Author Biography: Peter Thornley

Peter is a Guest Writer for InsideCuisine.

One of New Zealand's most acclaimed and well known chefs, Peter Thornley, heads up Hilton Queenstown's signature restaurant Wakatipu Grill.

Peter began professional life as a Petty Officer in the Royal New Zealand Navy, before moving to London and working his way up through the culinary ranks in various restaurants.

In 1994, Peter returned home to open a vineyard restaurant between Christchurch and Akaroa called French Farm and very soon started collecting the first of many accolades for his cuisine. He then opened a fine dining restaurant in central Christchurch, before heading north to skipper the beloved Icon Restaurant in the Te Papa Museum of New Zealand in Wellington for six years, before becoming Executive Chef in Auckland’s Soul Bar in the Viaduct Harbour development, then onto Bracu on New Zealand’s olive estate, 60km from Auckland, and since 2008, Kermadec in Auckland, also in Viaduct Harbour.

Peter’s accomplishments also include:

- Chef of the year award

- Restaurant of the year award

- Most innovative chef award

- Singapore Chef of Year (4 years)

- Bracu receives seven reviews with full marks 5/5

- National Business review award

- Food writer for top end magazine

- Television and radio guest chef appearances in New Zealand and Australia