Having owned and operated Cést Bon French Restaurant Cairns for the past 3 years, Amelie is expanding her award winning business to Bay Street in Port Melbourne, in September this year. Coming from a family of restaurateurs, her French father, Chef Michel Bonnet, helped her set up the back of house in Cairns and they continue to share an office and plan the future of the business together. Amelie graduated from Hotel Management School in Sydney almost 8 years ago and went to live in London and New York for 5 years. After returning she was determined to open her own French Bistro, New York style. "I really believe the New Yorkers do Parisienne Bistros better than the French. Business is a lot different in the US than it is in France-though you can't beat the food of the French". Cést Bon Melbourne is opening in September at 396 Bay St, Port Melbourne. Cést Bon Cairns will remain as Cést Bon as 20 Lake Street, CBD Cairns.

1. In three words – what does Cairns mean to you?
progressive, caring, golf

2. What was your first ever job?
washing up in my Paps restaurant – standing on a crate – scrape, rinse, stack and engage.

3. For people just starting their own business – what are your 3 success
tips?
a) Care more about your customers wants, than what you want

b) Be careful who you take advice from, make sure they know what’s best for your business not what’s best for you.

c) Energy and enthusiasm. If you lose it along the way, solve a way to find it, don’t expect it to just reappear.

4. What business decision or action have you taken that you are most proud of?
Taking advantage of a good opportunity, not because I wanted to come to Cairns for the lifestyle but because there wasn’t a French Restaurant here. And not being afraid to ask my Paps for help. Understanding that experience wins and thinking you know everything, gets you nowhere.

5. What do you dislike most about your industry?
Nothing about the job itself, only the emotional attachment I have. I take everything professionally personally.

6. What motivates you most to go to work each day?
My Customers, a Vision of Success and the love of both.

7. If you had an opportunity to change careers for a month – what would you do?
For a month it’d be travelling as a restaurant writer. Not to review, though to evaluate, summarize and record.

8. Have you ever had a great idea or innovation that wish you had the time to pursue?
Ideas for sure, on a daily basis, though invention co-ordination just isn’t my forte. However, if anyone happens to read this and go for it, I’d like to be able to organise and maximise the use of my suitcase please. I need compartments and hangers for some articles of clothing. I’d like to be able to separate my socks from my knickers.
Golf ball trackers would come in VERY handy also.

9. If you could change one thing about your past, what would it be?
Conquer my fear of public speaking, so as not to have to deal with it in the future.

10. Tell us something we don't know about you?
I have titanium screws in my spine and often make up stories to people as to how I came into this massive pink scar, which takes up the whole left hand side of my stomach.

11. Who do you aspire to?
To become a great-grandmother, through good health and good luck

12. If you could re-live one moment in your life – what would it be?
I wouldn’t, just in case it would have changed something drastically.

13. If you could invite someone famous for dinner (dead or alive) – who would it be?
Chez Amelie, oh my, I hope they can cook. It would have to be someone I could take out after dinner cause I never like leaving it there, so maybe… Frank Sinatra or James Dean (as long as I drove).

14. When was your last overseas holiday and where?
Right now actually, am in Los Angeles, staying with my sister who has lived here on and off since she was 18. We’re off to New York this week then I leave for France for 2 weeks. I haven’t experienced a summer in Europe since 1999.

15. What’s your favourite journey?
Envisaging the future, especially with others who feel quietly confident of what lies ahead.

16. Your favourite time of day?
sunrise for the anticipation, sunset for the calm and sleep time for the catch up.

17. Your favourite restaurant for that Friday afternoon lunch?
Mine and working in it… when the reservation book looks full, the phone is still running hot and the team is fired up.

18. What music or radio station do you listen to in your car?
Am listening to Bernard Fanning and Ben Lee a lot at the moment and often very loud (I get very into loud sing’a’longs driving my car) or talk back radio. I like hearing other people’s passion.

19. Your favourite author or book?
Ayn Rand springs to mind from teenage years but John Irving I adore. Russell Andrews gets me in and quickly. Those same words of William Shakespeare I will never tire of nor Edgar Allan Poe. Currently I’m enjoying a bit of Mathew Riley.

20. What will you be doing when you’re 80?
Pilates and talking to anyone who’ll listen.