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Michael Bacash at Bacash
I always wanted Conversation with a chef to be about real conversations; talking to people who love what they do and allowing the conversation to go where it will. I spoke to Michael Bacash a few weeks ago on the eve of re-opening his long-running and highly acclaimed restaurant, Bacash after lockdown, and I absolutely…
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Julian Summer at Pier St.
I am very happy to share with you this lovely chat with Julian Summer at Pier St. over in Portarlington. Pier St is owned by Peter Roddy and Ebony Vagg and a couple of years ago, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking to Peter at their other venue, Noir in Richmond. Julian did part…
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Kyle Nicol at Rascal
Some people dream of rooms lined with books, and I do love that idea too, but for me being surrounded by bottles of wine just feels right. So, sitting amongst the glowing bottles and talking to Kyle Nicol about his time in a Michelin star restaurant in London and his love of native ingredients, was…
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Sando Mateos at La Concheria
When I first arrived in Melbourne nine years ago, I was introduced to a beautiful group of Mexican Irish friends, or more specifically, Mexican girls with Irish partners. My initial fascination with this particular combo quickly disappeared into the absolute joy I had spending time with them. Many in that group have moved on or…
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Luigi Esposito at The Amalfi Way
Luigi Esposito grew up in Naples and from a very early age, learned the art of Neapolitan pizza when he worked with his nonna selling pizza fritta to locals. He went on to work in pizzerias around Naples and then the world before deciding to come to Sydney. In the 11 years he has been…
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Bree Gaudette & Matthew Ronalds at Hello Friend Foods
I recently had the absolute pleasure of zooming with Bree Gaudette and Matthew Ronalds from Hello Friend Foods. Well, Bree and Matthew actually ARE Hello Friend Foods; a Melbourne company making delicious vegan cheese. Quite cinematically, the pair met when Bree took an Uber Matthew was driving, they got talking about the cheeses Bree had…
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Dougie Thompson at Dinner at Dougie’s House
I reckon Dougie Thompson is the nicest guy in hospitality. He has been in the game for 15 years, working his way up from kitchen hand to head chef in a few venues around Melbourne before he and his wife went on a two-year adventure around the world in search of street food. When he…
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Elisa Hill
Elisa Hill comes from regional Sao Paolo in Brazil and has worked in the kitchens of Paris and London, including two Michelin star restaurants, and a venue that cooked for the Queen and Prime Ministers. She also had her own restaurant in Sao Paulo before coming to Melbourne not long before we went into lockdown.…
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Chris Orr at Wee Man’s Kitchen
Chris Orr is a Glaswegian chef with an infectious lust for life and passion for hospitality. Widely travelled and having worked in many different kitchens with a range of cuisines, Chris has lots of great stories and ever-evolving ideas for food. He now has his own kitchen, Wee Mans Kitchen, which runs out of the…
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Michael Craig at Red Sparrow Pizza
I always love stories about chefs from other countries who have heard about Melbourne and are drawn to its reputation for diversity and excellence in food. I like it even more when they get here, love it, stay and become part of the Melbourne community. Thats what Michael Craig and his partner Shelley Scott did…