Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Ep 84 - Finding a little slice of France right where you are...

Loulabelle's FrancoFiles is hosted by Louise Prichard.    Other Loulabelle's links:  FrancoFile Fix on YouTube   Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist  Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram  Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website  I wonder if chef and restaurant owner Matthew Carnell from Bistro Terroir in Daylesford, Victoria was always destined to be connected to France. After attending a French school trip as a 14 year old, Matt's next Francophile adventure was after he had started his chef's apprenticeship in Australia and he won an award that gave him a month working in a Michelin Star restaurant in Bordeaux.*Clearly he is a talented chef as on that Bordeaux trip he was offered to stay on after the month when the award prize was finished, but Matthew returned to Australia to complete his apprenticeship. As soon as he was qualified, he made contact with that original Michelin Star chef from Bordeaux and was snapped up for his new restaurant in Paris. A huge learning curve in a formal/top Parisian kitchen ensued with no French language skills, except for how to order a beer! *Matt also has had extensive experience working in regional France and even had a period working with sustainable food processes and farming. He even explored alternative preserving practices, making "bocaux". This is obviously very different from the bright lights of Paris, with the flavours of beautiful raw produce. Matt has now found a balance with food that is unpretentious with an element of his Michelin Star past, but without overworking the experience. *Back now in Australia, I have had the pleasure of dining in Matthew's restaurant Bistro Terroir in Daylesford. *Tune into to this chat to escape to various regions of France with us. Matt recommends some eclectic French music as well as some amazing French dishes not often heard of outside the particular regions.*Find Matthew's link on the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website.**Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.**Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTubeLoulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist Loulabelle's FrancoFiles InstagramLoulabelle's FrancoFiles website