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  • Michael Demagistris & Ryan James at Max’s Restaurant

    Max's Restaurant was the first winery restaurant on the Mornington Peninsula and was started by owner and chef, Max Paganoni in 1994. The views are spectacular. From the dining room, you look out over the vines to Western Port and across to Seal Rock. Max has always been passionate about using and promoting local produce…

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  • Elle Casta at Barker’s Foodstore & Eatery

    Geraldine is a lovely rural town in South Canterbury in the South Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand and it is also home to the family-owned business, Barker's. Barker's have been filling kiwi pantries since 1969 and their products are still made on the family farm in Geraldine. I remember Barker's blackcurrant syrup and Barker's jams…

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  • Daniel Yip at TamJai Mixian

    Cult Hong Kong noodle store, TamJai Mixian has arrived in Melbourne, bringing over 25 years of culinary tradition to the table. The group has grown to over 220 locations across Hong Kong, Mainland China, Japan, and Singapore and their spiciness rating has become a widespread reference for heat. Mixian are rice noodles and at TamJai…

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  • Kay-Lene Tan at Omnia Bistro & Yugen Dining

    Kay-Lene Tan is a renowned pastry chef celebrated for her innovative desserts that combine storytelling with bold flavours. Before embarking on her culinary career, she worked as a documentary maker, with a background in mass communication from Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore. A turning point came during a "quarter-life crisis," which led her to pivot…

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  • Chris Wong at Lilijana Eatery

    Chris Wong, chef and co-owner of Lilijana Eatery in Port Melbourne, brings a unique culinary story to Melbourne's food scene. A former professional hockey player who spent nearly a decade travelling to and from Scandinavia for the winter season, Chris was inspired by the comfort and tradition of the Nordic cuisine he ate in his…

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  • Bartek Glinka & Brendan D’Amelio at Uncle’s Smallgoods

    Bartek (Bert) Glinka and Brendan D'Amelio are friends, brothers-in-law and the charcuterie makers supplying many Melbourne cult institutions. Youll find their pastrami at places like Hector's Deli, Nico's and Hugo's and their bacon is fried in cafeslike ST ALi, Rustica, and Earl Canteen. Bert and Brendan's smallgoods journey started when they decided to sell kranskys…

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  • Matti Fallon at Mr Vincenzo’s

    I've had a few chats with Matti Fallon over the years and they have always been good ones, so when he suggested a catch-up over lunch, it was a hard yes from me. We sat by the front window of Mr Vincenzo's with Mornington Park and Port Phillip Bay across the road and we feasted:…

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  • Daniel Hilton & Luke Tomuri at Baba’s Deli

    Baba's Deli is lovely. Owners Max and Aleesha have nailed what it means to offer excellent hospitality: friendly service, delicious sandwiches and $3 coffee. While getting chefs in to make sandwiches wasn't the original plan, it has worked out well for everyone, with friends, Daniel and Luke leaving stressful restaurant jobs to have fun every…

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  • Daniel Mastramico at Zero95

    Zero95 Alphington was still being set up when I arrived to talk to Executive chef Daniel Mastramico and he gave me a quick tour of the brand-new pizza and gelato venue, There's a gleaming Marana oven for the pizzas, a mural on the cool room wall by TD Illustrations, and photos in the dining room…

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  • Tracey Lister at Brunswick Kitchen

    Tracey Lister is a Melbourne-born chef with more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, both in Australia and Vietnam. She is also the author of four cookbooks(KOTO: A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam (2008), Vietnamese Street Food (2011), Real Vietnamese Cooking (2014)andMade in Vietnam (2017))and she is the owner of Brunswick Kitchen cookery…

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