Anthony Barker, Southern Monograms

Step up to the plate and hit us with your elevator pitch. What do Southern Monograms do?

We provide quality custom clothing to customers across New Zealand. You’re talking everything from branded business wear to t-shirts for school sports teams.

We’ve the largest embroidery plant in the South Island, plus a speedy screen printing facility. Our team know all the ways different garments and fabrics can be customised.

Why have you decided to do Bayleys Plate Up for a Purpose this year?

I have always put time into our community but a friend of mine works at Christchurch City Mission, and suggested I take part in Bayleys Plate Up for a Purpose. I like cooking and once I saw that this is about helping kids get onto school it was a no brainer.

Who’s your chef hero and why?

Anthony Bourdain understood how food and culture are entwined. Sharing food’s an opportunity to connect with people, it breaks down formality and enables people to open up. Bourdain was also a bit of a badass, a straight shooter, and we share a similar musical taste.

What’s your signature dish?

A dish that reminds me of my family is perfectly cooked rib-eye steak with a béarnaise sauce, potato gratin and a green salad. If I’m honest, the salad is decoration, it's all about the meat and spuds. It’s a meal that seems simple but takes correct preparation and there’s more than one way to get the desired result.