Mr. Nice Spice - Part 1

In 2012 Shane Delia exploded.  After the launch of his first cookbook and second restaurant in 2011, he was everywhere.  He was on every morning television show and every other cooking show around.  He was in food magazines, festivals, food events and exhibitions.  It was the perfect prelude to his new show that is about to hit our screens on SBS.

‘Shane Delia’s Spice Journey’ is a pilgrimage to Shane’s homeland Malta, as well as Iran, Lebanon and ancient Persia where he seeks out the authentic flavors, produce and cuisine of these regions to create his very own interpretations of the cultures and incredible Middle Eastern dishes.

“I wanted to do something starting in Malta and follow my descendants through the Middle East.  I didn’t think I’d get the chance to do something like this so it’s going to be great”, Shane explains with excitement.  The project has been in the planning for two years ever since a production company approached him and asked what he would like to do if he was to have his own show on TV.

It’s easy to see why Shane Delia has become an ‘overnight’ success.  He is clearly talented in the kitchen and passionate about food and cooking, but he also oozes a magical, boy like charm and personality with a killer smile to boot.  He holds a generous energy and when you see him that energy makes you feel like you are instantly one of his friends.  He is a genuine, straight shooting, no frills kind of guy that bares no bones when it comes to the love he holds for his family and his culture. He makes absolutely no secret about that.

“My grandfather, Nenu, is the beating drum in my heart that inspires me to be the chef, father and leader I need to be both at home and at Maha.”  Shane expresses, who dedicated his first cookbook ‘Maha – Middle Eastern Home Cooking’ to Nenu.  The cookbook is a magnificent array of recipes motivated by Shane’s first restaurant in inner city Melbourne, Maha – named after his wife - that opened in 2008.  “I wanted Maha to be an expression of my love for my family.  I also wanted to bring together my French culinary training, my pride in my Maltese heritage and cuisine, and the honest family values taught to me by my family.  This was to be a place where I could cook food that I was truly proud of, food from my heart that nourished my soul”.

The success of Maha was almost instant when five months after opening it was bestowed it’s first honor when being awarded one Chef’s Hat in ‘The Age Good Food Guide’ in 2009, an accolade that has been repeated each year since.  Maha also won Best New Restaurant award from the ‘Restaurant and Catering Association of Victoria’ in 2008 and Best Specialty Cuisine in 2009.

Fellow celebrity chef and friend George Calombaris says in the forward of Shane’s cookbook that there are some things one must understand about Shane Delia, “He tells it like it is and wears his heart on his sleeve.  In a world that makes furniture polish with fresh lemons and lemonade with artificial lemon extracts, Shane keeps it simple and real, and I love him for it”.  George and Shane met as apprentice chefs in 1997 and instantly hit it off.  They say that their friendship isn’t just about food and restaurants – they are like brothers that argue, shout, laugh and cry.  Through it all they remain strong and united – mates for life.

Growing up in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, Shane suffered from ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder now referred to as ADHD) as a child, which was undiagnosed for some period of time.  Once diagnosed Shane says his academic life changed and other options were open to him. However this didn’t stop the knockers he had to endure.  “I was just a boy from the Western Suburbs who wasn’t meant to achieve anything.  I left school when I was young and told I’d be dead or in jail by the time I was 21.”  Clearly this had very little to no bearing on Shane to follow his passion and his dream to be a chef, something he always knew he would be, something he felt would gain him respect from his family.  The Delia family motto is ‘Fortis et Hospitalis – strength in hospitality’.  This is something Shane proudly wears tattooed on his arm.

In 2006 Shane started extending his own branch on the Delia family tree when he married his love, Maha.  He attributes Maha to providing a strong base at home with their two children, daughter Jayda and son Jude, so that he can focus on what he does.  “She thinks I named the restaurant Maha to suck up to her but it’s really because I’m proud of our relationship and she is my inspiration” Shane proudly tells.  “My wife and I have similar backgrounds.  Both of our parents came from overseas, we were not born into money but we both had really happy upbringings”.  Shane holds his Lebanese in-laws in very high regard claiming that they patiently taught him everything he knows about Lebanese food and culture.

Shane’s love of food and cooking doesn’t stop in the kitchen.  He has put up his name to be Ambassador for both the ‘Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation’ and ‘Ozchild’. "We know Shane's commitment to food allergies and the quality of care that he takes in preparing his food at Maha,” Stephen Dabkowski, CEO Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation explains, “it's been a productive association allowing the Foundation to increase it's fundraising to support important research into the causes and possible cure for anaphylaxis." CEO of Ozchild, Tony Pittman adds, “The passion that he has for food is aligned to his passion for children, because within his culture food has been the core of extended family meetings, allowing for contribution, sharing and conviviality. Shane strongly believes in the strength an extended family can offer children’s growth, development and security. From his own life experiences, Shane understands the problems that children face as they grow up and the effects of the youth justice system upon the lives of the young and vulnerable. His life mission is to help children to overcome as many adversities as possible”.

Next week my Shane Delia feature story continues and concludes.  

 Shane Delia’s Spice Journey airs on Thursday May 2^nd at 7.30pm on SBS ONE.