The most famous Australian vegan chef is arguably Shannon Martinez, known for her influential Melbourne restaurants Smith & Daughters and Smith & Deli, popular cookbooks, and pioneering role in making plant-based dining mainstream and exciting, achieving Australia's first hatted vegan status. Simon Toohey, a MasterChef finalist, is also a prominent advocate for plant-based cooking.
The best vegan chefs
Simon Toohey is a talented chef and MasterChef Australia finalist known for his sustainable, plant-based approach to cooking.
Curtis Stone is widely considered Australia's most famous chef due to his global television presence on shows like MasterChef and Top Chef Masters, Michelin-starred restaurants in LA (Maude, Gwen), and significant influence in both Australian and international food scenes, often topping popularity lists. Other highly famous and influential Australian chefs include Matt Moran, known for TV and iconic restaurants, and figures like Donna Hay and Pete Evans, though Stone's international profile often sets him apart.
While large cities like Melbourne and Sydney have abundant options, Port Macquarie (NSW) is often cited as Australia's top "vegan and vegetarian capital" for its high density of vegan-friendly restaurants per capita, followed by places like Caloundra (QLD) and Castlemaine (VIC) being popular vegan-friendly small towns. Melbourne, especially inner suburbs like Fitzroy, is recognized globally for its extensive plant-based scene, while the Sunshine Coast (QLD) leads in vegan cafes/restaurants per person among larger areas.
"I've found a counterculture way of living, of embracing red meat and organs — natural food just like our millennia of ancestors would have eaten for hundreds of thousands of years," he said. "I've tried to listen to my body more, tried to listen to nature, and I don't miss vegetables at all.
Miley Cyrus stopped being strictly vegan because she experienced health issues, feeling malnourished and that her brain wasn't functioning properly after six years on the diet, leading her to reintroduce fish and omegas for better brain function, though she still values animal welfare. She noted feeling "much sharper" and healthier after adding animal products like fish back into her diet, which was a difficult transition emotionally, but a necessary one for her body.
Yes, several Australian chefs have earned Michelin stars for their restaurants, primarily overseas in cities like London, Seoul, and Singapore, as there is currently no Michelin Guide for Australia itself, although Brett Graham (The Ledbury, London) is the first Australian-born chef to achieve three stars at his own restaurant. Other notable Australian chefs with Michelin stars include Matt Abé (Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London), Curtis Stone (Maude/Gwen, LA), Shane Osborn (Arcane, Hong Kong), and Joseph Lidgerwood (Evett, Seoul).
The most prominent contestant who left MasterChef for mental health reasons is Brent Draper from MasterChef Australia, who stepped away in 2021 due to overwhelming anxiety and pressure, famously telling the judges he needed to "sort my mental health out," and later returned to win in 2023, becoming a mental health advocate.
While exact figures vary, Gordon Ramsay generally has a higher net worth than Jamie Oliver, with Ramsay often cited in the $200-$220 million range and Oliver around $160-$200 million, though Oliver's fortune comes significantly from cookbooks and education, while Ramsay's is built on high-end restaurants and a massive media empire, with some reports placing Ramsay far ahead.
Woody Harrelson (b. 1961) is an American actor, comedian, and playwright who has been nominated for the prestigious Academy Awards three times. He has played important roles in many blockbuster movies. Besides being a well-known actor, Harrelson is an environmental activist and follows a strict raw vegan diet.
If you're wondering whether Jamie has gone full vegan, we have the details. In a week, he goes vegan for a day and a half and then goes vegetarian twice a week, the remaining days he sticks to his usual diet.
Gordon Ramsay, once famously dismissive of vegans ("I'm allergic to vegans!"), has dramatically shifted his public stance, now admitting he "absolutely loves vegan food," developing plant-based recipes like Beet Wellington, starring in dairy-free ads, and embracing vegan options for his kids, though some question if it's purely a business move or genuine culinary evolution. He now promotes plant-based eating, even doing vegan challenges, showcasing a big change from his past anti-vegan remarks.
In 2011, at age 27, Zuckerberg decided to learn where his food comes from by doing something extreme: If he wanted meat, he had to kill the animal himself. This meant he basically became a vegetarian except on occasions when he slaughtered an animal for food.
Alexis Gauthier - Michelin-Starred Vegan Chef.
Season 3 Euphoria teasers are finally here—and they reminded us of one iconic Zendaya fact: she's been vegetarian since age 11, after passing a slaughterhouse on a road trip. She's even admitted, “I'm a vegetarian who doesn't like vegetables too much.” Honestly? Same.
MasterChef contestant Matthew Gagnon has died. He was 42. The Connecticut native died “unexpectedly” on Monday, Dec. 15, according to his obituary.
On March 9, 2022, Mary Jayne filed a lawsuit to the production of MasterChef for pressuring her to film and not giving her medical treatment despite her suffering from a stroke.
Curtis Stone is widely considered Australia's most famous chef due to his global television presence on shows like MasterChef and Top Chef Masters, Michelin-starred restaurants in LA (Maude, Gwen), and significant influence in both Australian and international food scenes, often topping popularity lists. Other highly famous and influential Australian chefs include Matt Moran, known for TV and iconic restaurants, and figures like Donna Hay and Pete Evans, though Stone's international profile often sets him apart.
French chef Joël Robuchon held a record-breaking 32 Michelin stars across his global restaurant empire at the peak of his career, making him the most decorated chef in history before his passing in 2018. Known as the "Chef of the Century," he revolutionized fine dining with his focus on simple, ingredient-focused dishes and his "Atelier" concept of counter dining.
Gordon Ramsay lost Michelin stars primarily due to inconsistent quality, service, and food standards at specific restaurants, leading inspectors to revoke stars, most notably the historic two-star loss at his New York restaurant in 2013 after a key chef left, though some chefs also willingly give them up for less pressure, a path Ramsay generally hasn't taken but understands. Michelin guides focus on consistent excellence, and lapses result in star removal, a significant blow to any chef's reputation.
American actor. Over the years, Johnny Depp went through several periods when he ate vegan for various reasons – for his health, in preparation for acting roles or perhaps at the request of his (now ex-) girlfriend.
Miley Cyrus has publicly shared she lives with Reinke's edema, a vocal cord disorder causing swelling, hoarseness, and a deeper, raspy voice, which she embraces as part of her unique sound but makes touring difficult. While she's mentioned this and past health struggles like ovarian cysts, rumors of severe diagnoses (like cancer) circulating online (e.g., in posts from late 2025) are unverified and likely false, as recent reports focus on her vocal condition.
Australian actor Liam Hemsworth told Men's Health that he had to "completely rethink" his vegan diet after undergoing surgery for a kidney stone. Some foods are high in substances called oxalates, which can increase risk of kidney stones.