Australian celebrity chef George Calombaris says a gastro outbreak among diners at one of his restaurants was the toughest week of his career.

Norovirus  was identified as the cause of the gastro outbreak among nearly 100 diners at Hellenic Republic in Kew on Mother’s Day.

The MasterChef judge says the incident was not only difficult for him but for all 300 staff working in his restaurants.

He turned to British superstar chef Heston Blumenthal, who was in Australia at the time, for encouragement.

“I was very lucky that week. I had Heston in town and he was a big support for me because he has gone through it twice,” Calombaris says.

Blumenthal’s three Michelin star restaurant The Fat Duck will temporarily move to Crown in Melbourne and open in February next year.

God help Melbourne.