My Family Feast is a weekly half hour television show that will take us into the lives and cooking traditions of Australian immigrants and their families, as seen through the eyes of our host, award winning chef Sean Connolly. Part cultural profile and part cooking show, each week Australians with diverse ethnic backgrounds will invite Sean into their homes, introduce him to their families, share cultural traditions and teach both Sean and the audience how to cook a family feast with recipes and techniques that have been lovingly passed from generation to generation.
Think back for a moment to the first time you were invited to dinner at your best friend or prospective partner’s home – sharing a meal with someone else’s family is still one of the most intimate and insightful experiences that we have available to us in the modern age. During My Family Feast, we’ll meet members of the entire family – grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles and second cousins – to gain a complete insight into their particular immigrant experience, be they first generation, second generation, or eighth generation Australians. As we learn a new recipe we will discover the stories and traditions that this particular recipe evokes.
My Family Feast is shot entirely on location. Rather than contextualising food by highlighting a particular region or style of cuisine My Family Feast places the preparation and consumption of food in the context of family. In a multicultural society such as Australia this means we are assured of a diverse range of cooking traditions and cuisines.
About the Host – Sean Connolly - Chef/Restaurateur 
Sean
Connolly’s passion for cooking has been evident since the day he
enrolled as the only boy in his Yorkshire school’s home economics
class. Ever inspired by his grandmother’s cooking, Connolly took his
passion further and started his chef’s apprenticeship at the Pennine
Hilton, Ainley Top in Leeds, working for free two nights a week at the
age of thirteen.
After continuing his apprenticeship in various
restaurants throughout the UK, Connolly found his calling during his
tenure at the Princess Grill, aboard the world’s most luxurious cruise
ship, the QE2. It was there that Connolly developed his love of luxury,
catering for the rich, the famous and the fussy, who were able to order
outside of his menu, according to their individual tastes, on any day
at any time.
After arriving in Australia in 1988 on a working
holiday, Connolly soon fell in love with the local weather, produce and
burgeoning food scene. After various sous chef roles, Connolly’s talent
quickly led to his appointment at Star City’s Astral in 1995. With its
spectacular 270degree views across the city and harbour, Connolly has
successfully worked to position the restaurant as one of Sydney’s top
fine-dining destinations.
With a modern European influence,
Astral’s menu reflects his commitment to fresh, local produce. Guests
enjoy many dining options, from the customised menu in the breathtaking
private dining room to the fast and fabulous pre-theatre dishes.
However, Connolly’s versatile talent is best on show with the Astral
Tasting Menu, served in the restaurant’s main dining room.
Upon
naming Connolly the 2008 Sydney Morning Herald Chef of the Year,
co-editor Joanna Savill noted: 'Blessed with sound technique, wit,
imagination and the intelligence not to try to hard, Connolly continues
to entertain and please us," and it is this 'potential for even greater
things and sheer bloody talent" that ensures his star will continue to
rise. As Chef/ Restaurateur at Sydney’s Star City Hotel & Casino,
Connolly opened the doors to his second restaurant, Sean’s Kitchen, in
September 2008. This $6 million development further revitalises the
Pyrmont dining scene, offering customers an inspired Mediterranean menu
featuring the country’s finest produce.
Recent accolades include:
"¢ Chef’s Hat, 2007 & 2008 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards
"¢ Chef of the Year, 2008 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards
"¢ One star, Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009
"¢ Chef of the Year, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 Australian Hotels Association NSW Awards for Excellence
"¢ Chef of the Year, 2008 GQ Man of the Year awards
"¢ Best Restaurant of the Year, 2007 AHA NSW Awards
"¢ Best Fine Dining Restaurant in a Hotel, Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence NSW & ACT 2007
