Melbourne-born Michelle Garnaut is a trained chef and restaurateur with a culinary career that spans over 25 years, several continents and positions that have ranged from waitress to chef to caterer and proprietor. On February 1, 2013, Michelle has invited 85 Broads Members to join her for lunch at Capital M, where she will discuss how she built the M empire, and her inspiration to launch the Capital M Literary Festival.

Lunch with Michelle Garnaut

February 1, 2013

12:00-1:45

RMB 188, including lunch and a glass of wine

After traveling the world, Michelle arrived in Hong Kong (only intending a short stay) where she worked in the restaurant business and opened her own catering firm. She opened M at the Fringe in Hong Kong in 1989, which became a pioneer of independent fine dining.

After a guest chef stint at The Peace Hotel in Shanghai in 1996, Michelle felt that Shanghai was ready for something similar, and in 1999 – when the rest of the Bund was a culinary desert – she opened M on the Bund on the historic waterfront. The first Glamour Room and Bar opened in 2001.

In 2002, the now-famous cultural events series was launched at the Glamour Bar, along with the enormously popular Shanghai International Literary Festival.  By 2006, the Glamour Bar moved to a bigger, better and even more glamorous space on the 6th floor.

For her achievements, Michelle has been honored with awards that include Entrepreneur of the Year (International Woman of Influence Awards) and the Business Entrepreneurial Award (ANZ Australian Business Awards). Michelle has had a long-term commitment to charity work, including ongoing involvement in the ICC Beach Cleanup, books2eat, and Care for Children.  She is currently working on The Village People project, targeted at improving the lives and health of women in rural China.