Alastair McLeod

Alastair McLeod is a chef, television personality, ambassador and corporate host with unbridled enthusiasm for all things food. Bestowed with the gift of the gab and a quick wit, Alastair is a popular master of ceremonies and guest speaker who brings his unique humour and professionalism to any event. He is best known for his roles on Channel Seven’s Weekender and Network 10’s Ready Steady Cook. 

Alastair travels around Australia on a regular basis to host large corporate functions, food shows and outdoor events. He has been the national MC for the Good Food and Wine Show for over 10 years and continues to present at a large number of festivals and events around the country, including the Cake Bake and Sweets Show, Noosa Food and Wine Festival, Bundy Flavours, Regional Flavours and City Good Food Month. Alastair has been a proud ambassador for both the Lockyer Valley region and the Moreton Bay Food & Wine Festival and has part of these tenures has been responsible for hosting media functions, attending regular events and raising awareness for travel destinations.   

Alastair’s Instagram account is a testament to the beautiful food he creates, his love of his gorgeous family, and the causes he is passionate about.

The much-loved chef and TV personality has roots deeply entrenched in far north Queensland: his grandfather hailed from Erub Island in the eastern Torres Strait. His mother Faye McLeod, was raised on a remote cane farm in the tropics before travelling the world as an accomplished jazz performer and actress. Alastair was born in Belfast, the son of a proud Northern Irish man, and grew up through the height of ‘The Troubles’ conflict in the region. 

Being part of such a multicultural family, Alastair was encouraged to experience a large range of cuisines and a career in cooking ensued. His experience in the kitchen is extensive; he’s worked at Michelin listed restaurants across the world, such as Roscoff in Belfast, United Kingdom and Da Giovanni in Torino, Italy. He’s also worked at La Fregate in Collioure, France, and one of Scotland’s finest restaurants The Ubiquitous Chip in Glasgow. After his classical training in Europe, Alastair decided to follow in the steps of his forefathers and chose Queensland as his home.

His Australian tenures have included roles as executive chef at the Brisbane stalwart Baguette which, under Alastair’s stewardship, won back-to-back Restaurant and Caterer awards and saw the restaurant inducted into the hall of fame. After a lengthy spell at Brett’s Wharf, he established Tank Restaurant and Bar in Brisbane’s CBD that was named in Australia’s hot 50 restaurants two years running, achieved 17/20 in the Courier Mail, 4/5 in The Australian and a coveted chef’s hat. These days, Alastair is at the helm of Al’FreshCo; his own business that provides small and large scale catering to private and corporate clients.