Guy Grossi

Guy Grossi is one of Australia’s most respected Master Chefs — an affable, passionate and playful force of nature whose devotion to pure Italian cuisine has helped shape Melbourne’s dining culture for decades.

As the former owner-operator of the iconic Grossi Florentino, Guy transformed the historic Bourke Street institution into one of Melbourne’s finest dining rooms, elevating it to national acclaim while preserving its soul, tradition and unmistakable Italian identity. Under his stewardship, Florentino became not just a restaurant, but a benchmark for classic Italian hospitality at its most refined.

A commanding yet joyful presence in the kitchen, Guy leads with discipline, music, storytelling and heart — bringing together craft, culture and creativity in equal measure. His food is grounded in heritage but never constrained by it: deeply traditional, yet alive with evolution.

Cooking runs through Guy’s blood. He began alongside his father Pietro in the family restaurant Mario’s, learning the foundations of Italian cuisine before refining his skills across some of Melbourne’s most demanding kitchens. He later opened his own venues, including Quadri, Caffè Grossi and Mirka, continually building a philosophy centred on balance, consistency and food that feels unmistakably Italian — whether inspired by a centuries-old recipe or a spontaneous idea.

Beyond the restaurant, Guy has become one of Australia’s most recognisable and trusted culinary voices. He is the author of several best-selling cookbooks and has shared his expertise with audiences nationwide as a judge on My Kitchen Rules, an expert guest on MasterChef Australia, and as host of SBS’s Food Safari, where his love of food, culture and storytelling shines.

A natural performer with wit, charm and a larger-than-life personality, Guy is as captivating on screen and on the floor as he is behind the pass — a chef, teacher and custodian of Italian food culture who continues to inspire generations of cooks and diners alike.