Stephanie Alexander ran the acclaimed Stephanie's Restaurant for twenty-one years before closing on New Year's Eve in 1997. The restaurant was the recipient of many national and international awards and accolades, and was regarded as an essential Melbourne experience. In partnership with her daughter Lisa Montague, longtime friend Angela Clemens and cheese expert Will Studd, Stephanie opened the Richmond Hill Cafe and Larder in the autumn of 1977. Stephanie was awarded an Order of Australia in 1994 for her services to the hospitality industry and to tourism, and for encouraging young apprentices. In 2000 she became involved in initiating and promoting a primary-school garden and kitchen program in the belief that the earlier children learn about food through example and positive experiences, the better their food choices will be through life.
Stephanie is a regular contributor to various national food publications. Her other books include Stephanie's Feasts and Stories, Stephanie's Seasons, Recipes My Mother Gave Me, A Shared Table and Cooking & Travelling in South-West France. Her classic, The Cook's Companion, has established itself as the kitchen bible in over 250 000 homes.
