Stephanie Alexander AO is regarded as one of Australia's great food educators. Her reputation has been earned through 30 years as an owner-chef in several restaurants, as the author of influential books and for her groundbreaking work in creating the Stephanie Alexander Garden Foundation. Everything she has achieved and worked towards has been driven by her desire to break down anxieties about cooking, to emphasise the beauty of produce fresh from the garden and to promote the pleasures of sharing around a table. Her fifth book, The Cook's Companion, is regarded as an Australian classic, and has sold over 500,000 copies.