Best Chef Roy Podcasts (2024)

1
Robin Wagner (San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Pacific winner) - pressure and focus 30:26

11h ago30:26

30:26

We last caught up with Robin Wagner in 2022 when the German-born Adelaide-based chef was crowned the San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy winner for the Pacific. As the next round of contestants prepare for competition, we talk about pressure, focus and the ups and downs for plant-based dining. We also ponder why so many restaurants are very similar a…

1
The Producers: Brendan Gamze (Gamze Smokehouse) - full of pride 24:39

37m ago24:39

24:39

Brendan Gamze is part of Gamze Smokehouse, a family-run smallgoods company in north-east Victoria. Building on his father Felix’s work as a butcher, Gamze turns free-range whole beasts into small-batch chemical-free smoked products, working with local farmers, distributors, and retailers near and far to build an ethical business they can stand behi…

1
Catherine Gibson Roy (We Three, Marrickville) - daughter and mother. 27:33

1d ago27:33

27:33

Some people work in hospitality for a short while, others devote their lives to it but it’s pretty unusual to enter the game in your 50s. Catherine Gibson Roy owns We Three bar in Sydney’s Marrickville with her daughter Alli, an experienced hospo pro. As a newcomer to the industry, Catherine is in awe of Alli’s skills. She’s also appalled by some o…

1
Inside Federica Formilli Fendi's Vintage Design Oasis 28:01

3d ago28:01

28:01

In the heart of Rome's Trastevere neighborhood is an enclave of amazign interior design. Triple F is Federica Formilli Fendi's passion project and should be national treasure. For years, Fendi has sought out vintage design pieces, and now she shares them with the public. Join Erica as she talks with Federica about her lifelong passion for vintage f…

1
Dirty Glass with Dani Valent & Shanteh Wale: the Quay to wine writing. 27:53

3h ago27:53

27:53

Dirty Glass! It’s time for another crossover podcast between Over A Glass with Shanteh Wale and Dirty Linen with Dani Valent. This time we chat about Callan Boys’ review of Quay (19/20!) and the way wine is written about and appreciated by restaurant critics. We also dissect the wine lists at Pure South and Bau Bau - how does region and cuisine imp…

1
Bubble Booker Malcolm (Rumi) - Generation Next 20:39

6h ago20:39

20:39

Generation Next! We caught up with Bubble Booker Malcolm in 2022 when she was a year 11 student working part time at Joseph Abboud’s Rumi restaurant in Melbourne’s Brunswick. Two years later, she’s finished high school and is working as a chef. Why did Bubble make the leap and how is she finding full-time work in a busy restaurant? https://www.rumi…

1
Melissa Ammirati (Oborozuki, Sydney) - Let’s hear it for front of house! 22:52

29m ago22:52

22:52

Let’s hear it for front of house! Today’s guest is Melissa Ammirati, restaurant manager of Sydney’s Oborozuki, a hatted Japanese-French restaurant with a female leadership team. Melissa talks about the art, skill and intelligence required to run a dining room, and the inspiring words of her 101-year-old grandfather that drive her every day. https:/…

1
Matteo Pignatelli (Matteo’s) - 30 not out 38:14

1h ago38:14

38:14

Every milestone in a restaurant’s story is worth celebrating. If one year is good and five years is excellent, getting to 30 years is absolutely extraordinary. We’re marking three decades of Melbourne restaurant Matteo’s with its founder Matteo Pignatelli. We discuss what’s changed, what’s persisted and what’s coming next for an industry that Matte…

1
Bringing contemporary art to Palermo with Francesco Pantaleone 30:32

2d ago30:32

30:32

“If you build it, they will come”; even if you have to fly them in yourself. This was Francesco Pantaleone’s mentality as he returned to his native Palermo after years in New York City to launch the city’s first contemporary art gallery. In this episode, Erica and Francesco talk about building an out-this-world constellation of contemporary art and…

1
Brad Cooke (Hospitality Marketing Dojo) - tips and strategies 31:58

4d ago31:58

31:58

What is marketing, anyway? If you're hospo veteran and marketing consultant Brad Cooke, it's one of the most important pillars of a hospitality business and there are opportunities to thread it through every aspect of activity. He shares tips and strategies on how to get on the front foot with Google, boost staff engagement, and authentically turn …

1
The Producers: Rhiannon Phillips (Mountain’s Gourmet) - do it yourself 18:12

5d ago18:12

18:12

Disillusioned with conventional farming practises, Rhiannon Phillips set off on a journey to make a change. She started her own farm – Mountains Gourmet where she is committed to growing healthy produce for residents of the Blue Mountains of NSW. https://www.mountainsgourmet.com/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVEAWAYS A…

1
Michael Wilson (Marguerite, Singapore) - the relentless push for creativity 35:51

6d ago35:51

35:51

Michael Wilson is chef-patron of Marguerite, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Singapore. We chat to the Melbourne-trained chef about moving overseas, career trajectories, the relentless push for creativity and what it really means to have a star. Somehow, we also chat about chicken parmas. https://marguerite.com.sg/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR …

1
Sarah Maric (Australian Institute of Technical Chefs) - endless learning and opportunity. 37:43

10d ago37:43

37:43

Being a chef means endless learning and opportunity. That's the view of Sarah Maric from the Australian Institute of Technical Chefs. Sarah takes time out from judging an apprentice chef cooking competition to talk about her own varied career and the many non-restaurant pathways there are for those who cook for a living. From cocktail parties to co…

1
The Producers: Narie Preston (Wot’s Ya Caper) - growing, picking and processing 19:36

12d ago19:36

19:36

Narie Preston owns the delightfully named Wot’s Ya Caper, a caper and caperberry farm in Bealiba in central Victoria. Narie and her partner Mark didn’t plan to get into capers but somehow this curious plant found them and turned their retirement into a period of dawn rising and hard toil. They’re busy growing, picking and processing a crop that tur…

1
Walks with Stephen Oddo 37:14

1M ago37:14

37:14

All roads lead to Rome, or start from here in the case of Walks, Italy's leader in small group tours. In this episode of Ciao Bella, Erica sits down with Stephen Oddo, co-founder and CEO of Walks, a tourism empire that marries modern “digitourism” with classic small group tours. Steven talks about entrepreneurship, the Walks philosophy, and how his…

1
Srini Kondaveeti (Streets of Hyderabad) - are food delivery apps good for business? 37:07

21d ago37:07

37:07

Many food businesses feel like they can’t afford not to be on the delivery apps, but are they actually good for business? Srini Kondaveeti says an emphatic ‘no’. The owner of suburban Melbourne restaurant Streets of Hyderabad says it’s not just that the apps are bad for his bottom line, they are also ruining dining culture by getting customers hook…

1
Hilary McNevin (Turnip Media) - how can restaurants best market themselves? 33:53

20d ago33:53

33:53

When every dollar means a lot, how can restaurants best market themselves? We chat to hospitality PR and marketing expert Hilary McNevin from Turnip Media. Hilary shares her methods and gives insights into what works and what doesn't. We also talk about The Little Food Market, which we are co-MCing in mid-July. What are the right questions for food…

1
The Producers: Jane Casey (Mountain Yuzu) - if life gives you yuzu 24:38

24d ago24:38

24:38

Mountain Yuzu is located on the foothills of the Australian Alps in North East Victoria. It is here where Jane Casey and her husband Brian grow an array of unique cold climate culinary citrus including Yuzu, Sudachi, Bergamot and Chinotto. https://mountainyuzu.com.au/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVEAWAYS AND BEHIND TH…

1
Dr Ananya Bhattacharya (Monash Uni) - the cost of food waste 24:31

1M ago24:31

24:31

Food waste costs households, businesses and the environment. Dr Ananya Bhattacharya is a Monash Uni researcher and massive foodie who finds it upsetting when people order a meal then chuck half of it in the bin. What are the factors that cause people to waste some times of food and not others? What can be done about it in food service and by consum…

1
Jamie Burcide (Not So Hospitable) - what 'boils her milk' 32:43

27d ago32:43

32:43

Why does hospitality have such a problem with sexual harassment and what can be done about it? We spoke to Jamie Burcide in 2022 after she launched Not So Hospitable as an Instagram account. Survivor testimony collected there has now been used as data to collate a report with University of Melbourne academics. Jamie returns to Dirty Linen to discus…

1
Family Business Banfi Style 37:33

2M ago37:33

37:33

From Italy to America and back again, for Cristina Mariani May, co-CEO of Banfi, the wine business is 100% Italian and American. With a 100 year-old grasp on importing Italian goods to America, Banfi has also been producing one of the top Brunellos for nearlly five decades. In this episode, Erica heads to Castello Banfi near Montalcino to talk fami…

1
Dr Elaine Pratley (Peace Kitchen) - can food promote peace? 29:04

1M ago29:04

29:04

I'm a huge believer in the power of food to create connection but can it also promote peace? That seems big... Today's guest is Dr Elaine Pratley, a lawyer and Rotary Peace Fellow who's written a PhD on Peace and Conflict and the power of food to forge change. Elaine is the founder of Peace Kitchen, an event series which encourages people to gather…

1
Kim Currie (The Zin House, Mudgee) - this particular moment in hospitality 37:57

1M ago37:57

37:57

Last time we had Kim Currie on Dirty Linen, she spoke about her history in hospitality and the way she developed her vision for connected dining at The Zin House on Tinja Farm, near Mudgee in country New South Wales. This time, we returned to Wiradjuri country to eat the food of First Nations chef Jack Brown. We also sat down again with Kim to spea…

1
Billy Crombie (Babaji’s Kerala Kitchen) - Is hospitality broken? 29:17

2M ago29:17

29:17

Is hospitality broken? Not if you ask Billy Crombie, the co-owner of two southern Indian restaurants in the hills outside Melbourne. Success lies in community: when you nourish those around you, they care too much to let you fail. We talk about the advantages of starting with nothing, the many ways there are to connect with those around you, and th…

1
Nick Honeyman (Paris Butter/Le Petit Léon) - should Michelin come down under? 27:06

2M ago27:06

27:06

Nick Honeyman’s New Zealand restaurant Paris Butter has been awarded three hats but the level of attention and interest was nothing compared to the ballyhoo when his French restaurant Le Petit Leon was given its first Michelin star. We talk about different types of acclaim, the differences between running restaurants in the Antipodes and Europe, an…

1
A podcast audio review with Dani Valent - The Zin House, Mudgee. 14:40

2M ago14:40

14:40

Come with me on a restaurant review...I have lunch at The Zin House in country New South Wales, where First Nations chef Jack Brown is leading the kitchen, creating a tasting menu using native produce, some of it grown on the property. Listen through to the end where I debrief with Jack about the state of Indigenous dining. Want to hear more from t…

1
Talk Como to Me at Bellagio's Villa Serbelloni 41:01

2M ago41:01

41:01

Growing up in a historic five-star hotel on the shores of Lake Como, Jan Bucher is no stranger to the complexities and curiosities of luxury hospitality. As general manager of Bellagio’s Villa Serbelloni, Jan has accepted the four-generations-old torch that is running one of Como’s, and accordingly, the world’s, grandest hotels. Join Erica and Jan …

1
Jack Brown (The Zin House, Mudgee) - What's the state of Indigenous dining? it 34:31

2M ago34:31

34:31

What's the state of Indigenous dining? Why are local ingredients always 'next big thing' but it hasn't become normal to spread Davidson plum jam on a slice of toast? We check in with First Nations chef Jack Brown, currently leading the kitchen at The Zin House, a hatted restaurant that's part of the family of businesses at Tinja Farm. The property …

1
Sarah Cremona (Moke Dining) - some MAD lessons 32:19

2M ago32:19

32:19

Back in February we chatted to Sarah Cremona, sous chef at Moke Dining on the Mornington Peninsula. Since then, Sarah has been in Copenhagen at the MAD Academy, a learning institution which sprang from the Noma ecosystem. Sarah undertook an intense Leadership and Business course, followed by a week with chef and restaurateur Christian Puglisi. What…

1
Gianluca Esposto (a'Mare, Sydney) - furthering dining culture and careers 23:02

2M ago23:02

23:02

Chefs are often seen as the stars of the food world but restaurants would be nothing without waiters, managers and front-of-house leadership. We talk to Gianluca Esposto, general manager of a'Mare in Sydney. There's an emphasis on tableside skills at this large, upmarket restaurant. How does filleting a fish or making pesto in front of guests furth…

1
Karla Munoz Labart (Restaurant Labart) - Is hospitality broken? 28:31

2M ago28:31

28:31

Is hospitality broken? Not if Karla Munoz Labart can fix it. The co-owner of Restaurant Labart in Burleigh Heads reflects on six years in business marked by change, restructure and ongoing dialogue with customers. A recent menu rethink was prompted by a drop in business but the new mode actually feels closer to the owners' original vision. We discu…

1
The Lady in the Palazzo at Venice's Violino d'Oro 33:36

3M ago33:36

33:36

Sara Maestrelli shares the journey from creation to design of Violino d'Oro, her family's new hotel in Venice. Hosts Erica Firpo talks with Sara Maestrelli about the intricate process of transforming historical buildings into modern hospitality spaces while preserving their heritage.Tune in to discover the secrets behind the lady in the palazzo and…

1
Dirty Glass with Dani Valent & Shanteh Wale - making a splash with wine lists 38:08

3M ago38:08

38:08

We were thirsting for another episode of Dirty Glass, the crossover podcast with Dani Valent from Dirty Linen and Shanteh Wale from Over A Glass. So here it is! We make a splash with wine lists, assessing the drinks offering at Basq, a restaurant in Melbourne. Shanteh helps Dani assess the list as a food (and drink!) critic, and Dani shares some of…

1
The Producers: Robert Jones (Tuki) - diversification is key 18:55

3M ago18:55

18:55

Robert Jones was born on Stoney Rises, the third generation on his family’s sheep farm in central Victoria. In 1985, he saw the need for diversification in a traditional livestock enterprise so he launched Tuki, a trout fishing venue where visitors could come to catch a fish and - if they wanted - have it cooked for them on the property. Nearly 40 …

1
Sam Pinzone (Chef and consultant) - Is hospitality broken? 35:16

3M ago35:16

35:16

Is hospitality broken? Chef and consultant Sam Pinzone works across cafes and restaurants of all types, engineering menus, advising new businesses and trying to inspire staff, some of whom are jaded and despondent. We talk about his efforts to return Rockpool to its glory days, the reasons some menus are so boring and the biggest mistakes he sees. …

1
Dani's Friday On My Mind - some thoughts flying around my head 31:17

3M ago31:17

31:17

Friday on my mind! This is an occasional bonus pod and brain dump where I share some of the thoughts flying around my head on a Friday. This time I talk about Sydney fave Fratelli Paradiso, my new Eat Streets series for The Age, and new Melbourne eateries Sebastian Kakigori, Papelon and Charlong. There’s also a special drop-in guest - chef Ronith A…

1
Bansho (Armadale) - an audio review with Dani Valent 15:01

3M ago15:01

15:01

Today's podcast is a restaurant review of Bansho, a French-Japanese restaurant in Melbourne's Armadale. Sitting in a horseshoe booth in a sleek, moody dining room, the microphone sneaks out course by course. https://www.banshodining.com/ Read Dani's Good Weekend review here https://www.theage.com.au/goodfood/melbourne-eating-out/a-little-japanese-a…

1
Chris Locke (Moving Feast Kitchen) - forging community around sustainability goals 37:59

3M ago37:59

37:59

We go deep with chef Chris Locke, talking about the way toxic kitchen culture has sent him down a new path in which his daily tasks might include dealing with 300 kg of sweet potatoes otherwise destined for the bin. As well as being chef at the no-waste Moving Feast kitchen at Melbourne’s Victoria Market, Chris is working on the first Australian Ch…

1
So You Want To Be A Digital Nomad in Italy? 19:06

3M ago19:06

19:06

News Flash: Italy has finally greenlit the Digital Nomad Visa! Your dreams of living in Italy are about to become reality. In this short episode, Thea Duncan, Italy relocation expert, joins Erica to break down what the new digital nomad visa is and what it means to you. For show notes and more visit Ciao Bella INSTAGRAM: @ericafirpo TWITTER @moscer…

1
Tim McKee: Opening a New Restaurant Will Take Everything You've Got (And More) 1:20:32

3M ago1:20:32

1:20:32

We’re back! I spoke to the one and only Tim McKee. If you know you know. You probably know. Minnesota dining legend. He’s a James Beard award-winning chef, and his resume is absolutely killer: La Belle Vie, Octo Fish Bar, Solera, Barrio, and Sea Change, just to name a few. Today, he’s working on a North Loop restaurant that’ll focus on the flavors …

1
Felicity Rodgers (Cargo Crew) - fashion, food and business 32:22

3M ago32:22

32:22

We love chatting to ancillary industries that stand alongside hospitality in creating a great experience for guests and staff. Today's guest is Felicity Rodgers from Cargo Crew, an Australian company known best for its aprons and workwear. Cargo Crew now ships to more than 80 countries, employs a team of 50-plus people, and has skyrocketed to annua…

1
Anjali Ganapathy (Pig Out) - Kodava meal experiences 33:39

3M ago33:39

33:39

What does a vinegar-soured pork curry from an obscure part of southern India have to do with climate change? We chat to Anjali Ganapathy, an unofficial ambassador for Coorg cuisine, the food she grew up with in a hilly forest and farming region of Karnataka. Coorg people are deeply connected to land and seasons; when the weather changes, so does cu…

1
The Sicilian Inheritance and Jo PIazza 31:01

3M ago31:01

31:01

Murder, mayhem and Sicily, that's author Jo Piazza's stranger than fiction reality which inspired her to write her latest book "The Sicilian Inheritance". In this episode, Jo joins Erica to talk hill towns a 100-year-old family tale, and the best things in being Italian American. JoPiazza.com #TheSiclianInheritance For show notes and more visit Cia…

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