"Celebrating Melbourne Food & Wine Festival’s Legends Hall of Fame."
Launched in 1993, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Legends Hall of Fame pays tribute to the leaders, groundbreakers and visionaries of Victoria’s food, drink and hospitality industry. It’s a chance to stop and recognise the significant contribution these individuals have made over the course of their careers. More than 190 Legends have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since the program began. The awards are peer-nominated, and to qualify, a Legend must have made a significant contribution to food or drink, and clocked at least 15 years in hospitality in Victoria. Trailblazers, meanwhile, are Legends in the making who have broken new ground in food or drink, but might not yet have done so over quite so sustained a period of time."
Tim White and Amanda Schulze, Books for Cooks
In an era when independent bookstores struggle against online giants, Amanda Schulze and Tim White have thrived by championing food and wine literature. Books for Cooks has been a magnet and a sanctuary for food lovers since 1983, and under Amanda and Tim’s stewardship it has served as a cultural hub where chefs, writers and curious home cooks gather.
Thanks to their encyclopedic knowledge and truly exceptional list, every visit feels like a masterclass in food culture, and it’s not an accident that it’s top of the to-do list for international guests of the Festival. Whether hunting down rare, out-of-print titles or recommending classics, they connect people to stories, traditions and flavours from around the world. Their influence extends beyond the shelves, supporting publishing careers and promoting chefs, all the while keeping the personal touch."The shop itself is a destination for both local home cooks and visiting chefs and foodies. In my opinion, it’s essential visiting for any food lover," says Legends judge Sofia Levin. "Tim and Amanda firmly stand their ground as an independent retailer – of niche books! – in an online era."
https://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/industry/mfwf-legends-2025/communicators-educators/