Chef's first-night nerves

Even Melbourne's best chefs can feel apprehensive while awaiting the first review of their latest restaurant. MasterChef's George Calombaris admitted to a room full of top chefs at the launch of November's The Age Good Food Month presented by Citi, that he had lain awake the previous night waiting for Epicure's review of his new Greek street-food joint, Gazi.

Calombaris said he headed to the local convenience store about 4.30am rather than waiting for his Age to be delivered, and was attending to a stack of unopened newspapers outside when he drew the attention of police. Quickly clarifying any wrongdoing, Calombaris asserted he wasn't thieving; he was ''going to take one inside and pay for it - I don't think the police understood that I needed to read [Epicure's] review of Gazi before I got to work!''

STEPHANIE WADE