Neil started eating in Asian restaurants in the back streets of Sydney under his parent's influence at the age of seven. He thought feasts of braised pork, chilli mud crabs and dried abalone were quite normal for an Aussie kid. It wasn't until a few years later that he realised most Australians had only ever experienced the sweet and sour pork, chicken chow mein and fried rice style Asian cuisine. Starting out at the age of 19, Neil worked his way around some of Sydney's to restaurants, honing the skills and techniques that have be his personal style. Since the opening of Rockpool, his flagship restaurant in the heart of Sydney, his ventures have traced the trends in modern Australian dining - from Wockpool, Rockpool's younger Asian sister, to the cafe at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Neil Perry has also pioneered restaurant-quality in-flight catering for Qantas - and continues to set the trends in modern Australian dining.