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G'day guys welcome!

My name is Matthew McKenzie you might know me as Outback Matty. I grew up in the country of Victoria. Then had a change of heart and moved to the big city. Melbourne is Australias most liveable city.

I started cooking around the age of fifteen. I was always experimenting with different food and flavours. I remember my first meal I created. Bangers and Mash (sausages and mashed potatoes). The meal was not exactly made perfect. The sausages I cooked were burnt and the potatoes I boiled then mashed still had there skins on.

When I was on a road trip up north of Queensland I applied for Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Foundation. Couple of weeks later I flew down to Melbourne. They filmed me and 25 other students on Network Tens new reality TV show Jamie's Kitchen Australia. We all had to attend the fifteen restaurant and Box Hill Institute of TAFE for training.

All the students where invited to go on various sourcing trips to learn about local produce, suppliers and important little things. Did you know? There are over 30,000 different types of potatoes grown in the world.

When I gained more knowledge working inside the restaurant the chefs of fifteen started to push me more mentally and physically. It was what to expect in the real world if you wanted to become a successful chef.

I graduate in 2007 after one years work at the Fifteen Melbourne restaurant. I currently work for Vue de Monde - Shannon Bennett's French restaurant. One of Australia's finest dining restaurants.

From here I hope to continue to quench my thirst for knowledge and follow my passion. I have a huge desire to explore the world and learn from the best chefs. I someday hope to open my own restaurant and take on the disadvantaged youths, in building them with the confidence to pursue their goals and dreams.


Cheers!

Outback Matty