Episodios

  • #305 Daniel Livingstone | The Chandlery

    #305 Daniel Livingstone | The Chandlery
    Jul 7 2025
    It’s not every day you get to have a chat in a former ship’s chandlery from the 1860s, but that’s exactly where I found myself with Dan Livingstone, chef, self-taught cook, ex-pop songwriter, and co-owner of The Chandlery in Port Melbourne. I first met Dan at one of his collaborative events a few weeks ago, a night of incredible wine, thoughtful food, and genuine connection. In this episode, we talk about how his creative path led from music studios to fire-fuelled kitchens, the philosophy behind zero-waste catering, and how vegetables cooked over flames can be just as thrilling as meat. We also talk about the realities of running events, building community, and finding meaning in the stories behind every ingredient. Dan’s approach is generous, grounded and deeply human.
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    38 m
  • #304 Mike McEnearney | From Here by Mike

    #304 Mike McEnearney | From Here by Mike
    Jul 6 2025
    Mike McEnearney doesn’t follow trends. He follows his gut, his growers, and the seasons. He’s worked in some of the world’s toughest kitchens, cooked for Damien Hirst, and lived off the land in rural Wales. He opened Kitchen by Mike in a converted factory canteen in Sydney’s CBD, another Kitchen by Mike at the International Airport and will soon open one in the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. He has been the Creative Director of Carriageworks Farmers Market for the last ten years and now brings that same produce-led simplicity to From Here by Mike at Melbourne’s newly opened 1 Hotel. His approach is thoughtful, grounded and refreshingly direct, much like the man himself.
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    33 m
  • #303 Aaron Brodie | O'Connell's Hotel

    #303 Aaron Brodie | O'Connell's Hotel
    Jun 18 2025
    You can tell a lot about a chef by how they talk about repetition. For Aaron, it’s not tedious, it’s essential. He grew up in Perth, found his culinary footing in a small seafood kitchen, and went on to cook in some of London’s most intense and celebrated restaurants. Now heading up the kitchen at O’Connell’s Hotel in South Melbourne, Aaron brings with him the calm authority of someone who’s done the hard yards. Aaron’s career spans Michelin-starred restaurants, big-name mentors like Jason Atherton and Shane Osborn, and some of Melbourne’s best-known venues like Cumulous, Scott Pickett’s restaurants as well as Oakridge Winery. He still keeps recipe notebooks, mostly lists of ingredients, and draws inspiration from everywhere: books, produce, places, memory. And after all these years, he still genuinely loves being in the kitchen. That short, sharp burst of service? It’s where he feels most at home.
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    29 m
  • #302 Haitham Richani and Kerry Lam

    #302 Haitham Richani and Kerry Lam
    Jun 15 2025
    II.II.VI is freshly open and in soft launch mode at the time of recording, which means the team is still getting into the rhythm of service and the full menu isn’t live yet. The grills haven’t yet been installed, which is significant, because open flame cooking is central to what head chef Haitham Richani has planned. I sat down with Haitham and executive chef Kerry Lam to talk about the thinking behind the restaurant. Haitham has worked in both front and back of house, and that range of experience has shaped everything; from kitchen layout to the way the team works together. Kerry is also behind Ministry of Crab upstairs, and at II.II.VI, he’s given Haitham the reins to create something new. We talked about designing kitchens that actually make sense, the role of team input, how seasonal produce drives creativity, and why a notebook can be as valuable as a knife roll.
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    32 m
  • #301 Alberto Borghi | Del Bocia

    #301 Alberto Borghi | Del Bocia
    Jun 14 2025
    This week I sat down with Alberto Borghi of Del Bocia Butter, although calling it “butter” barely covers it. This is butter with soul, butter with story. I first came across Alberto’s work at DOC in St Kilda, where a seaweed butter and a very memorable Alfredo pasta got me hooked. I imagined the maker must be an old Italian man with a wooden churn…and then I found Alberto on Instagram. Not an old man. No wooden churn in sight. But every bit as traditional as you’d hope, and just as passionate. From 30 kilos a week made in a shared kitchen with a planetary mixer to importing and restoring vintage machines from the Dolomites, Alberto’s journey is full of energy, joy, and a stubborn devotion to quality. He talks about butter like some people talk about wine or poetry. And I’m here for it.
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    22 m
  • #300 Giorgio Linguanti | That's Amore Cheese

    #300 Giorgio Linguanti | That's Amore Cheese
    Jun 9 2025
    Giorgio Linguanti arrived in Australia from Sicily with no English, no cheese-making experience, and no plans to start a dairy empire, and yet, here we are. That’s Amore Cheese, the company he founded, is now beloved across the country and beyond our shores for its fresh, authentic Italian cheeses, from silky ricotta to smoky scamorza, and of course, the show-stealing burrata. Giorgio introduced burrata to the Australian market and has built his business and his reputation on passion, perseverance, and a very good palate. I last saw Giorgio at the launch of his Burrata book, the first and only book in the world dedicated to this pillowy, cream-filled cheese. It’s not just a collection of recipes, though those are glorious; it’s also a deep dive into the backstory of burrata; its history, its evolution, and the politics of production in its birthplace, Puglia. I sat down with Giorgio in his Thomastown HQ, to talk about how the book came together, what happened when he went looking for burrata’s origins, and why he believes obstacles are often just gentle nudges in a better direction.
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    51 m
  • #299 Dario Di Clerico | Cannoleria & Ugo Burrata Bar

    #299 Dario Di Clerico | Cannoleria & Ugo Burrata Bar
    Jun 4 2025
    Dario Di Clerico’s culinary story began at just 14, when he first stepped into a professional kitchen in his native Italy. Since then, he’s forged a path defined by talent, grit and unshakeable passion. He trained under the youngest (at the time) Michelin-starred chef in the UK, refining his skills in high-pressure kitchens and learning what it takes to lead with precision and creativity. When he moved to Australia, Dario brought that same energy and expertise with him, quickly making his mark on the local food scene. Now at the helm of Cannoleria and the Burrata Bar, he’s not only delighting diners with playful takes on Italian classics, he’s also inspiring a new generation of chefs. In this episode, we talk about his deep respect for tradition, his inventive streak (yes, there has been a Vegemite and parmesan cannolo), and what it means to build something meaningful in the ever-evolving world of food.
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    30 m
  • #298 Ian Ho | Anada, Arcadia Cafe, The Rochey

    #298 Ian Ho | Anada, Arcadia Cafe, The Rochey
    May 22 2025
    When Ian Ho was a kid growing up in Malaysia, he dreamed of being a firefighter, not for the danger or the drama, but because he lived next to a fire station and from what he could see, they got to play sport all day. Fast forward a few decades and, while there are fewer games and more spreadsheets, he is still putting out fires, in a metaphorical sense in day-to-day life in the kitchen. Ian's culinary journey has taken him through some impressive venues, including Lamaros, Copycat and Taxi Kitchen where he worked alongside the legendary Tony Twitchett. Now, he’s the executive chef overseeing a diverse trio of venues: Anada, Arcadia Café and The Rochey. It’s a full plate; literally and figuratively. What stood out most from talking to Ian is his ability to balance creativity with practicality. He leads with clear systems but brings a quiet warmth to the kitchen, adapting his style to suit the team around him. There’s a calm, clever energy about him and he strikes me as someone who genuinely cares about doing food well, without fuss or ego.
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    32 m