Simon Gault is a very busy man these days. After leaving Nourish Group, the hospitality enterprise responsible for New Zealand culinary hotspots including Euro, Jervois Steak House and The Crab Shack, the 50-year-old chef is concentrating on a variety of exciting new and current business ventures.
One of these is an appearance at the 2015 Food Show in Auckland, where Simon is holding cooking demonstrations and mingling with local foodies at his Home Cuisine and Sous Chef stalls.
The father-of-one readily admits there’s no such thing as a “typical day” for him, given his busy schedule, but says he thrives on the unpredictable nature of his day-to-day life.
“There’s no shortage of crazy things going on,” he says, listing everything from his work with Selaks Wine and Roast Day to an upcoming “very exclusive” function where he’ll be working with the computer from Jeopardy to create a menu.
He’s also got his line of stocks and seasonings (Simon Gault Home Cuisine) and fine foods importation company Sous Chef keeping him busy, and if that wasn’t enough, there are also some closely guarded plans for a new restaurant in the pipeline.
However, there’s another passion project Simon is hoping to get off the ground, and it takes the chef into new territory on New Zealand TV.
After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, Simon made serious changes to his lifestyle and diet and says he no longer needs the medication. He was hoping to do the same for other Kiwis battling the condition with a concept for a new reality show that would take “a cross-section of New Zealanders” and put them in a house for 2-3 months to work with experts on managing their diabetes.
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“I’d be teaching them how to shop, how to walk around the supermarket … how to be able to do food that’s sustainable for their health condition,” Simon says.
It’s a cause that’s very close to his heart, and he’s understandably disappointed that the show was refused for funding by NZ On Air.
“Being such a big epidemic in New Zealand, we wanted people at home sitting on their seats to watch and learn,” he says.
“It wasn’t about having a go at NZ On Air [but I’m] really disappointed they didn’t fund it.”
The show was so important Simon says it’s one of the reasons he turned down the judging gig on MasterChef NZ this year.
“I told them over a year ago that I wouldn’t be doing it,” he reveals.
“It was all about what I want to do next. I love *MasterChef, I love what it’s done for New Zealand, I love what it’s done for young kids, but I want to do something that’s going to make a difference to New Zealand and that’s why I really want to do this diabetes show.”
He may have moved on from MasterChef, but how does he feel about the new lineup of judges replacing him and Ray McVinnie, and will he still be tuning in?
“I haven’t watched one episode yet,” he reveals.
“I think all the judges are fantastic, they’ll be great. But will I be watching it? If I happen to be home on a Sunday night, yeah, I’m sure I will.”
