Blumenthal is a late addition to the already-announced guest list for the sumptuous dinner being prepared by Neil Perry AM, Peter Gilmore and Ben Shewry.
In addition to Heston a number of leading Australian food and wine figures will also be attending the gala dinner at MONA, including Matt Moran, Maggie Beer, Stephanie Alexander, Matt Preston, George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan, Jock Zonfrillo and Mark Olive.
Heston's presence 'icing on the cake'
Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O'Sullivan, said securing somebody of Heston's international standing was the 'icing on the cake' on a guest list which already included more than 80 of the world's most influential food and wine figures.
"We're extremely excited to have Heston as our guest at MONA on November 14 as part of a dining experience I think must surely be unique. At the heart of our Restaurant Australia campaign, and where our country excels, is exactly the fresh produce, people and place which Heston, his restaurants and style of cooking epitomises. More so, food lovers will soon be able to enjoy this here in Australia when he brings his award-winning The Fat Duck restaurant to Melbourne early next year," he said.
Blumenthal: an 'unmissable culinary opportunity'
Blumenthal said he was used to receiving impressive dinner invitations, but never before for a meal involving so many global food and wine luminaries – both as fellow dining guests and the world class chefs and their teams working in the kitchen, preparing the meal.
"As a regular visitor and huge fan of Australia, Tasmania and MONA I must say I can't wait to take my place at this dinner. To share the room with so many knowledgeable international food and wine people and to be served up dinner by three of the country's most respected and talented chefs, is a culinary experience I just couldn't miss and am hugely looking forward to," he said.
Blumenthal will also feature in a documentary Tourism Australia is currently filming, featuring some of the Australian and international chefs who have been closely involved in the Restaurant Australia campaign.
Last month, Tourism Australia unveiled a list of more than 80 international food and wine VIPS who will be attending the gala dinner, taking place on 14 November at MONA in Tasmania.
The group of gastronomic VIPs come from 16 of Tourism Australia's key markets and includes:
- Alice Waters, Chef, Author, Proprietor - USA
- Eric Ripert, Award-winning Chef, Restaurateur, Author and TV Personality - USA
- Adrian Anthony Gill, TV and Restaurant Critic, Author - UK
- Sanjeev Kapoor, Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur, TV Presenter – India
- Yifan Liu, Celebrity Chef, TV Show host – China
- Sherson Lian, Celebrity Chef and Host – Malaysia
- Lorenzo Cogo, Chef - Italy
