Sunday Lunch x Tom Sarafian at Serai

Victoria’s own Tom Sarafian (Little Andorra, Bar Saracen) will be coming for lunch on 17 July, combining his traditional techniques and recipes with Ross Magnaye's innovative, new wave Filipino over fire flavours. This 'Kamayan' banquet style event (use your hands), is super fun and offers a casual and unique style of eating.

While Tom has really been training as a chef since birth, he started his formal apprenticeship at Melbourne's famous Stokehouse Restaurant in 2005. In 2008, he discovered Greg Malouf's cookbooks and was thrilled to see the traditional cuisine of his Armenian-Egyptian grandparents being presented with such modern finesse. Tom went to work alongside Greg at the legendary MoMo, pursuing his passion for middle eastern cooking.

Tom had the privilege of cooking for some of London's biggest culinary names, including Nigella Lawson and Anthony Bourdain. He then explored Levantine and Spanish cuisines working at the iconic Moro with Sam and Samantha Clark. After returning to Melbourne via a four month research trip through Spain, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Lebanon and Armenia, he applied this new knowledge to his first head chef role at Joseph Abboud's East Brunswick favourite, Rumi.

After running Rumi for three years Tom opened Bar Saracen in the Melbourne CBD with Joseph in 2018 to critical acclaim. Bar Saracen was number one in the Herald Sun's Delicious 100 awards 'people's choice' category in 2018 - a remarkable feat in its first year - and number five in 2019. At Saracen, Tom cooked some of the city’s favourite Middle Eastern food, combining traditional techniques and recipes with innovative touches and beautiful local produce. Since Saracen’s closure in February 2021, Tom has taken up a residency at Little Andorra in Carlton - and has continued to cook at events around the country.

Host or Publisher Serai Melbourne