at farms, gardens and wineries.

Check out his website www.foodluddite.com or follow @chefmarkmc on twitter.