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Our Legend.. inspiring the cooks of tomorrow!
Last updatedThe Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Legends Program honours people, who have given a lifetime of passion and outstanding dedication to the food and wine industry. MFWF Legends are professionals who have enriched and contributed to the vibrant food and wine culture in Victoria through making a significant difference to the way the industry operates and how Victorians eat and drink.
This week our founder and Managing Director, Syd Weddell was fittingly awarded a Legend of the Festival in the Food Producer/Retailer/Advocate sector which recognizes industry professionals for “their excellence and integrity in the growing, breeding, harvesting, processing or distribution of great food at any level.”
It was 27 years ago that Syd and his wife Susan opened the doors to THE VITAL INGREDIENT in Eastern Road, South Melbourne. Fast forward to 2017 and Syd is now the Managing Director of THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT franchise with Susan and Maria Tsihlakis the Director and Managing Director respectively, of our Prahran and more recently South Melbourne stores. They form a formidable team that continues to inspire with beautiful stores full of hard-to-find ingredients & a team of very committed, talented people.
Syd’s, Susan’s and Maria’s energy & enthusiasm for the industry is infectious. True ground breakers & visionaries indeed!
