The chef, restaurateur, business owner and author arrived in Australia on Anzac Day 23 years ago.

“I took my two suitcases with an Australian dollar in my pocket and not one word of English,” Mr Bitton said.

With a rough upbringing in France Mr Bitton left home when he was 15, already a full-time smoker.

“It was very hard to learn to work there,” he said.

“My first paycheck was $50 for the month.”

However, his life turned around after he made his way to Australia.

“I came here with nothing,” Mr Bitton said.

“It was easy to come to Australia back then, they were looking for chefs.” 

However, with hard work and support from his wife Sohani Bitton, his business has grown from a small coffee shop to a popular restaurant and he has established himself as a successful chef who has cooked for royalty and celebrities including Roger Moore.

His cookbook has sold about 60,000 copies in Australia.

“We’re not millionaires, but my business gives me huge satisfaction,” Mr Bitton said.

GALLERY: Orange's Australia Day celebrations

He has also dedicated his time to various charities and individuals.

“Some of the work that I’ve done for various charities, with Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, also I’m involved with Ronald McDonald House,” Mr Bitton said.

“We do a lot of work with kids and cancer.” 

It was that spirit of hard work and giving that led to  Mr Bitton being selected as an Australia Day ambassador.

This was his third year after previously serving in Cobar and Mudgee.

“I’m very excited, very proud to be an Australia Day ambassador, especially as a Frenchman,” Mr Bitton said.

He arrived in Orange with his family on Saturday and was particularly impressed with the food and wine he experienced while on a tour of Phillip Shaw winery, Borrodell Vineyard, the Agrestic Grocer and Racine on Sunday.

He said the food at Racine was incredible and was the highlight of his visit to Orange.

“It [Orange] is a place after my own heart, with fabulous food and wine,” he said.

tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au