2020 Guest Chef Alejandro Saravia

Chef Alejandro Saravia is widely credited with introducing Peruvian cuisine to Australia’s food culture. In addition to running his own critically acclaimed restaurant, Melbourne - Pastuso and most recently Perth – Uma by Alejandro Saravia at Pan Pacific Perth to creating a high-quality Peruvian focused dining experience that celebrates local ingredients as well as featuring local producers offerings a sustainable approach in sourcing local in following seasons.

In 2017 Alejandro became the official food and beverage ambassador for Gippsland Victoria on the back of the successful Renascence Gippsland program that focus on promote this amazing Victorian region widely know for its green pastures and high quality grass fed beef and their producers. In October 2017 Alejandro represented the Victorian Government’s Grass Feed Beef trade campaign to Indonesia, judging a completion for young chefs as well as hosting a dinner and events for the Indonesian media and VIPS.

Now in development is Alejandro’s next project - Farmer’s Daughters which will create a world-class ‘farm- to-table’ enterprise, aimed at challenging global leaders in the hospitality industry. Delivering an exciting new dining and food experience in Melbourne which showcases the abundant regional food offering of Victoria’s Gippsland region. Farmer’s Daughters is working collaboratively with food and wine producers from Gippsland – in turn establishing Gippsland as the premier food bowl of Victoria.

In both 2018 and again in January 2019, Alejandro was invited to represent the Farmer’s Daughters concept as part of the esteemed AO Chef Series at the Australian Open.

Alejandro brings his South American heritage to all aspects of his cooking. Having grown up with the strong flavours and variety of Peruvian cuisine, Alejandro finds inspiration in the fond memories of his grandmother’s cooking to convey the essence of Peru to light through food.

This passion for authentic food made with love is combined with Alejandro’s wealth of experience gained through cooking in world-class kitchens across continents. From culinary school in Peru at the age of 16 followed by a traineeship in New York to stints in Barcelona, Paris, London and Sydney – including at the esteemed Sails on Lavender Bay – the coveted chef has worked with some of the best, including under Heston Blumenthal at The Fat Duck (London).

Alejandro has an evident passion for and expertise in Peruvian flavours, sustainability in the food industry, ingredients and cooking techniques, and he is enthusiastic to continue sharing this passion with others through his restaurants, master classes, consulting and more.

Relevant awards that has position Pastuso as the best Peruvian Restaurant in Australia;

Australian Restaurant and Catering Association Best New Restaurant Vic/Tas - 2015
Best Speciality Restaurant - 2016/17/18
Best Seafood Restaurant Vic and Tas 2019

The Age Good Food 2014/15/16/17/18/19/20
Gourmet Traveller Food Guide 2014/15/16/17/18/19/20

Delicious top 100 restaurants Vic 2017/18/19 Delicious Top 10 seafood restaurants Victoria 2019

The Apollo Bay Seafood Festival is excited to announce the offical festival wine partner, Taltarni Vineyards. Taltarni wines will be perfectly paired with each course for the Seafood Gala Dinner, as chosen by Guest Chef Alejandro Saravia.

Taltarni Vineyards is one of the pioneering wineries of Victoria's Pyrenees Wine Region, founded on the principles of individuality, independence and expression which still guide them today. Utilising innovative new-world techniques, Taltarni produces a diverse range of high-calibre still wines, and méthode-traditionnelle crafted sparklings.

Taltarni Vineyards & Winery is rated in the top 10% of wineries in Australia, recognised by James Halliday as a 5-Star winery with 8 wines scoring above 94 points in the 2020 Halliday Wine Companion. These estate grown wines and the diversity of their wine portfolio receives acclaim across many wine shows, various publications and from critics both in Australia and internationally. 

Taltarni has extended the French inspired winemaking techniques, creating an exceptional and diverse portfolio of award-winning wines that distinctively express true varietal and regional characteristics. Remaining steadfast in their commitment to crafting refined wines of elegance and balance, Taltarni’s portfolio continues to be a reflective expression of the varietal and terroir from which their wines are born.

Don’t miss Taltarni’s award-winning wines at the Seafood Gala Dinner, or the Harbour Day Seafood Festival.