A trip to the market

French-born Guillaume Brahimi is a culinary genius, one of Australia’s most popular and acclaimed chefs; and the definition of busy. Having spent 12 years running Bennelong within the Sydney Opera House, Guillaume now spreads his time across his three bistros in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth as well as the Four in Hand Paddington where he’s a partner with the venture. Coupled with his hands-on approach to each of his businesses, Guillaume also represents Audi Australia as brand ambassador; and recently, a select few Audi customers were treated to an intimate masterclass with this crème de la crème of French cuisine.

Forming part of Audi’s Lifestyle Program where small circles of customers have the opportunity to meet and catch up with Audi’s extraordinary brand ambassadors (think truffle hunting with Shannon Bennett, or dinner on stage at the Sydney Theatre Company with Richard Roxburgh), Guillaume’s masterclass was certainly something to write home about. Set beautifully within the Danks Street Produce Merchants (the former Fratelli Fresh site in Waterloo), guests received real insight into who Guillaume is, what makes him so successful as well as practical advice on how we could each improve our culinary skills (or lack thereof). 

Did we get to eat incredible French cuisine? Absolutely. Did it include soufflé? You bet. Did we ooh and ahh over the exceptionally fresh produce found at each providore? Yes. And prior to dinner, as Guillaume led us through the market educating us on what to think about when we bought our own produce; he weaved stories of his childhood (his grandmother used to pick watercress from the side of the road; and as a dyslexic he hasn’t got one fond memory of school) with gastronomic technique that, it’s safe to say, we’ll all bank until we host our own respective dinner parties. Combined with his shared knowledge of food, guests were treated to some stove side insight too.

Given they spend most of the day in the heat of the kitchen, professional chefs are often assumed to be fiery and hotheaded at times. Not Guillaume. Indeed his awareness of how a chef’s mood can have a ripple effect throughout the workplace ensures his kitchens focus on the brilliance of the food, without the fuss. But it’s not forced. You see when Guillaume’s in the kitchen, he’s naturally in his ‘happy place’; and it’s those sorts of ‘ah-ha’ moments that are peppered right throughout the Audi Lifestyle Experience program. Certainly, guests leave educated on the practical, but brimming with the philosophical they gain insight into the personality that represents the Audi brand too.

The Audi Lifestyle Experiences are just that – all about the experience. It nurtures collaboration between Audi, their brand ambassadors as well as their customers; and Danks Street Produce Merchants certainly set the perfect scene. While Fourth Village Providore with their readymade meals, jams and preserves (all cooked on site) is the backbone of the Merchants, when joined with the other sellers there really isn’t anything more you could want from a market. Drawing inspiration from Italian and French markets, these Produce Merchants offer, amongst a treasure trove of quality produce, a steady flow of fresh pasta, freshly pressed olive oil, cheese, flowers and meat from the kind of local butcher your grandparents would’ve frequented.  

Guillaume’s menu? Between an incredible starter of sashimi of wild kingfish, oysters, cucumber and ruby grapefruit, a main plat du jour to share which consisted of Rib eye of Wagyu beef, Pomme Parisienne and Watercress salad; and a dessert of Passionfruit soufflé with crème anglaise (told you), the group feasted on great food, wonderful conversation and didactic advice regarding the incredible cuisine choice and produce available within Australia. Oh what a night…