Name

Kate Lamont

Restaurant

Lamont’s East Perth, Lamont’s Margaret River, Lamont’s Swan Valley, Lamont’s Winestore Cottesloe, Western Australia

It’s so Australian to be able to borrow ideas, share between cultures and understand how to work together.

Why are you supporting A Taste of Harmony?

Food is a great companion but it’s also a great leveller – it’s something that all people have in common and it invariably creates good will. Sharing meals and recipes, and talking about food can be such relationship builders.

How has Australia’s rich cultural diversity impacted your life?

I grew up in the Swan Valley and there were lots of people from what was Yugoslavia as well as Italy in our region - it was the food bowl. Living and working with these different cultures in agriculture was very much a part of my upbringing.

What influences has Australia’s multiculturalism brought to your food and cooking?

Australia has a real mishmash of food styles and it doesn’t seem wrong to us to mix cultures – it’s so Australian to be able to borrow ideas, share between cultures and understand how to work together.

Do you have a culturally diverse workforce at your restaurants?

Because we’re in regional WA, as well as the city, we often have working holiday makers from around the world. We have staff from France, Belgium, Poland and Australian's of Italian and Greek decent.

Why is it important to learn about and understand the different cultures of your work colleagues?

Having a harmonious workplace means understanding how everyone thinks and how to bring out the best in everyone. Understanding a person’s culture or upbringing is a huge part of that.