Food Wine Sleep

Joe Camilleri began his apprenticeship testing out different cuisines however it was in the 2nd year of his training when he joined Eugenio Riva at Darlinghurst’s Ristorante Riva, that his passion and flair for Italian and Mediterranean cooking really came to the fore.

Joe detoured from Italian food for a while when he left Ristorante Riva to work with Peter Conistis at Eleni’s where he was his Sous Chef for 2 years.

In 1999 Joe moved on from Eleni’s to Mezzaluna Ristorante where he began his relationship with Marc & Norma Polese, part of Sydney’s oldest restaurant family dynasty, where he rose through the ranks to become Head Chef. Then, in 2008 when the Polese Family sold Mezzaluna, Joe decided to stay in the fold by joining Beppi Polese at Sydney institution Beppi’s Restaurant as Head Chef where he remains today.

Joe is also involved in other food activities outside of his kitchen such at cooking for CIRA (Council of Italian Restaurants in Australia) doing various cooking classes such as Sydney Seafood School and Barilla House as well as at charitable functions.