Peter Gordon

Peter Gordon was born in Castlecliff, Whanganui in 1963 and collated his first cookbook aged just four. He moved to Melbourne in 1981 and completed a four-year chef apprenticeship, graduating as top Theory Student. His spirit of adventure and culinary curiosity then led him to travel through Asia for a year, from Indonesia to India, a life-changing experience and major influence on his culinary style.

In 1986 he set up the kitchen and was Head Chef at the original The Sugar Club restaurant in Wellington, a role that would make his name as a chef. In 1989 Peter moved to London where he gradually introduced his eclectic cooking style to four restaurants – Launceston Place, Frith St, First Floor and Green St. Peter then won wide acclaim at two further The Sugar Clubs in Notting Hill and Soho. By the early 1990’s his bold approach, combining flavours and textures from throughout the world on a single plate, had become known globally as Fusion Cuisine.

Peter has restaurants in London (The Providores and Tapa Room in Marylebone) and Auckland (Bellota and The Sugar Club – the fourth incarnation of this iconic restaurant brand). Peter has written eight cookbooks and is also a co-founder of London’s rapidly growing sourdough-based Crosstown Doughnuts, which makes over 7,000 artisan treats daily.

In 1999, Peter was the first person to receive the New Zealander of the Year Award from the New Zealand Society in London. In 2009, he was awarded an ONZM at Windsor Castle by HM The Queen for his services to the food industry.

Peter has assisted multiple charitable, arts, culture, and nationally significant causes in NZ and the UK. Over two decades ago he conceived an annual culinary event “Who’s Cooking dinner?” to raise funds for Leukaemia research. That, and its Auckland equivalent “Dining For a Difference” have since raised over NZ$16m in NZ and the UK.

In 2017 he prepared dinner for exhibiting artist, Lisa Reihana, the NZ Governor General, and 300 guests on a Venetian Island during official events for NZ at the Venice Art Biennale.

In 2018 Peter designed and cooked a Gala dinner for 900 in Auckland to honour former President Obama’s inaugural visit to New Zealand, and in 2019 he cooked lunch for two Prime Ministers – of the UK and New Zealand – at No.10 Downing Street.

Watch Peter Gordon accept his award here.