Baking guru Ana has future in food

Ana Vlastaras showing off her culinary skills during last year’s Gate to Plate cook-off. With her are food critic Simon Thomsen (left) and food author and chef Michael Moore.

Debrah Novak

Ana Vlastaras is moving on from The Daily Examiner.

Each day in an ever-changing newsroom environment has been a rollercoaster of crazy opportunities and unbelievable experiences, Ana said.

"It's stuff I never thought would happen," she said.

"I became Entertainment Editor and randomly met Florence Welch at Splendour In The Grass."

These moments are amazing to Ana, who joined the paper as a cadet reporter who'd occasionally thought about writing, but never as a career.

"Now I'd ultimately like to go into food publishing," she said.

Her culinary passion led her weekly Examiner food column to be syndicated in all APN papers, an achievement that was not only fulfilling but introduced her to people from all over Australia.

"A hospitality teacher on the Fraser Coast contacted me and I've had emails from people in Rockhampton," she said.

"It's incredible to be friends with people through my work."

Ana will move on to Sydney in order to pursue her career and gain exposure.

"The varying opinions in a newsroom have been fantastic," she said.