Born: Wyhalla, South Australia
History: My career started in 1996 at Victoria’s Clover Cottage, a restaurant so acclaimed that it has been inducted into the
Australian Restaurant Hall Of Fame.
After working in O’Conner’s Butchery I secured the role of head chef
at Hamilton Island’s Fine Italian Cuisine, Romanos.
I have since taken on a variety of rolls in leading Brisbane restaurants,
namely Urbane, Bespoke, Enoteca and Executive Chef at Wolloongabba’s Bistro Bistro and have been heading the Moo Moo kitchen since May 2010.
Have you always wanted to be a Chef?
Always. I can recall being a young boy in
rural Wyhalla helping my Mum make a variety of different chutney’s, jams and
Christmas cakes for the local community. Food has always important part of my
life.
How would you define your style?
The majority of my professional training
has focused on European cooking, however I have a more “boundary pushing” style
to cooking, always looking for new flavours and concepts to articulate onto a
plate.
What is your feature flavour these days?
Without a doubt, Cumin and Coriander! I
love the combination, smell and the fact it can bring anything to
life!
Obsessive compulsive about?
Everything!
Your greatest culinary inspirations?
Three men: Marco
Pierre, Anthony Bourdain and Heston Blumenthal.
What chef doesn’t find these men
an inspiration? They push boundaries, create pieces of art and turn food
into fairy tales!
What do you love about this business?
This industry is constantly evolving and
rules are always being broken. I love to be creative and this is a creative
industry. There are no limits to what you can do.
An ingredient you can’t live without?
Olive Oil. It’s the base of anything good!
Most “eyebrow raising” menu item?
Lamb Rack, Kasundi, Labneh served with Fig, Salami, Egg Plant and Beetroot.
Signature Dish: The Moo Moo Signature 1kg Wagyu
rump rubbed with the Chef’s secret spices, sealed until smoky on the char
grill and oven roasted to perfection.
Damien Draper is Head Chef for both Moo Moo the Wine Bar locations: Brisbane & Broadbeach.