ONE of the newest additions to the list of Food Ambassadors for Eat Local Month, chef Elliot Platz, has a deep connection with the region.

Elliot grew up on the family farm just outside Harrisville and his passion for cooking comes from his grandmother. He can still recall her kitchen filled with the aroma of biscuits baking in the oven.

“Cooking is at a glance the simplest and most gratifying of the arts, but to cook well one must love and respect food,” Elliot says.

Television shows like the Iron Chef and the series featuring British chef Marco Pierre White also played influential roles in shaping his professional life.

However, it was a year long stint working as a local farmhand that fully immersed him in his culinary future.

“I had no intention of becoming a chef, but life’s twists led me on this remarkable culinary journey,” he recalls.

Now, after nearly two years entrenched in the local culinary scene, Elliot has worked with some of the state’s best producers and chefs. Notably with Homage Restaurant at Spicers Hidden Vale and Blume Restaurant in Boonah before making the move to the Kooroomba Restaurant at Mt Alford.

As a Scenic Rim Food Ambassador, Elliot has established relationships with local farmers, producers, and artisans, to infuse authenticity into every dish.

“Good food starts with good produce, and I’m grateful to nurture that connection as a chef.”

Elliot is also giving back to his alma mater as he volunteers as a mentor at the Boonah State High School, sharing his expertise with the next generation in such events as the Paddock-to-Plate Dinner.

Elliot’s culinary magic isn’t just about the dishes he creates; it’s a celebration of a region, a community, and a sustainable culinary legacy.