Best Selfie: Busy Aussie Chef on following his passion for food and his surprise royal family friend

In 9Honey's weekly series Best Selfie, we present stars with old images from their Instagram feed to see how they react. Expect memories of joy, heartbreak, and insecurities, all retold through the lens of time.

Scott Pickett is an award-winning chef, author and television presenter who embodies the essence of Australian hospitality.

Growing up in Kangarilla, South Australia, a region famous for the diversity and quality of its produce, Pickett's early years were spent surrounded by family picking up the traditions of his grandparents' cooking (especially his grandmother Audrey's Sunday Roast Lamb) and learning about traditional and season ingredients.

Now, as a restaurateur, Pickett shares his love of food with others.

We sat down with Pickett to chat about his old Instagram photos, and he took us through all the moments – from some of his favourites, to others he may rather forget.

Pickett's story, the story of his passion for food, culminated in a 2014 self-published book, titled Scott Pickett: A Cook's Story. When asked about the book, Pickett gushed with excitement.

"I saved [money] for two years so I could self-publish that book and have complete creative control," Pickett told 9Honey.

"I really wanted to showcase old recipes and new recipes. And that's quite unusual for a [cook] book as their is no real link between food from 20 years ago and stuff from today".

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"So we decided that the link was me, which is why we named the book after myself."

A favourite on the Melbourne food scene, Pickett's award-winning restaurants, Estelle, Matilda, 159 Domain, Pickett's Deli & Rotisserie, Smith Street Bistrot, Longrain, Chancery Lane, Le Shoppe, Audrey's, and The Continental Sorrento, embody his generosity of spirit, values and craft.

In 2015, Scott co-presented The Hotplate on Channel 9 with Tom Parker Bowles.

Parker Bowles is a UK author, food writer and journalist. He also just happens to be King Charles' stepson.

"[Parker Bowles] is an absolute legend. He is a great foodie, great journalist, great writer, but a really funny, down-to-earth guy," Pickett said.

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The Hotplate saw Pickett and Parker-Bowles traveling the country, sampling various restaurants' signature dishes.

"I call [Tom] the 'English Bogan', even though he is from Eaton and almost royalty."

In 2021 Pickett joined Poh Ling Yeow to host Channel 9's Snackmasters.

Snackmasters puts puts fine dining chefs to the test by asking them to recreate Aussie favourite snacks including Cadbury's Favourites, the Hungry Jack's Angry Whopper and the Drumstick ice cream.

Snackmasters concludes with it's final two episodes Sunday 7.00pm and again Monday 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Watch Scott Pickett's reaction in the full episode of Best Selfie in the video above.

New episodes of Best Selfie drop every Friday exclusively at 9Honey.com.au.