Conversations
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Scott Lord at Moonhouse & New Quarter
Scott Lord was born in Dunedin in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue hospitality as a career. After a few years of working under various chefs, he joined the multi-award-winning restaurant Pier 24 as Chef de Partie, working alongside Michael Coughlin at the St Clair eatery. When…
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Tom Sarafian at Sarafian
What an absolute treat to talk to Tom Sarafian. Often described as the unofficial king of hummus, the best hummus maker in Australia, hummus expert, Tom certainly has a passion for hummus and he has put a lot of time and thought into perfecting his product. At one point in the conversation, he waxed lyrical…
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Chanon Boriharnvanakhet at Tonka
Everyone calls Chanon Boriharnvanakhet Chachi, so I am just going along with that too. Chachi is head chef at Tonka, having taken over the reins three and a half months ago. It's his first head chef role, having never really set out to climb the ranks, and so he is feeling his way carefully, talking…
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Hendri Budiman at Coda
I met Hendri Budiman when I was writing an article for Broadsheet about the new direction of Coda and Tonka now that co-owner and executive chef, Adam D'Sylva has moved on. I really loved the way he talked about food as well as all the different restaurant experiences he has had and the fact that…
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Anthony Thalassinos at The Hellenic House Project
Anthony Thalassinos is the head chef of George Calombaris new restaurant, The Hellenic House Project in Highett, a bayside suburb about 35 minutes from Melbournes CBD. I think you would have to have been under a rock if you didnt know that George Calombaris had opened a new restaurant and I, like many was following…
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Georgios Smyrnios at Raph’s Deli
Georgios Smyrnios got in touch with me to ask whether I'd like to have a chat about what he was doing at Raph's Deli in Abbotsford, and I am so glad he did. I live in Abbotsford, but the opposite side to Raph's and unbelievably this cute little deli and sandwich shop had escaped my…
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McKay Wilday at Alta Trattoria
McKay Wilday is a fascinating guy. He gives off a calm, unflappable and very assured vibe and he comes out with the most unexpected things. I knew I was going to enjoy talking more to him, having spoken briefly to him when I was writing about Alta Trattoria, the restaurant he owns with Carlo Grossi,…
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Brad Cunningham at WAYGOOD
I was excited to speak to Brad Cunningham at Waygood for a number of reasons. He is an ex-pat chef from Aotearoa New Zealand and he has worked in numerous places around the world, including my home town of Otautahi, Christchurch, as well as in Paris and London. I particularly loved that in his LinkedIn…
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Soichi Kawabata at Yakikami
Japan-born Soichi Kawabata brings 26 years of traditional and hyper-focused knife-wielding skills to South Yarra's Yakikami as Head Chef in its Wagyu Omakase offering. Growing up in Fukuako a coastal city known for its seafood culture, Soichi spent his younger years on fishing trips with his father. Here, the pair would catch different types of…
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Nick Deligiannis at Audrey’s, Sorrento
For me, eating seafood while looking out to sea is what it's all about and so Audrey's at the iconic Continental in Sorrento is my dream come true. The dining room is divine. Art Deco curves, coastal pallet, sunshine streaming in and a view of the sea. Plus Audrey's is part of Scott Pickett's repertoire…