1. George Dimitrios Calombaris is a Greek Australian chef and restaurateur and television personality.
16 Facts About George Calombaris
1. 2.
In 2019, George Calombaris's company MAdE Establishment Group admitted to underpaying $7.83 million in wages to 515 employees, which was back-paid.
3.
George Calombaris went to Mazenod College in Mulgrave and studied at Box Hill Institute of TAFE.
4.
George Calombaris won the Bon Land scholarship in 1999 while an apprentice.
5.
George Calombaris entered the Bocuse d'Or culinary grand prix in Lyon, France when he was 23 years old, and finished in 16th position.
6.
George Calombaris spent two years working at Reserve, in Melbourne's Federation Square where, at the age of 24, he won Young Chef of the Year, Best New Restaurant and two chef's hats in The Age Good Food Guide.
7.
In 2006, George Calombaris opened his own restaurant in Melbourne, The Press Club designed by renowned restaurant architects Mills Gorman.
8.
In December 2010, George Calombaris teamed up again with Mills Gorman to open P M 24 with Philippe Mouchel.
9.
George Calombaris has published five cookbooks: The Press Club, Hellenic Republic: Greek Cooking from The Hellenic Heart, Your Place or Mine, Cook With Us with MasterChef Australia co-judge, Gary Mehigan.
10.
George Calombaris complained that some of his restaurants were unprofitable on a Sunday because he was required to pay staff up to $40 an hour.
11.
In 2021, George Calombaris was revealed to be the "Duster" in the third season of the Australian version of the Masked Singer and was the second contestant eliminated.
12.
In 2022 George Calombaris returned with a new Network Ten cooking show called Hungry, hosting alongside former MasterChef Australia Sarah Todd.
13.
In 2015, the Fair Work Ombudsman alerted George Calombaris' MAdE Establishment Group to a problem with their payroll system, which had resulted in the mispayment of one staff member.
14.
In May 2017, George Calombaris was charged with assault after making physical contact with a 19-year-old man at Allianz Stadium during the 2017 A-League Grand Final.
15.
Video footage showed George Calombaris shoving a spectator who had heckled him over underpaying his staff.
16.
George Calombaris said that he was offended by the spectator "yelling out abusive and derogatory comments" about his family.