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Straight To The Source

Tawnya Bahr & Lucy Allon

Welcome to the Straight To The Source podcast, where leadership meets the future of food.

Hosted by two of Australia’s most respected food industry voices, Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon, the Straight To The Source podcast connects you directly with the changemakers shaping how we grow, source, and experience food.

With decades of experience spanning the kitchen, dining room, and boardroom, as chef, restaurateur, consultants, and educators, Tawnya and Lucy bring an insider’s lens to the challenges and innovations driving the industry forward.

From producers pioneering regenerative practices to hospitality leaders reimagining what sustainability means on the plate, each episode explores the strategies, stories, and leadership mindsets transforming the global food landscape and ensuring a thriving, sustainable food future for generations to come.

Get ready for bold ideas, honest conversations, and the kind of insights that move industries forward.

Follow, comment, and hit that bell for more Straight To The Source episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

To stay up to date, follow Straight To The Source on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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  • 20 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 45 min
  • English

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  • Wednesday · 58 min

    Sauce, Ego & the Hustle: Inside Chef Luca Ciano's World

    “A dream without a plan stays a dream for a very long time" - Luca Ciano Luca Ciano has built a food career that doesn’t fit neatly into one box. He’s the chef-turned-entrepreneur behind one of Australia’s most recognisable pasta sauce brands, with products now sold across Australia and into Asia. He’s also a two-time cookbook author, TV chef, and global ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma. But this episode goes well beyond the polished version. Luca talks chef ego, ambition, fatherhood and the relentless grind behind building a food business from scratch. From bluffing his way through his first whole tuna at 21, to growing a pasta sauce brand into an international business, to speaking candidly about a mental health breakdown, this is Luca without the filter. Funny, driven, vulnerable, and very Italian, this is a conversation about what it really takes to build a career, a brand, and a life in food. Key Takeaways Building a pasta sauce brand from four products to distribution across Australia and four Asian countries The economics of food production: margins, pricing, and staying true to quality Why farmers’ markets were the ultimate training ground for reading customer feedback Sourcing Australian durum wheat and the "golden triangle" of dry pasta production Chef life in five-star hotels, and the toll long hours take on mental health A formative story about landing his first head chef mentor in Bermuda Experiencing discrimination abroad as a young chef with dreadlocks The mindset of saying yes before you feel "ready", and why that fuels growth A full risotto Milanese recipe: Carnaroli rice, saffron, bone marrow, and the dry-toasting method Growing up without a father and how that shaped his approach to raising his daughter, Stella Balancing 40+ flights a year with family life and international business An honest conversation about a near-breakdown, triggered in part by losing a friend to suicide, and the importance of speaking up A rapid-fire round: coffee vs Aperol, fridge staples, dream chef collaborations, and his go-to pasta dish Final words of advice: dream big, but back it with a plan It’s an energetic, funny, and refreshingly unfiltered conversation about Italian food, entrepreneurship, hospitality, family, and the hustle behind building a successful food business. Straight To The Source is hosted by Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon, taking listeners behind the scenes with the chefs, producers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders shaping Australia’s food and hospitality landscape. This episode is proudly presented by Seaway Logistics, local experts in global trade. About Luca Ciano Luca Ciano is an Italian-born chef, food entrepreneur, author and passionate ambassador for authentic Italian food. After building his career in professional kitchens across Italy, London and Australia, Luca has gone on to create a diverse career spanning restaurants, television, brand partnerships, food education, product development, and international food tours. He is the founder of Luca Ciano Pasta Sauces, a premium range inspired by the flavours and traditions of his Italian upbringing and made in Australia using quality ingredients. Over the past decade, the brand has grown across Australia and into international markets. Luca is also a global ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma, sharing his knowledge of Italian ingredients, regional food traditions and the producers behind them. Whether he is cooking, developing products, leading culinary tours through Italy or speaking with consumers and chefs, Luca’s approach is grounded in simplicity, quality ingredients and a deep respect for provenance. At the heart of his work is a belief that great food should connect people to place, culture and the people who produce it. Contact Luca Ciano: Instagram: @cheflucaciano Instagram: @cheflucaciano_products LinkedIn: @Luca Ciano — Ciano Enterprise Pty Ltd Facebook: @Chef Luca Ciano YouTube: @lucaciano1977 Discover and Follow Seaways Logistics https://www.linkedin.com/company/seawaygroup/home/ About Straight To The Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia's food and hospitality industry. You can find us: Straight To The Source Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Luca Ciano, Chef Luca Ciano, Luca Ciano pasta sauce, Italian chef Australia, Australian food entrepreneur, Italian food podcast, chef podcast Australia, pasta sauce Australia, Italian pasta, Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, Australian food producers, food manufacturing Australia, food export Australia, farmers markets Australia, Italian food tours, hospitality podcast, Lucy Allon, Tawnya Bahr, Straight To The Source podcast, food business, chef entrepreneur, farmers market, Australia, Seaway Logistics, freight, transport, logistics @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • August 19 · 39 min

    Two Cult Brands, One Wild Collab: Yo-Chi x Tokyo Lamington

    This week on Straight To The Source, we're pulling up a chair with the humans behind two of Australia's most obsessed-over dessert brands: Oliver Allis, the guy who took a struggling frozen yoghurt shop from four stores to 75 (plus Singapore, because why not), and Eddie Stewart, the chef and baker who turned a drunken Tokyo night out into a Lamington institution. We're talking origin stories, cult followings, and the two-year "ghosting" saga that almost stopped their collaboration. Now Yo-Chi and Tokyo Lamington are dropping a full takeover: hand-dipped micro Lamingtons, a yoghurt that tastes like the real thing, and 5,000kg of collab magic hitting stores nationwide. Limited edition. Blink, and you'll miss it. Grab a spoon - this one's sweet, a little unhinged, and 100% worth the listen. In this episode: How Ollie turned a dying frozen yoghurt brand into a national name Eddie's pandemic-fuelled bakery hustle (and the drunk night that started it all) The full story behind the Yo-Chi x Tokyo Lamington collab Why "same values" beats big money every time in a good collaboration The sustainable packaging move most brands are too lazy to make. Yo-Chi's KeepCup-designed reusable "Go Bowl" (10% off every reuse) and Tokyo Lamington's tape-free, fully recyclable boxes Key Takeaways On why the collaboration took two years: Oliver first pitched mini lamingtons to Eddie in Newtown before Yo-Chii had even opened a Sydney store and didn't hear back for two years. "A two-year ghost," Eddie admits, before finally messaging: "We've cracked the code." The lesson, in Oliver’s words: "Put it out there, let it simmer, and see what happens." On instilling culture at scale: Ollie doesn't rely on a values statement. "We don't have values, we have stuff we care about," he says, running face-to-face sessions in every state to explain why small things, like smiling, matter to the business. On genuine hospitality: "If you put yourself under that pressure to build that team, you don't do a good job at it," says Eddie. "It just naturally comes." He points to Tokyo Lamington's Newtown store, where a largely Japanese staff have built their own community around staff lunches and after-work drinks. On choosing the right collaborators: "A great collaboration is two brands working together with the same values and the same endgame," says Eddie. Both founders say they've turned down or regretted partnerships where the other side was chasing profit over genuine brand fit. On sustainability as more than a gesture: Yo-Chi’s reusable Go Bowl program was co-designed with KeepCup, offers 10% off every reuse and has grown reuse rates from 0.01% to a record 1.3% of transactions. Tokyo Lamington's recyclable, tape-free boxes are, in Eddie's words, "a pain" for staff to fold but "a beautiful box" customers keep and repurpose. On taking the leap: Asked what advice they'd give their younger selves, Eddie says simply: "Take the chance and do it." Oliver’s answer: "Stay true to yourself. Stay curious." About Oliver Allis & Yo-Chi Oliver Allis is the co-founder and driving force behind Yo-Chi, one of Australia's most loved frozen yoghurt brands. After finishing his Bachelor of Business and a year travelling Latin America, Oliver teamed up with his father to take on Yo-Chi during the height of COVID, turning four struggling Melbourne venues into a national brand with 75 stores across Australia and international locations in Singapore. A self-described "brand marketing guy" at heart, Oliver has built Yo-Chi's cult following through bold local partnerships, sustainability initiatives like the reusable Go Bowl, and a company culture rooted in positivity over profit. When he's not dreaming up new yoghurt flavours, you'll find him tending to his backyard finger lime garden, 37 varieties and counting. About Eddie Stewart & Tokyo Lamington Eddie Stewart is the co-founder of Tokyo Lamington, the bakery brand born from a drunken night out in Japan. After a MasterChef stint and a COVID-scrapped plan to open in Tokyo, Eddie and business partner Min Chai opened their first shop on Australia Street with just $20,000 and a lot of hustle. What began with three hand-baked Lamington flavours has grown into a beloved brand with cafes in Marrickville and Newtown, known for seasonal collabs and a staff culture Eddie calls "one big family." A self-confessed cheese fiend, he's always up for a chat and a good collaboration. This episode is proudly brought to you by Seaway Logistics, local experts in global trade. Seaway website: https://www.seaway.com.au About Straight To The Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia's food and hospitality industry. You can find us: • Straight To The Source Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ • Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Keywords: Yo-Chi, Tokyo Lamington, brand collaboration, frozen yoghurt, Lamingtons, Australian food entrepreneurs, food and hospitality podcast, Tawnya Bahr, Lucy Allon, Straight To The Source, Seaway Logistics, Ollie Allis, Eddie Stewart, Business, Food, Dessert, Hospitality, Cult Food Brands, Yochi founder @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • August 5 · 46 min

    The Spice King of Australia: Ian Hemphill on Herbs, Spices & Flavour

    He was nicknamed "Herbie" at school before he ever knew it would become a global brand. Ian Hemphill grew up in a nursery in Dural in the 1950s, watched his mother write Australia's first published book on herbs, trained as an actor at NIDA, sat with 300 spice merchants in New Delhi and finally felt like he'd "found his tribe" - and then, in 1997, took $45 on the first day of trading from a converted terrace house in Rozelle. Nearly three decades later, Herbies Spices is one of Australia's most trusted names in herbs and spices, built on 120 handcrafted blends, zero outsourcing, an 800-page spice bible, and a philosophy that quality isn't negotiable, even if it means going out of stock. In this episode, Ian talks about asafoetida (once branded "devil's dung"), the ghost of an old spice trader who may or may not have guided a 21-ingredient ras el hanout, why chefs are chronically under-seasoning, and why "spicy" might be the most misunderstood word in the culinary world. What You'll Hear in This Episode A childhood steeped in herbs - Growing up at his parents' nursery in Dural, where his mother Rosemary (yes, actually named Rosemary) wrote Fragrance and Flavour, Australia's first herb book, and won a bronze medallion at the Frankfurt International Cookbook Fair in 1960 From NIDA to the family business - Ian trained as an actor, got into NIDA, and ended up "resting" (translation: unemployed) his way back into the family herb trade Finding his tribe - Representing Singapore at the first international spice group meeting in New Delhi in 1986, and feeling, for the first time, like the "weird spice guy" wasn't so weird after all The $45 first day - How Ian and his wife Liz sold their home, converted a Rozelle terrace into a shop, lived above it, and opened Herbies Spices on 7 July 1997 The ras el hanout with 21 spices - The unplanned, possibly-haunted origin story of one of Herbies' most iconic blends, made to order and on shelves within 24 hours Asafoetida, aka "devil's dung" - What it actually is, why it smells like a warning label, and why it might be doing more for your digestion than you think The most underrated spices in the pantry - Ajwain seed, Australian lemon myrtle, and roasted wattleseed all get their moment Why chefs are too scared of spice - Ian's theory on why professional kitchens routinely under-season, and the chamula scone incident that proves it "Spicy" vs "spiced" - Why one word might be quietly sabotaging how people think about flavour The next generation - Daughter Kate Hemphill, who tests recipes on her own kids in London and is now carrying the Herbies spice-discovery-tour torch under "Herbie's Kitchen" The smell test: "Smell your spices every time you use them, even the ones you're really familiar with, because that way you will develop a smell memory." His parting advice for anyone who actually wants to understand spice. About Ian Hemphill Ian Hemphill is the founder of Herbies Spices and one of Australia's foremost authorities on herbs and spices, with a family legacy in the trade stretching back to the 1950s. Author of Spice Notes (published internationally as The Spice and Herb Bible), Spice Travels, and co-author with daughter Kate Hemphill of How to Add Flavour, Ian has spent over four decades sourcing, blending, and educating on herbs and spices from Morocco to Cambodia to India. He and his wife Liz founded Herbies Spices in Rozelle, Sydney, in 1997, and have since developed more than 120 original spice blends - every one made in-house, never outsourced. Ian led 19 international spice discovery tours over 25 years before handing the reins to Kate, who now runs "Herbie's Kitchen" in the UK. You can find Herbie's Spices online, in specialty stores across Australia, and in the pages of Ian's books - where 800 pages still aren't enough to cover everything he knows. People & Places Mentioned Rosemary Hemphill - Ian's mother; wrote Fragrance and Flavour, Australia's first published herb book (1959) Liz Hemphill - Ian's wife and business partner; co-founded Herbies Spices in 1997 Kate Hemphill - Ian and Liz's daughter; chef, recipe developer, marketing lead, and runs "Herbie's Kitchen" spice tours in the UK Margaret Fulton - Family friend since Ian was 12; the food writer behind the line "food is not a competition" Christine Manfield & Alex Herbert - Dubbed "The Spice Girls" in an early Sydney Morning Herald piece that put Herbies on the map Herbies Spices - Founded in Rozelle, Sydney in 1997; now based on the Central Coast, NSW Resources & Links Spice Notes / Spice and Herb Bible - Ian's 800-page reference, now in its third edition https://www.herbies.com.au/shop/spice-kits-and-books/the-spice-herb-bible-3rd-edition-soft-cover/ How to Add Flavour - Ian and Kate Hemphill's newest book, built for beginners https://www.herbies.com.au/shop/spice-kits-and-books/books/how-to-add-flavor/ Spice Travels - Ian's account of decades spent sourcing spices around the globe https://www.amazon.com.au/Spice-Travels-merchants-voyage-discovery-ebook/dp/B006IGUTZG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=37ILCPELRZWN8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dnbS4vNT0AgI8uSghfl-hDmvAMOc5kn3qmjzuWMjDdAGWzJADbNgcDZAmCe1wCm9or_HjZ5WxsoiVUy2ceg5G5NO9cg0bn6hBuHrS4-toGm0jKaEkcu_coyWvokxV-0-4PeBhHfAKYBWEvbNuyUo9cix3fAGqXlBEXwVPUiPN77d47jq4OVgt44c1jsgpsiRiBHwLpKihYd7AHKAL0mV05HClVnLAUg4Y5vGJl3F37U.HIEs19H4imHdSOat-zWAULkL-bG0b_dEZqz3ltUalWE&dib_tag=se&keywords=spice+travels&qid=1785899199&s=books&sprefix=spice+travels%2Cstripbooks%2C219&sr=1-1 Herbie's Kitchen - Kate Hemphill's UK-based spice discovery tours and cooking classes https://herbieskitchen.com/ Herbies Spices - 120+ handcrafted blends, herbs and spices - find them online and in specialty stores https://www.herbies.com.au/ Keywords Ian Hemphill, Herbies Spices, Australian food podcast, herbs and spices, cooking with spices, spice expert Australia, spice blends, premium spices, chef podcast, food podcast Australia, lemon myrtle, wattleseed, ras el hanout, za'atar, asafoetida, ajwain, seasoning, flavour, Lucy Allon, Australian ingredients, Tawnya Bahr, Straight To The Source. Connect with Ian Hemphill LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-hemphill-989a2a101/ Herbie's Spices Official website: https://www.herbies.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HerbiesSpices Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herbiesspices/ YouTube: Herbie's Spices https://www.youtube.com/@HerbiesSpices Kate McIntosh, Ian's daughter and co-author of How to Add Flavor, also shares recipes and flavour education through: https://www.herbies.com.au/herbies-blog/ About Straight To The Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia's food and hospitality industry. You can find us: • Straight To The Source podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ • Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • July 29 · 59 min

    Colin Fassnidge: Michelin Kitchens, MKR Fame, Mental Health & Finding His Way

    Celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge shares his journey from Dublin to Australia, building award-winning restaurants, television, family, mental health and the future of hospitality. People think they know Colin Fassnidge. The TV chef. The Irish larrikin. The straight-talker. But behind the television career is a chef who built his reputation the hard way, through Michelin-star kitchens, iconic restaurants, financial pressure, family life and an unwavering commitment to hospitality. In this episode of Straight To The Source, Tawnya Bahr sits down with Colin for one of his most candid conversations yet. From growing up in Dublin to building Four in Hand and 4Fourteen, Colin shares the lessons that shaped his career, why business is tougher than ever, how television changed his life, the importance of great partners, and why mental health can no longer be ignored in hospitality. Whether you're a chef, restaurateur, producer or simply love great food stories, this episode is packed with honesty, humour and hard-earned wisdom. In this episode, you'll hear: Colin's journey from Dublin to Australia's leading kitchens Michelin-star lessons that still shape his cooking Building Four in Hand and 4Fourteen How television transformed his career. Business failures, resilience and bouncing back Family, fatherhood and finding balance Leadership lessons every hospitality business needs Mental health and his work with WNOW (When No One's Watching) Why supporting local hospitality has never mattered more About Colin FassnidgeBorn in Dublin, Colin Fassnidge trained in Michelin-starred kitchens before relocating to Australia, where he became one of the country's most recognised chefs. Best known for Four in Hand and 4Fourteen, Colin has also built an extensive television career through My Kitchen Rules, Better Homes & Gardens and numerous food and travel productions. Beyond the kitchen, he's a passionate advocate for hospitality, Manu Feildel, mental health, and supporting local food communities.Connect with Colin FassnidgeInstagram: @chefcolinfassnidgeFacebook: Colin Fassnidge Resources & Mentions WNOW (When No One's Watching) https://wnow.org/ OzHarvest https://www.ozharvest.org/ Better Homes& Gardens https://www.bhg.com.au/ About Straight To The Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia's food and hospitality industry. You can find us: • Straight To The Source Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ • Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Keywords Colin Fassnidge, My Kitchen Rules, Better Homes & Gardens, hospitality podcast, Food Stories, Travel, Culinary Tourism, Australian chefs, restaurant business, food podcast, chef interview, Irish cooking, mental health, leadership, restaurants, Raymond Blanc, hospitality industry, MichelinStar, WNOW (When No One's Watching), Mens Health, Sydney restaurants, Michelin chefs, Logies, Social media, Michelin, Ozharvest, Hospitality, Straight To The Source, Tawnya Bahr, Lucy Allon @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • July 22 · 44 min

    Amelia Birch: Building Famelia, Championing Women Winemakers & Leading with Purpose

    After more than two decades in hospitality, Amelia Birch has built a business that reflects exactly what she believes in. Amelia is the founder of Famelia, Australia’s only wine bar and bottle shop dedicated exclusively to championing women winemakers and women-led wine businesses. But her journey to Famelia was far from straightforward. In this episode of Straight To The Source, Amelia joins Lucy Allon to share how losing her award-winning restaurant, The Book Kitchen, forced her to rebuild, reassess and create something with deeper purpose. She explains why Famelia became exclusively focused on women-made wine, how conscious consumerism can drive meaningful industry change, and why hospitality should feel welcoming rather than intimidating. The conversation also explores sustainable hospitality, achieving two Food Made Good stars from the Sustainable Restaurant Association, entrepreneurship, motherhood and Amelia’s belief that authentic, values-led businesses can make a greater impact than those focused on profit alone. This is an honest conversation about women in wine, rebuilding after adversity and creating a hospitality business that genuinely stands for something. What You'll Hear in This Episode From The Book Kitchen to Famelia: How losing her award-winning restaurant during Sydney’s light rail construction reshaped Amelia’s career and approach to business. Why Famelia exclusively champions women winemakers: The customer behaviour and industry realities that inspired Amelia to create a wine bar and bottle shop dedicated to women-made wine. The visibility gap for women in wine: Why many customers still do not realise how few women are represented across the wine industry. Making wine more approachable: Amelia’s mission to remove intimidation, gatekeeping and unnecessary complexity from the wine experience. The power of conscious consumerism: How everyday purchasing decisions can support women winemakers, independent producers and businesses with purpose. Purpose over profit in hospitality: Why Amelia measures success through authenticity, community and impact rather than revenue alone. Building a values-led hospitality business: How purpose can guide decisions, strengthen customer loyalty and create a clearer point of difference. Sustainability at Famelia: What achieving two Food Made Good stars from the Sustainable Restaurant Association means and how Amelia is embedding sustainability into daily operations. Leadership shaped by adversity: How business loss, resilience and reinvention influenced Amelia’s leadership style. Motherhood and entrepreneurship: The realities of raising two teenage boys while growing an independent hospitality business. The future of Famelia: Amelia’s ambitions for the business and her broader vision for women in wine and hospitality. Going Straight To The Source: Amelia's powerful definition of respecting provenance, recognising producers and choosing to support the people behind every product. Follow Amelia Birch & Famelia @famelia.wine • @amelia.famelia Resources & Mentions Famelia Wine Bar & Bottle Shop: https://famelia.com.au • Sustainable Restaurant Association – Food Made Good Standard: https://www.foodmadegood.org About Straight To The Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia's food and hospitality industry. You can find us: • Straight To The Source Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ • Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Keywords Amelia Birch, Famelia Wine Bar, women winemakers Australia, women in wine Australia, hospitality leadership, purpose driven business, conscious consumerism, sustainable hospitality, Food Made Good, Sustainable Restaurant Association, Australian wine podcast, hospitality podcast Australia, female entrepreneurs Australia, Sydney wine bar, sommelier Australia, hospitality sustainability, hospitality leadership podcast, Straight To The Source podcast, Lucy Allon, Tawnya Bahr @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • July 15 · 54 min

    Hunter Rob Gallina & Chef John Ralley on Venison, Ethical Hunting and Australia's First Mobile Game Meat Processing Facility

    In this episode of Straight To The Source, Tawnya Bahr is joined by professional game harvester Rob Gallina, founder of Australian Bush Harvest, and chef, hunter and founder of Bush River Kitchen, John Ralley. Together they unpack one of the biggest developments in Australia's wild food industry: the approval of Australia's first mobile game meat processing facility, creating a fully traceable, ethical and sustainable supply chain for wild game meat. From venison, wild goat and kangaroo to responsible harvesting, bush cooking and chef education, this conversation explores Australia’s greatest untapped protein resources. Rob explains how mobile processing will allow premium game meat to move from field to market within 72 hours, while John shares how hunting, foraging and cooking wild food have shaped his approach to hospitality and the dining experiences at Bush River Kitchen. If you're interested in sustainable food systems, ethical sourcing, Australian producers, hunting, or wild game, this is an episode you won't want to miss. What You'll Hear in This Episode Why Australians still know very little about game meat despite having one of the world's richest wild food resources. The story behind Australia's first mobile game meat processing facility and why it's set to transform the industry. How ethical harvesting creates fully traceable, premium Australian game meat. Why chefs should embrace venison, wild goat, kangaroo, rabbit and other game meats. The difference between hunting, harvesting and culling. Why education is the missing ingredient preventing game meat from becoming mainstream. How Australia's export market has limited local access to premium game meat. John Ralley's journey from pastry chef and restaurant owner to chef, hunter and founder of Bush River Kitchen. Rob Gallina's mission: connecting feral animal management with sustainable food production. Why wild venison differs from farmed venison in flavour, texture and nutrition. The importance of nose-to-tail cooking and using every part of the animal. Bush cooking techniques, campfire recipes and cooking with wild ingredients. Why game meat could become a more affordable, accessible protein source for Australian families. The environmental benefits of responsible feral animal management. How Australia compares with New Zealand, Europe and North America when it comes to wild game. The future of Australian Bush Harvest and the growing opportunities for chefs, butchers and consumers. Why provenance, sustainability and responsible sourcing are shaping the future of Australian food. Follow our guests Rob Gallina @australianbushharvest @gameonenterprise John Ralley @bushriverkitchen About Straight To The Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers shaping Australia's food future. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon, every episode explores the people, ideas and innovations driving Australian food and hospitality forward. Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories behind Australia's food industry. You can find us: Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE Straight To The Source Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ Straight To The Source Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Tawnya Bahr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ Instagram: @tawnyabahr Lucy Allon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ Instagram: @lucy_allon Keywords: game meat Australia, Australian game meat, venison Australia, ethical hunting, ethical harvesting, Australian Bush Harvest, John Ralley, Rob Gallina, Bush River Kitchen, mobile game meat processing, sustainable protein, wild venison, deer meat Australia, kangaroo meat, wild goat, feral animal management, bush cooking, hunting Australia, Australian hospitality podcast, food sustainability, Straight To The Source. @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • July 8 · 38 min

    Anna Polyviou: The World Champion Pastry Chef on Creating a Mess

    Chef Anna Polyviou doesn't do anything by halves. In this episode of Straight To The Source, host Tawnya Bahr sits down with the bold, unapologetic pastry chef behind Anna's Mess, the dessert that captures exactly who she is. Anna opens up about her wild start as a hungover, almost-fired apprentice at Hotel Sofitel, and how a pastry competition (which she lost) changed the entire trajectory of her career. From there, she went on to win Best Apprentice in Victoria, train under Pierre Hermé in Paris, and build a career spanning international hotels, television, and global brand ambassadorships. This conversation covers it all: coming out as a lesbian in her Greek family, her mother's initial heartbreak over her moving overseas, the launch of her new Greek patisserie Polyviou, her time on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, DJing between dessert plating at F1 events, and why she believes discipline, not talent, is what actually gets you to the top. Honest, funny, and refreshingly real, Anna proves that success doesn't come from playing it safe. Key Takeaways Anna's rocky start as an apprentice, and how she nearly got fired Winning Best Apprentice in Victoria and training with Pierre Hermé in Paris Coming out and navigating family expectations as a Greek woman Building a career across TV, hospitality, and global events Launching Polyviou, her new Greek patisserie in Sydney Life lessons from I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here Why she says there's no such thing as too many boundaries to push About Anna Polyviou Anna Polyviou is one of Australia's most recognisable pastry chefs, television personalities and food creatives. She first made her name leading the pastry kitchens at Shangri-La Sydney before becoming known nationally through MasterChef Australia and numerous television appearances. Today, Anna balances hospitality consulting, major event collaborations, international food experiences, brand partnerships and mentoring emerging chefs, while preparing to open her new Greek-inspired patisserie, Polyviou. Known for her bold personality, creative energy and fearless approach to food, Anna continues to champion authenticity, innovation and the next generation of hospitality professionals. People & Places Mentioned Hotel Sofitel Melbourne – Where Anna completed her apprenticeship alongside some of Australia's leading chefs. William Angliss Institute – Where Anna studied hospitality before securing her apprenticeship. Pierre Hermé, Paris – The legendary French pastry chef Anna worked alongside after winning an international scholarship. Shangri-La Sydney – Where Anna became Executive Pastry Chef and created the groundbreaking Sweet Street dessert activation. I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! – The experience Anna credits with helping reset her life after one of her darkest periods. Juniper Health – The health and wellness program helping Anna prioritise nutrition and wellbeing. Gema Group – Hospitality and events partner behind Formula One, LIV Golf and major national activations. Polyviou Patisserie – Anna's upcoming Sydney bakery celebrating Greek family recipes with a contemporary twist. About Straight To The Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia's food and hospitality industry. You can find us: Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE Straight To The Source Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ Straight To The Source Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Tawnya Bahr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ Instagram: @tawnyabahr Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au Lucy Allon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ Instagram: @lucy_allon Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au Have a story to share or a producer we should visit? Drop us a line. We always love hearing from you. Anna Polyviou, Anna Polyviou podcast, Straight To The Source podcast, Tawnya Bahr, Lucy Allon, Australian pastry chef, MasterChef Australia chef, Greek Australian chef, women in hospitality, hospitality leadership Australia, pastry chef Australia, mental health hospitality, chef mentorship Australia, Greek patisserie Sydney, Polyviou patisserie, hospitality entrepreneur, female chef Australia, hospitality careers, Juniper Health ambassador, Shangri-La Sydney pastry chef, Pierre Hermé pastry, Hotel Sofitel Melbourne, Sweet Street Shangri-La, chef resilience, hospitality podcast Australia. @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • June 24 · 28 min

    Three Passports, One Mission: Chef Remy Davis on Cooking with Fire & Chasing the World's Best Fish

    What does it take to quit the comfort of Sydney's eastern suburbs, pack a single bag, and talk your way into one of the world's best restaurants, without speaking the language? For Remy Davis, it just takes curiosity, the right contacts, and a willingness to scrub stairs with a metal scourer until you've earned your spot at the fire. In this wide-ranging conversation with Tawnya, Remy traces his journey from shucking oysters at Otto in Woolloomooloo to grilling €600-a-kilo turbot at Elkano in Spain's Basque Country, to cooking for a fully booked Bessie's in Surry Hills, with stints across London, Italy, and a full year in San Sebastián along the way. Three passports. Countless kitchens. Zero recipes (more on that later). He's back in Australia now, buzzing with optimism about Sydney's evolving dining scene, and sitting on something exciting he's just not ready to reveal yet. This is a chef who backs himself and has the passport stamps to prove it. Key Takeaways On backing yourself: "Why not me?" Remy's answer to imposter syndrome is simple: back yourself and take the leap. On Elkano's no-recipe kitchen: Expecting secret formulas, Remy instead found a culture built on intuition, craftsmanship and not a recipe in sight. On produce philosophy: Spain's markets taught him that great produce starts with people who dedicate their lives to mastering a craft. On kitchen culture: Skills can be taught. Curiosity, respect and work ethic matter most. On travel as a career strategy: Passports help, but curiosity is what opens doors. His advice? Get out and cook somewhere new. On Australia's dining scene: Diners are seeking experiences, not just meals. The venues succeeding are delivering genuine value and connection. About Remy Davis Remy Davis is a Sydney-based chef with stints in London, Italy, and Spain's Basque Country under his belt, including a formative year at Elkano, one of the world's most revered fish restaurants. He completed his culinary training at TAFE Ultimo and cut his teeth at Otto on the Woolloomooloo wharf before heading overseas to work in Michelin-calibre kitchens. Back in Australia, he was the chef behind the opening menu at Bessie's in Surry Hills, and most recently cooked at Fire Kitchen as part of Vivid Sydney. He's currently working on an unannounced project in Australia at the intersection of food and art. Watch this space. People & Places Mentioned Christopher Thé - Now at Hearthe (formerly Black Star Pastry); started his career at Claude's John Ralley - The mutual connection who helped Remy land London trials; co-cooked with Remy at Fire Kitchen during Vivid Sydney Alex Herbert - Orchestrated Fire Kitchen at Vivid Sydney; Remy's shoutout: "She did a fantastic job. Like an orchestra." Inés Barajan / Sabor, London - The London restaurant that turned Remy's attention to Spain; Sabor means flavour, and it showed Elkano, San Sebastián - The world-ranked Basque restaurant that gave Remy the best year of his professional life. No recipes. €99/kg turbot. Tennis elbow from flipping fish. Zero regrets. Aitor (Elkano) - The head chef who eats with his team — from family to KP — every service. White tablecloth, no exceptions Nathan Sassi & Morgan Mcglone (Bar Copains / Vincenzo's / Bessie's) - The duo who pulled Remy back to Sydney and into the Bessie's project Bessie's / Alma, Surry Hills - Opened January 2025. Fire-focused, produce-driven, built over a year of trans-continental planning About Straight To The Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia’s food and hospitality industry. You can find us: Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE Straight To The Source Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ Straight To The Source Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Tawnya Bahr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ Instagram: @tawnyabahr Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au Lucy Allon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ Instagram: @lucy_allon Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au Have a story to share or a producer we should visit? Drop us a line — we always love hearing from you. Keywords: Remy Davis chef, Straight To The Source food podcast, Tawnya Bahr, Lucy Allon, Elkano restaurant San Sebastián, Basque Country chef, Australian chef overseas, fire cooking Sydney, Bessie's Surry Hills, Vivid Sydney Fire Kitchen, Sydney chef, hospitality podcast Australia, chef career advice, Otto Woolloomooloo, Bar Copains Sydney, TAFE culinary training, OzHarvest,, chef mentorship Australia, Tasting Success Mentoring Programme, San Sebastián food scene, Michelin kitchen experience. @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • June 17 · 36 min

    Roots Run Deep: Sue Heward and Frank Heward on 105 Years, Figs, Family and the Future of Farming

    What does it look like when fifth-generation farming meets modern food entrepreneurship? For Sue Heward of Singing Magpie Produce in Monash, South Australia, it looks like sun-dried Smyrna quinces, semi-dried black and white figs, vine-ripened Shiraz grapes dried on the vine, and artisan gift boxes that tell the full story of the Riverland. In this rich, grounded conversation recorded on the Heward family orchard, Tawnya Bahr sits down with Sue and her father Frank - a man who has farmed this property for over 60 years - to trace 105 years of family growing history, the birth of Sue’s business, Singing Magpie Produce nearly a decade ago, and the hard-won lessons of building a value-added food brand from the ground up. What You'll Hear in This Episode 105 years on the land - Frank traces the Heward family's growing history from the original quince trees to today's pecans, figs, quinces and grapes The fruit fly reality - How Queensland fruit fly regulations have reshaped what the Hewards can sell fresh, pushing them further into value-adding and manufacturing supply for Maggie Beer and Beerenberg The grape glut crisis - With Riverland winegrapes unwanted by the market, Frank explains how Sue turned the problem into "Dad's Vine Ripened Shiraz" - sun-dried Shiraz with a flavour that tastes like eating wine How Singing Magpie began - Sue returned from 16 years in Melbourne, swapped a career in health prevention for commercial cookery, and spent her first year back picking figs and figuring out her next act The first product and a Champion Award - Starting with 50 kilos of preservative-free, semi-sun-dried black figs sold on Facebook, the brand grew fast. The Smyrna sun-dried quince - made from her mother's recipe - won Champion at Sydney Royal Fine Foods in its first year The sticky quince syrup - A zero-waste product born from the poaching liquid; reduced for seven hours until it's sweet, tart and just on the edge of caramelised. Works with cheese, duck, lamb and dessert equally The full product range - From sun-dried mangoes to persimmons, jujubes from Black Sheep Produce in Loxton, locally sourced Medjool dates, and Solomon Gold vegan chocolate hand-tempered in the Riverland The spectacular diced fruit mix - Deliberately sultana-free; packed with black and white figs, peaches, pears, apricots and candied lemon (the very same lemon used in the quince cooking process, wasted by no one) Breast cancer and the business - Sue shares how a diagnosis at 50, followed by five months of chemotherapy, forced her to step back from the day-to-day - and accidentally prompted the team expansion and systems thinking that made the business stronger Tasting Australia 2026 - A marquee event for 50-60 guests on the quince orchard, in collaboration with Temperance Restaurant and Hotel Renmark, in 65mm of unexpected Riverland rain. It was magical. About Singing Magpie Produce Singing Magpie Produce is an artisan dried fruit and specialty food brand based in Monash, South Australia, in the Riverland. Founded by Sue Heward, the brand grows from a fifth-generation family orchard and sources exclusively from Riverland producers to create premium, preservative-free dried fruits, sun-dried quinces, quince syrups, specialty gift boxes, and seasonal products. Singing Magpie is a multi-award-winning producer. Their sun-dried Smyrna quince won Champion at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Competition in 2017, and the brand has since collected Gold and Silver medals at the RAS NSW Royal Fine Food Show and Australian Food Awards, appeared on MasterChef Australia (2018), have twice won the SA State title at the delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards (2019 and 2025), and in 2025 became a National Finalist in the Sun-Dried Fruits - From the Earth category. Their products are stocked and supplied to food service clients across Australia through their collaboration with Straight To The Source. People & Places Mentioned Frank Heward - Sue's father; fifth-generation grower; 60+ years on the Monash property; innovator (mushroom tunnels, dried fruit, pecan planting) Petty Orchards - Frank's grandmother's family orchards in Doncaster-Mitcham, Melbourne; a well-known horticultural name in the region Maggie Beer Products - 24-year supply relationship for figs and quinces for manufacturing Beerenberg - Current manufacturer customers for Heward Orchard Black Sheep Produce - Heidi and Dave, Loxton; growers of jujubes (Chinese red dates) supplied to Singing Magpie gift boxes Solomon Gold - Vegan chocolate sourced from Sydney; hand-tempered by the Singing Magpie team Almond Co. - Riverland almonds used in Singing Magpie gift boxes Tasting Australia - Festival platform that brought guests from Adelaide, Mildura, Mount Gambier and Inverloch to the Monash orchard Temperance Restaurant / Hotel Renmark - Collaborators on the Tasting Australia orchard event Straight To The Source - food consultancy; 10-year relationship with Singing Magpie; connected the brand to chefs and food service nationally Sydney Royal Fine Food Competition - Premier national food competition (Royal Agricultural Society); Singing Magpie's Smyrna sun-dried quince won Champion Award in its debut year delicious Produce Awards: Multiple award winner, including most recently 2025 From the Earth South Australian National Finalist Resources & Links Singing Magpie Produce - Find their products and gift boxes online Sydney Royal Fine Food Competition - rasnsw.com.au Tasting Australia - South Australia's premier food and drink festival - tastingaustralia.com.au Breast cancer awareness - Check your breasts monthly. National Breast Cancer Foundation - nbcf.org.au About Straight To The Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia’s food and hospitality industry. You can find us: Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE Straight To The Source Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ Straight To The Source Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Tawnya Bahr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ Instagram: @tawnyabahr Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au Lucy Allon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ Instagram: @lucy_allon Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au Keywords: Straight To The Source Podcast, Straight To The Source, Sue Heward, Frank Heward, Singing Magpie Produce, Riverland, South Australia, Australian food producers, family farming, generational farming, Australian figs, semi-dried figs, Smyrna quince, quince products, Riverland Shiraz, dried fruit Australia, artisan food products, value-added agriculture, food innovation, Australian produce, provenance, regional Australia, food entrepreneurship, farm to table, producer stories. @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • June 10 · 49 min

    Sharon Winsor: Protecting Indigenous Food Culture, One Ingredient at a Time

    What happens when a little girl collecting bush fruits in outback New South Wales, not knowing she was poor, just knowing she was rich in country, grows up to launch the first-ever Australian Native Food Festival and win the most prestigious trailblazer award in the industry? You get Sharon Winsor. In this extraordinary conversation, Sharon joins Tawnya Bahr to tell her story with radical honesty: the stillbirth that cracked her open at 21, the domestic violence that nearly took her life, the government consultant who told her bush foods would "never belong on a plate in a restaurant," and the quiet, relentless determination that built Indigiearth into something far bigger than a food business. This is an episode about food sovereignty, cultural responsibility, and what it actually means to give back not once a year during Reconciliation Week, but every single day. Episode Highlights [17:00] — "It has purely been built on the back of desperation": survival, healing, breaking cycles [29:00] — The government consultant who said bush foods would "never belong on a plate in a restaurant" [46:30] — The jar of bush fruits confiscated at school and reported to welfare as "dirty food" [51:00] — Grassroots vs. bandwagon: who really owns the native food space [55:30] — What respectful engagement with native ingredients actually looks like for chefs [1:14:00] — Building the Australian Native Food Festival: $22k personal debt, 10,000 attendees, $225k back to Aboriginal businesses [1:26:00] — Winning the inaugural Bill Granger Trailblazer of the Year — the car park, the big screen, the speech she can't remember [1:32:00] — The Australian Native Food Festival returns: 25–27 September at Carriageworks, with the First Nations Bush Food Alliance delivering the industry trade day [1:35:00] — Quickfire round: lemon myrtle, quandongs, kangaroo, morning coffee on the veranda, and a horse that keeps her sane Key Takeaways On cultural responsibility over commerce: "Indigiearth is not a food business. It is so much more than that." Sharon built her brand not chasing profit but chasing healing — and the community that came with it. On what respectful engagement actually looks like: "Native foods is more than just an ingredient. It connects us to country, to storylines, to trading with our tribal areas, our songlines, Mother Earth. It's so deeply embedded in who we are as Aboriginal people." Chefs and businesses who want to use native ingredients are welcome — but they need to do the work. On the tokenism problem: Sharon has sat in high-end restaurants and asked a waiter where the native ingredient was — only to have the chef come out and admit they were out of it. "Guys, that's not okay. You're misrepresenting what our food is. You're bastardising the industry." On Reconciliation Week: "Aboriginal people didn't start that. Why are we needing to be the ones doing the reconciling?" Sharon only works with organisations that do the work year-round, not just when it's on the calendar. On backing herself when nobody else would: She went into the first Australian Native Food Festival knowing she couldn't cover all the costs. She covered the $22,000 deficit herself. "I had to back myself and I had to back the bigger vision." On the rise of all of us: "It's not about the rise of one of us. It's about the rise of all of us." About Sharon Winsor Sharon Winsor is a Ngemba Weilwan woman, award-winning Indigenous chef, and the founder of Indigiearth — a native food business grounded in over 30 years of cultural knowledge, community connection, and hard-won resilience. Born in Gunnedah, NSW, Sharon grew up foraging on country before bringing that knowledge to Sydney, then Mudgee, and eventually to the national stage. She is the creator and driving force behind the Australian Native Food Festival, the first of its kind and a founding member of the First Nations Bush Food Alliance, a peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the native food industry. In 2023, Indigiearth won the prestigious Outstanding Native Producer trophy at the delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards, and in 2026, she was named the inaugural Bill Granger Trailblazer of the Year at the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Awards, presented by Kylie Kwong. People & Places Mentioned Kylie Kwong — Longtime ally, friend, and the person who told Sharon she belonged in the room at the Good Food Awards. Presented Sharon with the Bill Granger Trailblazer award Ben Shewry — Featured at the Australian Native Food Festival cooking demonstrations Karima Hazim — Also featured at the festival Aunty Beryl — Shared cultural stories on stage with Kylie Kwong at the festival Raylene Brown, Aunty Pat Torres (Kimberley), Sharon Brindley (Victoria) — Co-collaborators on the First Nations Bush Food Alliance, working together for over ten years Bill Granger — The award bearing his name, in partnership with his family, was presented for the first time at the 2026 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards. Indigiearth — Sharon's native food business, now including retail products, events, catering, Warakirri dining experiences, and more Carriageworks, Sydney — Host venue for the Australian Native Food Festival Gunnedah, Rocky Glen, Coonabarabran, Gulargambone, Mudgee — The country that shaped her Dates for Your Diary Australian Native Food Festival: 25–27 September, Carriageworks, Sydney, featuring the First Nations Bush Food Alliance industry trade day Resources & Links Indigiearth: Indigiearth.com.au First Nations Bush Food Alliance: Follow Sharon on social media for the relaunch announcement If you're a chef or a business that wants to use native ingredients respectfully, Sharon is open to masterclasses and conversations. Reach out via Indigiearth. Have a story to share or a topic we should dive into? Drop us a line. About Straight To The Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia’s food and hospitality industry. You can find us: Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE Straight To The Source Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ Straight To The Source Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Tawnya Bahr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ Instagram: @tawnyabahr Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au Lucy Allon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ Instagram: @lucy_allon Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au Keywords: Sharon Winsor Indigiearth Australian native ingredients bush foods Australia Indigenous food sovereignty Aboriginal food business First Nations bush foods native food cultural appropriation ethical sourcing native ingredients lemon myrtle quandong wattle seed bush food supplier Australia Indigenous chef Australia Australian Native Food Festival Carriageworks Sydney First Nations Bush Food Alliance Bill Granger Trailblazer Award Good Food Awards 2026 Kylie Kwong how to source native ingredients ethically Aboriginal owned food business Australia bush foods on restaurant menus native ingredients for chefs Australia @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • June 3 · 43 min

    Mike Bennie: The Future of Australian Drinks, Wine Trends & What Every Australian Should Be Drinking

    In this episode of Straight To The Source, Lucy Allon sits down with one of Australia's most respected drinks voices, Mike Bennie. A journalist, wine judge, educator, and co-founder of P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants, Mike has spent decades tasting, writing about and championing Australian drinks culture. From emerging wine trends and changing consumer habits to the rapid growth of the non-alcoholic category, Mike shares his unique perspective on where the drinks industry is heading and why Australia continues to be one of the world's most innovative beverage producers. They also taste chef-turned-winemaker Matt Stone’s first vintage Pinot Noir. Plus, Mike reveals the Australian drinks every wine lover should know about right now, including the local sparkling wines, Grenache producers and Mediterranean varieties he believes are genuinely competing with the world's best. What You'll Hear in This Episode Inside the life of a professional wine critic: From tasting up to 30 wines before breakfast to judging, writing, travelling and staying on top of a constantly evolving global drinks industry. Why Australians are drinking less but drinking better: Mike's perspective on changing consumer habits and why today's drinkers are becoming more selective, more adventurous and increasingly focused on quality over quantity. What makes Australian drinkers unique: Why Australians have developed a deep understanding of wine regions, a willingness to experiment and a refreshing lack of rules when it comes to what they drink. The role of festivals in shaping food and drink culture: How events like Vivid Fire Kitchen and regional food festivals are creating stronger connections between producers, hospitality businesses and consumers. Tasting Matt Stone's first Pinot Noir: Mike shares his thoughts on the inaugural Wines by Matt Stone Pinot Noir and explains why the wine reflects a commitment to finesse, balance and fine winemaking. Why chefs often make great winemakers: The parallels between cooking and winemaking and how some of Australia's most respected chefs have developed a deep passion for wine. The permanent rise of low and no alcohol drinks: Why non alcoholic beverages have moved far beyond trend status and become a permanent part of Australia's hospitality landscape. How the best restaurants approach non alcoholic pairings: Why some of the most exciting drinks innovation is happening outside traditional wine programs, with sommeliers and chefs creating sophisticated alcohol free experiences. Australian pioneers changing the non alcoholic category: The impact of brands like Aaron Trotman’s NON and Heaps Normal, and the producers helping reshape how Australians think about drinking. Global drinks trends Australia should be watching: What Mike is seeing overseas, from wellness beverages and functional drinks to the growing influence of legalised cannabis on alcohol consumption in the United States. Why wine packaging needs a rethink: Mike's candid views on why wine remains tied to outdated formats and how packaging innovation could help the industry better connect with modern consumers. Australian sparkling wine versus Champagne: Why Mike believes Australia's best sparkling wines are genuinely competing with, and in many cases outperforming, some of Champagne's biggest producers. The rise of Australian Grenache: Why Grenache has become one of Australia's most exciting wine categories and how old vine vineyards are helping produce wines that stand alongside the world's best. The Mediterranean grape varieties thriving in Australia: How varieties like Vermentino, Greco and Nero d'Avola are proving better suited to Australia's climate, cuisine and modern drinking culture. The next chapter for craft beer: Why beer drinkers are moving beyond heavily hopped styles and becoming more interested in provenance, farming practices and where ingredients come from. Going straight to the source of drinks: How concepts like provenance, sustainability and producer connection are becoming increasingly important across wine, beer, spirits and non alcoholic beverages. The future of Australian drinks culture: Mike's vision for a more inclusive, collaborative and less gatekept drinks industry that embraces changing consumer habits while continuing to champion innovation. Why hospitality needs broader drinks education: How breaking down the silos between wine, beer, spirits and non alcoholic drinks could create a more knowledgeable and adaptable next generation of hospitality professionals. What the next five years could look like: Mike's predictions for Australian hospitality, from lower alcohol consumption and evolving consumer values to a greater focus on ingredient quality, transparency and sustainability. Follow Mike Bennie, and, P&V Wine & Liquor Merchants: @mikebennie101 @pnvmerchants Watch our short film, Pork To Fork, Grain to Glass, of our Straight To The Source trip taking Mike Bennie & Nik Hill to Voyager Craft Malt & Dewsburys Free Range Pork Resources & Mentions P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants: https://pnvmerchants.com • Wines by Matt Stone: https://www.instagram.com/wines_by_mattstone • Heaps Normal: https://heapsnormal.com • NON: https://www.non.world/en-au • Little Food Market Sydney at Carriageworks 21-23 August 2026: https://thelittlefoodmarket.com/sydney About Straight To The Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia’s food and hospitality industry. You can find us: Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE Straight To The Source Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ Straight To The Source Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Tawnya Bahr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ Instagram: @tawnyabahr Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au Lucy Allon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ Instagram: @lucy_allon Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au Keywords: Australian wine, Australian drinks industry, Mike Bennie, wine trends Australia, Australian sparkling wine, non alcoholic drinks Australia, Australian Grenache, Australian beer trends, wine podcast Australia, drinks culture Australia, Matt Stone wine, Australian hospitality industry, low alcohol drinks, wine education, beverage trends Australia, Straight To The Source @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • May 27 · 39 min

    From Bondi to Berry: Chef Alex Prichard’s Next Chapter with Sara Dining & Garden

    After more than a decade at Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Chef Alex Prichard is trading Bondi for Berry with the launch of Sara Dining & Garden, a produce-driven restaurant grounded in farming, sustainability and regional hospitality on the NSW South Coast. In this conversation, Lucy Allon sits down with Alex to discuss the realities of opening a farm-led dining destination in today’s economic climate, why chefs need a deeper connection to producers and how regional Australia is reshaping the future of hospitality. Alex’s career has taken him through some of Australia’s most respected kitchens, including Momofuku Seiobo, Sake and The Cut, before becoming Head Chef at Icebergs at just 24 years old. Now, with Sara Dining & Garden, he’s entering a new chapter focused on immersive dining experiences, seasonality and creating a stronger connection between food, land and community. From five-hour daily commutes and failed melon crops to Michelin in Australia and the pressures facing restaurants right now, Alex shares an honest perspective on what it takes to build a modern hospitality business. What You’ll Hear in This Episode Leaving Icebergs after more than a decade Why Alex decided it was finally time to step away from one of Australia’s most iconic restaurants and pursue his long held dream of opening a regional farm to table venue The road from Bondi to Berry How commuting five hours a day from the South Coast to Icebergs reinforced both his love for the restaurant and his desire to build a life closer to family and community The vision behind Sara Dining & Garden The story behind the partnership with Linnaeus Collection and the creation of a destination dining experience built around accommodation, produce, wellness and hospitality Building a restaurant around the land How Alex and his team spent the past 12 months experimenting with crops, understanding the property and learning what can realistically be grown at scale Pretty gardens vs ugly gardens Why designing a working farm that also functions as luxury accommodation required balancing operational efficiency with aesthetics The harsh realities of farming What happened when Alex attempted to grow melons at scale and how weather, mould and seasonality has reshaped his approach to menu planning Why 100% local isn’t always realistic Alex’s honest perspective on sourcing, commercial realities and why supporting great Australian producers sometimes means looking beyond your immediate region Australian produce and luxury dining Why regional diners shouldn’t have to miss out on exceptional Australian seafood and produce simply because they’re outside major cities Why every chef should grow something How harvesting ingredients yourself changes your understanding of waste, labour, value and respect for producers The rise of regional dining in Australia Why more chefs are leaving major cities and how hospitality migration is reshaping dining destinations across regional New South Wales Rethinking the restaurant experience How Alex wants Sara to feel more like visiting someone’s home than dining in a traditional restaurant, with guests encouraged to explore the farm and settle into the experience The business realities facing hospitality The pressures of labour costs, shrinking margins, rising produce prices and why restaurants now need a genuine point of difference to survive Solving regional hospitality challenges How Sara is approaching transport, non-alcoholic drinks and local engagement to create a sustainable regional dining model Michelin, Australia and staying authentic Alex’s thoughts on Michelin arriving in Australia and why he hopes Australian restaurants never lose their relaxed, egalitarian style of hospitality The importance of knowing your producers Why understanding the people behind ingredients matters just as much as the ingredients themselves, and how those relationships shape the way Alex cooks The future of Australian hospitality Alex’s hopes for the next generation of regional restaurants, young chefs and a more produce-connected dining culture across Australia Follow Alex Prichard, Sara Dining & Garden, and, Linnaeus Collection: @alexsprichard @saradiningandkitchen @linnaeuscollection About Straight To The Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia’s food and hospitality industry. You can find us: Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE Straight To The Source Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ Straight To The Source Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Tawnya Bahr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ Instagram: @tawnyabahr Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au Lucy Allon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ Instagram: @lucy_allon Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au Keywords: Alex Prichard, Alex Prichard podcast, Sara Dining and Garden, Sara Dining Berry, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Australian chefs podcast, Regional dining Australia, Farm to table restaurant Australia, NSW South Coast restaurants, Berry restaurants, Australian hospitality industry, Sustainable dining Australia, Produce driven dining, Australian food podcast, Hospitality podcast Australia, Straight To The Source @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • May 20 · 38 min

    From Christchurch to Australia: Chef Amber Doig on New York Humility, and Mexican Food Done Right

    In this episode, Tawnya Bahr talks with Amber Doig, an impressive chef and quiet achiever about ego, culinary instinct, seaweed, and why attitude will always beat talent. Amber Doig left Christchurch at 17 for Australia. Twenty-something years later, she's worked alongside Alex Stupack, Chef and Co-Owner of the Empellón restaurant group based in New York City, and is now quietly reshaping how Sydney eats Mexican food. This isn't a rags-to-riches story. It's a story about showing up, getting humbled in a New York kitchen, and realising that where you're from: your mum's single-parent cooking, your Māori heritage, your Pacific roots, is exactly what makes your food worth eating. What You'll Hear in This Episode Food as family Amber grew up surrounded by professional cooking: her mother trained as a chef as a teenager, cooked through her pregnancy, and had Amber in restaurant kitchens by the age of 10, what she calls "young work experience, AKA free labour" Rejected but undeterred When Christchurch's hospitality school turned her away over English and Maths requirements, Amber packed up and moved to Sydney at 17 to start her apprenticeship on her own terms Learning the trade in Sydney From a Rozelle cafe under head chef Christopher Mitchell via the Hospitality Training Network, to six-plus years with mentor Vanessa Martin at Il Piave, Rozelle, the years that built her foundation The New York epiphany A New Year's Eve ball drop in 2010 became a life-changing encounter with Mexican cuisine at Empellón. Five years later, she went back, this time to work Training under Alex Stupak Two years cooking across multiple Empellón concepts, including a James Beard event for the launch of Stupak's taco cookbook and ringside seats as Albert Adrià's team cooked at the Push Project dinner collaboration A lesson in humility Why New York was a wake-up call for her ego, and how working alongside elite chefs from around the world completely redefined her understanding of speed, precision, and culinary knowledge Returning to Sydney with purpose Coming home armed with new techniques, bold flavours, and a fire to show Sydneysiders the real depth and complexity of Mexican cuisine Mexican food beyond Old El Paso Why Amber sees her role as partly educational: the origin story of tacos, mole, Oaxaca cheese, tomatillos, and the fact that Mexico gave the world tomatoes, chillies, and corn Sourcing the unsourceable The challenge of tracking down Mexican ingredients in Sydney's early days, and how the scene has since transformed with local growers and specialist importers now meeting the demand Seaweed as the next frontier Her current obsession: sea lettuce from Rocky Point Aquaculture, dehydrated for salads, blitzed into powders, and made into furikake-style seasonings Pacific roots on the plate A ceviche-inspired ikamata dish drawing on Māori and Pacific culinary traditions, snapper, coconut, and sumac in equal parts nostalgia and innovation Almost a decade at Applejack Her role at Butler, her involvement across new openings, and working with Director of Culinary Patrick Friesen on menu development across 13 venues The Opera Bar, reimagined How Applejack Hospitality is bringing locals back alongside tourists: Basa Falafel, Vietnamese banh mi, broken rice, Sydney Rock oysters with Fermentalist Habanero Hot Sauce, and a genuine commitment to local producers Follow Amber Doig Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amber_doig_/ About Straight to the Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. Reach out, leave a review, and share this episode with someone in the industry who needs to hear it. You can find us: Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE Straight To The Source Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ Straight To The Source Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Tawnya Bahr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ Instagram: @tawnyabahr Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au Lucy Allon: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ Instagram: @lucy_allon Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au Keywords: Women in Food, Straight To The Source podcast, Australian chef, Applejack Hospitality Group, hospitality industry, kitchen culture, Sydney, foodpodcast, Australian food producers, chef career advice, Mexican food, Alex Stupak, Empellón Resources & Links James Beard Foundation, https://www.jamesbeard.org/events-overview Applejack Hospitality Group, applejackhospitality.com.au Opera Bar, Sydney, operabar.com.au Empellón: https://www.empellon.com/alex-stupak/ Rocky Point Aquaculture, sea lettuce and sustainable Australian seafood Carriageworks Farmers Market, Sydney's celebrated producer market, home to local artisans, including Marrickville cheese makers Have a story to share or a topic we should dive into? Drop us a line — we always love hearing from you. Straight To The Source is hosted by Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • May 13 · 41 min

    Salt, Chemo, and Carbonara: Naomi Lowry on Cooking Through the Unimaginable

    How do you compete in a Chef of the Year culinary competition when you can't taste a single thing on the plate? For chef Naomi Lowry, the answer is muscle memory, decades of instinct, and an industry that showed up for her in ways she never expected. In this candid conversation, Naomi joins Tawnya and Lucy to trace a career built on anything but a straight line, from a pub kitchen in the UK to Sydney's finest restaurants, a breast cancer diagnosis three months after opening her own venue, a stint working in TV, and a second life she's found sixty metres underwater. This is an episode about what happens when the roadmap disappears, and what you build in its place. What You'll Hear in This Episode Growing up around food - Naomi recalls her grandmother's legendary home cooking, her mother's 1980s Connecticut dinner parties, and being the eldest of five kids who helped out in the kitchen by necessity How she stumbled into chefing - Managing a pub at university with an unused kitchen, Naomi started cooking and never looked back The leap to Australia - At 21, she sold her car and boarded a flight to Sydney just days after 9/11, much to her mother's horror. That decision shaped the next 26 years of her life Breast cancer at 38 - Diagnosed just three months after opening her own venue, Naomi speaks candidly about late detection, the support of the hospitality community, and why she posts a "check your boobies" reminder on Instagram every first of the month Competing through chemo - How she made it to the finals of a major chef of the year competition while unable to taste, and what it meant to have her mum there to witness it Losing her best friend to cancer - The spiral that followed, and how therapy and scuba diving helped her find a healthier path forward The dive that changed everything - Naomi's other great passion: scuba diving as her form of meditation, complete with a self-imposed tattoo rule that keeps her exploring the world's oceans Cicci, Balmain - The Italian wine bar where she's found her home, cooking pasta for loyal regulars who've named themselves "colony director" and claimed their favourite tables The secret menu - Carbonara, cacio e pepe, amatriciana and zabaglione: dishes not on the menu but always available for those who know how to ask Mentoring the next generation - Naomi's involvement in the Tasting Success Mentoring Programme, and her concerns about the craft skills - like breaking down whole animals - that are quietly disappearing from kitchens The chefs who shaped her - Danny Russo, Colin Fassnidge, Giovanni Pilu, James Viles, Jeremy Strode, and meeting Michel Roux Sr (she had to hide in the walk-in freezer to collect herself) About Naomi Lowry Naomi Lowry is a British-born, Sydney-based chef with over two decades of experience in the Australian hospitality industry. French-trained and Italian-inspired, she has worked alongside some of Australia's most respected chefs, including Colin Fassnidge, Giovanni Pilu, Danny Russo and James Viles at Biota. Naomi competed in the Chef of the Year competition. She is a mentor for emerging talent for Lyndey Milan's Tasting Success Mentoring Program, an advocate for breast cancer awareness, and the head chef at Cicci, an Italian wine bar in Balmain, Sydney. You can find Naomi on Instagram, where she posts monthly breast cancer check reminders and updates from the kitchen and the ocean floor. Follow Naomi Lowry: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chef_naomi_lowry/ https://www.instagram.com/chef_vs_cancer/ https://www.instagram.com/cicci.balmain/ About Straight to the Source Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. Reach out, leave a review, and share this episode with someone in the industry who needs to hear it. You can find us: Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE Straight To The Source Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ Straight To The Source Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Tawnya Bahr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ Instagram: @tawnyabahr Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au Lucy Allon: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ Instagram: @lucy_allon Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au Keywords: Naomi Lowry, Women in Food, straight to the source podcast, Australian chef, Sydney restaurant, breast cancer, hospitality industry, kitchen culture, sustainability, Sydney, foodpodcast, Australian food producers, chef sobriety, chef career advice, diving, breast cancer, culinary competitions Resources & Links Check your breasts - follow Naomi on Instagram for monthly reminders National Breast Cancer Foundation - nbcf.org.au Tasting Success Mentoring Programme - Lyndey Milan's program for emerging chefs in Australia - tafensw.edu.au/programs/tasting-success @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • May 6 · 54 min

    Simon Sandall: 41 Years in Kitchens, One Life-Changing Valentine's Day, and Why He's Never Looked Back

    Some kids find trouble. Simon Sandall was very, very good at it. He starts on the streets of Rugby, England, where he was, by his own cheerful admission, heading nowhere fast. What pulled him back? Food. And forty-one years, a few broken noses, a life-threatening health crisis, and one extraordinary Valentine's Day later, he's the Executive Chef and Owner of Boronia Kitchen, cooking on his own terms, and loving every minute of it. In this episode, Tawnya Bahr sits down with Simon for a raw, honest, and often hilarious conversation about the realities of a career in professional kitchens. The good, the brutal, and the deeply human moments in between. Episode Overview (Ep #80) with Simon Sandall and Tawnya Bahr What We Cover in This Episode From rat bag to rising star. How walking a dog led Simon into a vegetarian restaurant kitchen at age 14, and why his Welsh TAFE teacher's blunt words ("sort your shit out or f*** off") became the making of him The brutal truth about old-school kitchen culture. Simon doesn't sugarcoat it: the kitchens of London's elite hotels were aggressive, physically dangerous, and completely normalised. How does that compare to the kitchen he runs today at Boronia? The Ritz vs. Claridge's. How a 17-year-old Simon chose between two of London's most iconic hotels (he picked the one where he felt like a person, not a number) and what that decision taught him about culture Going gold at Olympia. Competing in culinary competitions at 17, working 48-hour stretches on cold masterpieces, and what ego-driven ambition looks like when you're young and hungry The world years. From the Greek islands to Mozambique (four years out of civil war), Lake Malawi, and navigating a continent post-civil war with nothing but instinct, biltong in his backpack, and a talent for banoffee pie Landing in Australia broke and long-haired. The story of arriving in Sydney on borrowed money, being knocked back for jobs because of his appearance, and flipping steaks at the Orient Hotel at the Rocks until the right opportunity opened up 17 years with Matt Moran. What this relationship taught Simon about craft, loyalty, friendship, and farming. Why Matt is now one of his closest mates, getting him up to the farm to forage pine mushrooms and collect fresh eggs. Valentine's Day, 2018. The moment that changed everything. Simon shares with extraordinary openness how necrotising pancreatitis almost took his life, how he said goodbye to his kids from a hospital bed, and how he signed the lease on Boronia Kitchen from intensive care. Nearly nine years sober, and no regrets. The Boronia Kitchen story. A passion project built on discipline, seasonal produce, a kitchen garden harvested twice daily, and a commitment to doing things properly on his own terms The cookbook. Self-published, coffee table-worthy but built to get greasy, and packed with seasonal recipes that define Boronia's kitchen About Simon Sandall & Boronia Kitchen Simon Sandall is the Executive Chef and Owner of Boronia Kitchen in Sydney. With over four decades in the industry, including time at the Ritz London, the Sydney Opera House, and seven years on the tools at ARIA Restaurant. Simon is one of Australia's most respected chefs. He is also the author of the self-published Boronia Kitchen cookbook. After a near-fatal health crisis in 2018, Simon rebuilt his life around his restaurant, his kitchen garden, his family, and nearly nine years of sobriety. Boronia Kitchen: https://www.boroniakitchen.com.au/ Address: 150 Pittwater Road, Hunters Hill NSW Australia The Boronia Kitchen Cookbook: https://www.boroniakitchen.com.au/shop/p/the-story-of-boronia Instagram: @chefsimonsandall @boroniakitchen @cateringbysimonsandall About Straight to the Source Straight To The Source is hosted by Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. We'd love to hear from you! Reach out, leave a review, and share this episode with someone in the industry who needs to hear it. You can find us: Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE Straight To The Source Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ Straight To The Source Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au Tawnya Bahr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ Instagram: @tawnyabahr Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au Lucy Allon: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ Instagram: @lucy_allon Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au Keywords: Simon Sandall, Boronia Kitchen, straight to the source podcast, Australian chef, Sydney restaurant, Matt Moran, chef mental health, cateringbysimonsandall, hospitality industry, kitchen culture, farm to table Sydney, foodpodcast, sustainability, Australian food producers, chef sobriety, kitchen garden, Boronia Kitchen cookbook, necrotising pancreatitis, chef career advice @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • April 29 · 51 min

    The Power of Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil

    Today, we’re going straight to the source of extra virgin olive oil. Host Tawnya Bahr sits down with two experts who know Australian extra virgin olive oil inside and out: Dr Joanna McMillan, a leading nutrition scientist, and Tom Hitchcock, Executive Chef at the iconic Spirit House. From the science of polyphenols and why “extra virgin” matters, to bold culinary moves like wok frying and olive oil sorbet, Joanna and Tom take us on a journey from grove to plate. Along the way, they bust myths about cooking with olive oil, reveal what to look for on the label, and share why freshness and provenance make all the difference. We explore: The health benefits of EVOO and how to maximise them Why Australian-grown olive oil leads the world in quality Cooking tips that push EVOO beyond the salad bowl Flavour profiles: from delicate to robust, and how to pair them The sustainability story behind supporting local producers This is an episode for chefs, food lovers, and anyone who wants to take their cooking, and their health, to the next level with one simple ingredient. Proudly brought to you by the Olive Oil Wellness Institute, a science-driven resource dedicated to educating and inspiring people about the health benefits, culinary versatility and sustainability of extra virgin olive oil. Learn more at https://olivewellnessinstitute.org/ Follow The Olive Oil Wellness Institute: https://www.instagram.com/olive_wellness_institute/ Follow Joanna McMillan: https://www.instagram.com/drjoannamcmillan/ Follow Tom Hitchcock: https://www.instagram.com/chef_hitchcock/ Follow Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/stts_podcast Follow Straight To The Source: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ Connect with your hosts: Tawnya Bahr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ Lucy Allon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • March 25 · 39 min

    Dr Joanna McMillan: Why Fibre Is the Most Underrated Ingredient on Every Menu

    If you think fibre is boring, this episode might just change your mind. Dr Joanna McMillan, one of Australia’s leading nutrition scientists and dietitians, is on a mission to make fibre sexy again. With her new book The Fibre Factor, she unpacks why this overlooked ingredient and nutrient is key to gut health, heart health and overall wellbeing, and yes, it helps us all have a good bathroom experience! In this episode of Straight To The Source, Joanna joins Lucy Allon to explore what she calls the modern fibre famine and why chefs, producers and home cooks all have a role to play in changing it. From menu innovation to embracing whole, plant-rich foods, this conversation is packed with practical, feel-good insights for building flavour and nutrition into every plate. Smart, relatable and quietly game changing. Just like the food we should be eating. Listen now on your favourite podcast platform. Subscribe for more interviews with industry leaders and changemakers. This episode is proudly brought to you by UNOX Australia, leaders in smart oven innovation for commercial and residential kitchens. Learn more at www.unox.com Follow & Connect with Dr Joanna McMillan and find The Fibre Factor in shops and online https://www.drjoanna.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drjoannamcmillan https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-fibre-factor-9781761356728 Connect with your hosts: Tawnya Bahr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr Lucy Allon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon Subscribe to our newsletter: https://straighttothesource.com.au/community Follow Straight To The Source: @straight_to_the_source Find out more about Straight To The Source: https://straighttothesource.com.au @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • March 18 · 43 min

    Chef Jerry Mai: Cooking Vietnamese Heritage Into Australia's Food Identity

    Chef Jerry Mai: Turning Up the Heat on Heritage If bold, punchy and unapologetic food is your preference, this episode delivers. Born in Vietnam, Chef Jerry Mai grew up surrounded by a mother’s love expressed through food. It was an upbringing in which food became more than something to cook; it evolved into identity, culture, and memory. Chef Jerry Mai did not simply inherit recipes. A new expression of those traditions continues to take shape. In this episode of Straight To The Source, Chef Jerry Mai joins Tawnya Bahr for a candid conversation about the realities of the hospitality industry, travel, raising a family, relationships and why the best stories sometimes emerge long after the kitchen closes. Now the Culinary Director at Roll’d, Jerry’s bringing bold Vietnamese street food to the national stage while remaining fiercely grounded in its origins and flavour. Jerry is funny, fearless and refreshingly honest. Just like the food. Listen now on your favourite podcast platform. This episode is proudly brought to you by UNOX Australia, leaders in smart oven innovation for commercial and residential kitchens. Learn more at www.unox.com Follow & Connect with Jerry Chefjerrymai rolld_vietnamese Connect with your hosts: Tawnya Bahr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr Lucy Allon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon Subscribe to our newsletter: https://straighttothesource.com.au/community Follow Straight To The Source: @straight_to_the_source Find out more about Straight To The Source: https://straighttothesource.com.au @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • March 11 · 54 min

    Pepe Saya: How 200 Litres of Leftover Cream Became Australia's Most Loved Butter

    What do you do when you’re left with 200 litres of cream? If you’re Pierre Issa, better known as Pepe Saya, you churn it into cultured butter. Pepe’s first batch back in 2009 was, in his own words, “dreadful”. But instead of walking away, he kept churning. Seventeen years later, Pepe Saya butter is served in top restaurants, stocked in premium retailers, flown business class on Qantas, and is now being produced with the Amish community in the United States. In this episode, Pepe talks about: How a glut of cream at Christmas started a cultured butter revolution Changing the cultured butter game in Australia How farmers’ markets help build the Pepe Saya brand The evolution from market stall to home and commercial kitchens Making a bold move into the United States A surprising partnership with Amish dairy farmers to produce butter for the US market Winning over chefs and building a loyal following Launching a new Australian milk brand This is a story about curiousity, stubbornness, and the power of building a global artisan brand built on craftsmanship, persistence and doing things properly from the ground up. Subscribe or follow for more interviews with industry leaders and changemakers. This episode is proudly brought to you by UNOX Australia, leaders in smart oven innovation for commercial and residential kitchens. Learn more at www.unox.com. Follow & Connect with Pepe Saya https://www.instagram.com/pepesaya https://www.instagram.com/pepesayausa https://www.instagram.com/mrspepesaya www.pepesaya.com.au and www.pepesaya.com Connect with your hosts: Tawnya Bahr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr Lucy Allon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon Subscribe to our newsletter: https://straighttothesource.com.au/community Follow Straight To The Source: @straight_to_the_source Find out more about Straight To The Source: https://straighttothesource.com.au @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  • March 5 · 39 min

    Monty Koludrovic: From LA Fine Dining to Australia's Most Anticipated Steakhouse

    After six transformative years cooking in Los Angeles, chef Monty Koludrovic has returned to Australia. In recently announced news, he will spearhead a highly anticipated new steakhouse at Crown Melbourne, celebrating the very best of the Australian meat industry, from provenance and producers to exceptional cuts and craftsmanship. Now back on home soil, he shares what it’s like adjusting to life down under again, and why he’s more curious than ever about discovering the incredible ingredients Australia has to offer. In this episode, Monty talks about: Opening venues during global uncertainty The resilience of the LA hospitality community Championing premium Australian produce in America What he missed most about home The fascinating world of catering events in Tinseltown. 🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform. Subscribe for more interviews with industry leaders and changemakers. This episode is proudly brought to you by UNOX Australia, leaders in smart oven innovation for commercial and residential kitchens. Learn more at www.unox.com Follow & Connect with Monty Koludrovic https://www.instagram.com/monty_koludrovic https://www.linkedin.com/in/monty-koludrovic-3858a773/ Connect with your hosts: Tawnya Bahr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr Lucy Allon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon Subscribe to our newsletter: https://straighttothesource.com.au/community Follow Straight To The Source: @straight_to_the_source Find out more about Straight To The Source: https://straighttothesource.com.au @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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