Conversations

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…

Read more

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…

Read more

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…

Read more

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…

Read more

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:…

Read more

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…

Read more

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…

Read more

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…

Read more

Ben Shewry is the award-winning chef and owner of renowned restaurant Attica, where his innovative, boundary-pushing cuisine has earned him global acclaim. Known for his deep connection to sustainable and native ingredients and a commitment to excellence, Ben's culinary vision goes beyond the plate. His book, Uses for Obsession offers a vulnerable, humorous, and hard-hitting…

Read more

Circl is awine-centric restaurant led by a team of friends and hospitality experts in Punch Lane in Melbourne's CBD. Unique in concept, with an impressive 1,500-bottle wine list and strong 150+ by-the-glass offering, Circl wants diners to try some of the world's most exciting and up-and-coming wines, alongside European-inspired food with Scandinavian finesse. I went…

Read more