Ben Milgate

Ben met him business partner Elvis when they were both cooking together at Four In Hand, but had worked various Fine Dining Restaurants prior to this meeting, the boys become instant friends sharing many common interests outside of food.Together with Elvis’ brother in law Joe Valore, the trio opened Bodega in August 2006, with the idea of creatinga dining destination that they wanted to experience. Described as pioneers of the modern tapas movement in Sydney, Ben and Elvis were awarded the Gourmet Traveller Best New Talent Award.Four years later in September 2010, the threeopened their Argentine restaurant Porteño and Gardel’s Bar and were awarded Two Chef’s Hats and Best New Restaurant by Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Awards, Gourmet Traveller and Time Out.Ben and Elvis were awarded the 2013 Sydney Morning Herald “Chef of the Year”Since Porteño opened Ben,Elvisand Joe have taken advantage of a variety of opportunities tobe part of some great festivals and events in Sydney,and around Australia. They have been especiallypleasedto have combined their love of music and food by being the proud ambassadors of Big Day Out –Chow Townand curating Wild Porteño for the Vivid festival.