Ismail Tosun (born 1975) is an acclaimed Turkish Australian

Celebrity chef A celebrity chef is a kitchen chef who has become a celebrity. Today, chefs often become celebrities by presenting cookery advice and demonstrations, usually through the media of television and radio, or in Books, printed publications. While telev ...

who was voted the best new talent in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. Tosun is the founder of Eminem, a Turkish restaurant in Nedlands which earned the title of best new talent in the country at the ''Australian Gourmet Traveller 2007 Restaurant Guide Awards''.

Biography

Tosun's father is from

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

and his mother is from

Cyprus Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...

. His parents divorced when he was nine years old and he was raised by his mothers parents in

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

till he was sixteen. Tosun's grandfather was a butcher and his grandmother was a

housewife A housewife (also known as a homemaker or a stay-at-home mother/mom/mum) is a woman whose role is running or managing her family's home—housekeeping, which may include Parenting, caring for her children; cleaning and maintaining the home; Sew ...

which inspired him to become a chef as food was a central part of life. Tosun got a job washing dishes in

Sydney Road Sydney Road (in its northernmost part also known as the Hume Highway) is a major urban arterial in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Geography Sydney Road starts at the northern end of Royal Parade at the boundary of Par ...

for $60 a week at the age of sixteen. He then started an apprenticeship in an Ottoman restaurant in

Canberra Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...

where he worked under Australia's modern Turkish chef Şerif Kaya. He finally opened his acclaimed Eminem restaurant in

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

however shut it soon after being awarded 'best new talent' at the Australian Gourmet Traveler 2007 Restaurant Guide Awards. After leaving Perth, Tosun travelled briefly to

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

. Upon his return to Australia, he settled in

Collingwood, Victoria Collingwood is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3km north-east of the Melbourne central business district, located within the City of Yarra Local government areas of Victoria, local government area. Collingwood recorded a ...

, and opened a new Turkish restaurant called Gigibaba.Williams, Gail. "What Happened Next." ''The Sunday Times Magazine'', 8 March 2009: 23

References

External links

ABC Stateline interview with Ismail Tosun
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tosun, Ismail 1975 births Australian chefs Turkish chefs Living people Australian people of Turkish descent Australian people of Turkish Cypriot descent Turkish emigrants to Australia Turkish people of Cypriot descent People from Melbourne People from Çanakkale Province