Abla Amad was born in Lebanon and arrived in Australia in 1954 at the age of nineteen. She has always had a passion for cooking the food of her homeland and became renowned among Melbourne's Lebanese community for sharing wonderful meals in her kitchen at home.

In 1979, at the urging of friends and family, she opened her restaurant, Abla's, in Elgin Street, Carlton. It has since become a Melbourne institution and has attracted the praise of leading food critics and chefs.

Abla has five children and lives in North Carlton, Melbourne.

Restaurant Website: Abla's Restaurant