Chef Melinda McRostie has been named as one of 10 finalists in the running for the prestigious Basque Culinary World Prize.
The award is aimed at recognising chefs of any nationality who demonstrate how gastronomy can be a powerful force for change and whose impact can be felt 'beyond the kitchen', and McRostie has been doing that for years now.
Born in Melbourne, she first arrived on Lesvos with her mother at the age of three. Now based in the village of Molyvos she runs The Captain's Table restaurant, the site from which she began providing food, water, and shelter to thousands of refugees seeking asylum from the Middle East.
"We've always tried to help people in need, it's something we've always done," McRostie told The Herald Sun.
In November 2014 her efforts were officially recognised and expanded after receiving a phone call from the Starfish Foundation.
"The coastguard called me and asked if I had any clothes I had collected (for poor locals) as they had a boatload of very wet, cold people. It just went from there," the chef recalls, soon after which she set up the local branch of the Starfish Foundation.
What started with 100 refugees per week, eventually saw intake grow to 1000 people a day at the height of what is considered to be the largest refugee crisis since World War II.
To keep up with demand, McRostie expanded beyond her restaurant with a camp. With the Starfish Foundation and volunteers, she provided 200,000 unassisted children and vulnerable families with food, water, medical facilities and transport to the island's capital, along with much needed emotional support.
"People would say to me, thank you for saving my life. I don't think I saved anybody's life, I was just giving them some food and water and juice, and clothes, but they were so grateful," McRostie said.
McRostie was shortlisted by a committee chaired by Spain's Elena Arzak from Arzak restaurant, and if named the winner she will be awarded €100,000 (AUD $150,000) which she says will go a long way in helping to continue her work on the island.
"Because we're not in crisis mode with the refugees to the rest of the world, the money has slowly dried up. But so much is still needed here," she said.
"I've only got enough money left for another couple of weeks."
The winner will be announced on 18 July.
Source: neoskosmos.com