Julie Le Clerc

Julie Le Clerc is a New Zealand food writer, chef, former cafe owner and caterer and a presenter on TV food shows.

Biography Le Clerc grew up in the Auckland suburb of Westmere. Her mother Loraine made and iced wedding cakes as a cottage industry, and Le Clerc showed an early interest in food. After some years travelling overseas and exploring new cuisines, Le Clerc returned to Auckland and took lessons at the Le Cordon Bleu school in Parnell. She was soon asked to teach at the institute, and she also opened a catering company. She has also presented TV3's cooking show Cafe Secrets for two seasons. In 2007, her book Taking Tea in the Medina won both Book of the Year at the New Zealand Guild of Food Writers Culinary Quill Awards, and Best Soft Cover Recipe Book at the World Food Media Awards.

In 2014, Hot Pink Spice Saga, which Le Clerc co-wrote with Peta Mathias, was shortlisted in the Best in the World for Indian Cookery category at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.