Teage Ezard is recognised as one of the country's leading Chef / Restaurateurs, whose trademark 'Australian freestyle' food is championed in his Melbourne establishments ezard (Two Hats), Gingerboy (One Hat), and Gingerboy Upstairs.

Part of the local and international dining scene for almost 15 years, this year welcomes great change and challenge for the Ezard Group – an expansion to Sydney and the opening of BLACK by ezard as part of Star's multi-million dollar redevelopment.

The contemporary Australian grill will be a far cry from the chef's characteristic Asian-inspired fare, and Ezard sees it as the ultimate opportunity to showcase his classical training and passion for reinterpreting food-styles of the world.

Ezard started his culinary career at Guernica, and has owned and operated his eponymous Asian-inspired restaurant since 1999. In ezard's first year (formerly known as ezard at Adelphi) it was awarded two Hats – which it maintains today – and named Best New Restaurant in The Age Good Food Guide. Ezard was later awarded The Age Good Food Guide 2003 Chef of the Year.

The chef's profile was catapulted to the international stage in 2004, when he joined forces with Hong Kong's JIA Boutique Hotel to launch two restaurants – Opia and Y's. Both were an instant hit, with the former named Restaurant of the Year in Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, and the two short-listed for Best New Restaurant in Wallpaper* Magazine.

In 2006 Ezard launched ezard's sister restaurant Gingerboy in Melbourne's Crossley Street, serving stylish South-East-Asian street food. Two years later Ezard introduced Gingerboy Upstairs – a sexy, intimate space above the restaurant offering beautiful cocktails to complement the hawker-style snacks.

Ezard has appeared as guest chef and demonstrator at domestic and international food events, and is the proud author of two award-winning books – ezard (March 2003) and lotus: Asian Flavours (2006). The chef will release his third book, Gingerboy, based on the restaurant's popular dishes in October 2011.