Conversations
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Valentin Barrère at Estelle
I always love chatting to chefs and they always make me think and they come out with such absolute gems that I feel as though I am just glowing with the thrill of hearing these well-expressed ideas. Valentin was no exception. He came out with such astoundingly beautiful imagery to describe his journey as a…
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Pollyanna Harvey at FareShare
I do a monthly Saturday morning shift at FareShare, chopping vegies, making little quiches or cryo-vaccing soups and stews. I am one of 900 volunteers contributing to more than 5,500 free meals a day for charities such as soup vans, homeless shelters, women’s refuges and community food banks. FareShare rescues food that would otherwise go to waste…
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Stephen Clark at San Telmo
When I walk into San Telmo in the afternoon, the kitchen is a hive of activity. Meat is cooking over the coals and there are an incredible amount of chefs in the tiny kitchen, all focussed on their individual tasks. Stephen Clark is their leader, having worked his way up through the ranks from commis…
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Josh Rudd at Asado
On the afternoon after a huge Valentine’s Day evening service of 275 covers, Josh Rudd is calm and looking forward to Friday night service at Asado. I appreciated Josh’s honesty and just really lovely way of seeing cooking, working in a team and dealing with stress. Hi Josh. You’re not long back from travelling. Are…
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Chris Bonello at MPD Steak Kitchen
Usually I prefer to talk in person to chefs, but today I had a chat on the phone to Chris Bonello out at MPD Steak Kitchen in Berwick. Chris has such a wonderful energy and enthusiasm that it almost felt as though it was in person. He painted such a vivid picture for me of his childhood…
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Matt Waldron at Lulo
A local that riffs on traditional South American dishes, is dedicated to the owner chef’s wife, Michelle, and has two happy hour sessions on weekend nights? Um, yes please. I think it's fair to say that Matt Waldron is nailing it at Lulo in Hawthorn. How long has Lulo been open, Matt? 12 years. Wow.…
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Kirra Parsons at Cardigan Place Cellars
I learned so much from chatting to Kirra. Actually, my mind was completely blown about 12 minutes into the conversation as Kirra patiently tried to explain Le Petit Chef interactive dining. But Kirra, herself, even without the fancy eating adventure that goes on upstairs from the wine cellar, is a super impressive chef, who soaked…
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Sainyam Kapoor at Ish
Sainyam has packed a lot of experience into the ten years he has been working as a chef and he is keen for the Melbourne public to go beyond butter chicken and tikka masala and explore some other flavours. That’s what he is offering at newly opened Ish, a modern-ish and Indian-ish restaurant in Fitzroy.…
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Zane Heemi at Sibling
I think Zane was a little unsure of what he had struck when I swept into Sibling on a Monday afternoon and started quoting his blog to him. Conversation with a chef was going down some sort of monologue by the conversationalist track while the chef patiently listened. But Zane’s writing is superb and I…
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Martin Goffin at Red Gum BBQ
Martin and his wife, Melissa, are living the dream. They own and run Red Gum BBQ in Red Hill, a burgeoning foodie destination on the Mornington Peninsula. Martin wasn't always the pit master he is today. He worked for local government, but a visit to a barbecue joint just out of Miami sealed his fate.…