Conversations

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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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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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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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…

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Pamella Tomio is head chef at Ovolo Hotel's Lona Misa, the incredible plant-based restaurant brought about by hospitality legends, Shannon Martinez and Ian Curley. Pamella was such a joy to talk to. She was so generous in what she shared with me about growing up in hospitality in Brazil, coming to Australia and what she…

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Andrew Ballard is a tall manwith a red beard. He could be a Viking and he certainly wouldn't look out of place on the Scottish moors. Andrew is originally from Hamilton in New Zealand and, like many chefs of his generation, was told that he was useless at school ad he should just go and…

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I love Pipi's Kiosk. It's in Albert Park, but right on the beach. As in, literally on the beach. You sit at a table where the sea is pretty much lapping at your ankles but you are drinking beautiful wine and eating glorious food. With the floor to ceiling windows, you get to see all…

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Of course, Art Deco is always in style, but it feels as though it is having a particular moment amongst some of Melbournes newest venues, along with sweeping staircases. I have swept up or down at least three staircases in the last month alone. I love a good sweeping staircase and I think it is…

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I sat down with head chef and owner, Aseem Sood and his business partner, Kunal Bhardwaj at Kahaani in Lygon Street. Kahaani means story in Hindi and Aseem wants to tell the story of India's regions and history through his food, which he describes as "unreasonably authentic". The pair looked for a while for a…

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Paul Kasten previously worked in fine dining but wanted to put down the tweezers and bring rarely found authentic regional American pizza styles to Australia. He opened Deep End Pizza last March in the space formerly occupied by Hammer and Tong just off Brunswick Street and it has been gloriously popular ever since he first…

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