One of Australia's most highly regarded food writers; Stephanie Alexander wrote many books on food including the classic The Cook's Companion (1996). A revised and expanded edition of the Companion was published in 2004.

Alexander opened her first restaurant, Jamaica House, in Victoria in 1964. She then went on to run Stephanie's Restaurant from 1976 to 1997 followed by co running the Richmond Hill Cafe & Larder from 1997 to 2005.

At the beginning of the 2000s Stephanie Alexander became involved in garden and kitchen programs in primary schools.

She was a Director and Board Member of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation which supports primary-school gardening programs in Australia.

A diary, Stephanie's Journal, was published in 1999 and her memoir A Cook's Life was published in 2012.

Sources: Stephanie Alexander website, www.stephaniealexander.com.au; Penguin Australia website, www.penguin.com.au (sighted 17/01/2012)