Celebrity chef George Calumbaris. Photo / Getty Images
When did chefs decide they were financial experts who could run million-dollar empires?
There's always such shock when a rock star chef's kingdom crumbles. But they're just cooks! They're skilled at julienning carrots and using those cool tiny flame torches to caramelise desserts – managing the cash flow of a
million-dollar conglomerate and then expanding into homewares ranges and ready-made sauces for Coles is not covered in the apprenticeship.
I'm a journalist who makes fun of people behind their backs. Do you think my company's CEO is calling me up for financial advice on the yearly budget? Dating advice, sure. Sometimes hair care tips. But he doesn't need business pointers from someone who can't pay rent this month because they drank too much tequila and bought off-brand teeth alignment trays from a 3D printing internet company.
On Monday it was confirmed George Calombaris's restaurant empire Made Establishment had entered voluntary administration and 12 venues across Melbourne were immediately shuttered. Yet another chef brought down by their own bad business skills. He's our own Jamie Oliver.
There was no coming back for George after last year's $7.8 million wage underpayment saga. The final kick to the guts for workers? They found out they were jobless because George posted it on the 'Gram.
