Australian celebrity chef Curtis Stone, who celebrates his birthday on Wednesday, 4 November, is known for his expertise in the kitchen and for his various appearances on television.

The chef, who has a degree in business administration, pursued his dream to create magic in the kitchen at the age of 18. He has come a long way since then.

From working at the Savoy Hotel to being mentored by British celebrity chef Marco Pierre White and hosting several cooking shows, Stone's illustrous life is made colourful by his varied experiences, not to mention his Michelin star. 

Stone's cooking philosophy, as mentioned on his website, includes cooking with local, fresh ingredients. This, he reveals, is something he learnt from his mentor. 

If you are wondering what recipes to try from the chef's extensive dishes, we have some suggestions for you. 

Pumpkin Soup

Chef Stone's pumpkin soup recipe is comforting, calming and a wonderful dish to have on a cold winter's day. His recipe includes a healthy addition of chorizo, carrots, red wine vinegar, cannellini beans, and pumpkin seeds.

Chicken and Chorizo Paella

This one-pot dish contains a lot of happiness in it. Chef Stone's version of the traditional Spanish dish is easy and light. You could easily whip this up in your kitchen with basic ingrediants like bell peppers, drumsticks, chorizo sausages and some paprika. Click here to read the recipe or watch the video below. 

Salmon with Grilled Broccolini and Orange Sauce

This pan-seared salmon recipe is super-simple and healthy. Chef Stone's salmon dish is glazed with orange jus which coats a layer of grilled broccolini sitting atop wild salmon fillets. If you're wondering what to make with your salmon fillets, click here to find the recipe.  

Sashimi Salad with Soy and Orange

It's winter and perhaps one of the most comforting things you could try this season is sashimi salad with soy and orange. This super-easy and quick salad recipe involves tossing sesame seeds and cucumbers, adding a dash of soy sauce and watching a lot of colours dance about. You will find the recipe here