Barbara Santich

Barbara Santich has responsibility for the new Graduate Program in Gastronomy, offered jointly by Adelaide University and Le Cordon Bleu.

Barbara Santich was born and educated in NSW, where she gained her first degree at the University of NSW (B.Sc. Hons I). Her interest in food and eating was stimulated by her study of biochemistry and eventually, under the influence of Waverley Root and Elizabeth David and travels in Europe (France in particular), she began a food writing career which has continued for over 20 years. A fascination with languages and France developed into a sympathy with the ancient languages of Mediterranean France, which in turn led to a BA (University of Minnesota) and PhD (Flinders University of SA).

Barbara Santich has written for numerous Australian newspapers and magazines, from The Australian to Gourmet Traveller, as well as overseas publications including The Journal of Gastronomy, Petits Propos Culinaires, the New York Times and Slow (quarterly magazine of the International Slow Food Movement). She has presented papers at many Australian and overseas conferences, and has been appointed to the Editorial Advisory Board of Slow and to the Editorial Board of Petits Propos Culinaires. Her books include Looking for Flavour (1996), a book of essays on food and culture; The Original Mediterranean Cuisine (1995); What the Doctors Ordered: 150 years of dietary advice in Australia (1995; Apples to Zampone (first edition 1996, second revised edition 1999); and McLaren Vale: Sea & Vines (1998). Her most recent book is In the Land of the Magic Pudding: A gastronomic miscellany (Wakefield Press, 2000).

Author's website: Barbara Santich