The Crackling - a food podcast.

He is one of the most exciting young talents on the culinary scene, and one of the humblest. This week Andy Wirya (Island Radio) talks family, old recipes, news recipes and taking the new age diner on a journey of joy. https://www.islandradio.sydney Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huck https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/ Follow Rob Locke (Executive Pr...

Newton is one of the most vibrant hospitality hubs in Sydney with just about every cuisine in earth on offer. But there is one restaurant, Bloodwood, that not only paved the way for elevated dining, but has stood the test of time and become a hub of the community too. Owner and chef Claire Van Vuuren joins us to share yarns from an incredible innings, with many more to come. https://bloodwoodnewto...

The Bentley Group is one of the most influential hospitality offerings of the last two decades downunder, with a throng of unique personalised restaurants. Although he shies away from the limelight, Group Executive Chef Aiden Stevens took us behind the scenes to share how he gets the best out of his team to keep customers coming back. https://www.bentleyrestaurantgroup.com.au/elevenbarrack Follow...

After years working one of the world’s great proponents of Thai, Annita Potter (Viand) decided to return to Australia and take diners on her own journey through Thai cuisine through a different lense. The result is a dining experience where the guests and the food are the show in equal measure. https://www.instagram.com/viand.club/?hl=en Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingp...

One of the country’s most influential chefs hung up the whites and donned a butcher’s apron and soon enough obtained a cult following. We catch up with former Tetsuya’s head chef and now LP’s Quality Meats maestro Luke Powell to hear his story, some tricks and tips on making the best charcuterie and what it takes to transition a career. https://lpsqualitymeats.com Follow The Crackling https://www....

It all started on the Balzanelli family homestead where traditions and smallgoods has been passed down the generations. Marco Balzanelli (Four Bees and Balzanelli Smallgoods) is at the helm of this extraordinary third-generation strong smallgoods specialist and joins us to share yarns of the family and the art of great charcuterie. https://www.instagram.com/balzanellismallgoods/ Follow The Crackli...

Pub restaurants have changed dramatically in the last decade or so, but it’s tricky to find the right balance between pub grub and an elevated dining offering. We catch up with Wayne Algar (The Inn, Ainslie) who is leading the team of on the first floor of one of Canberra’s best pubs. https://www.edgarsinn.com.au/theinn Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huc...

He left the public service and followed his love of food, and now Louis Couttoupes (Onzieme) has one of the most dynamic and exciting restaurants in Canberra. He joins us to share his gifted approach to cooking over fire and old school hospitality. https://www.onzieme.com.au/ Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huck https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/ Fol...

It all started when Eli Bailey (Dewsbury Pork) was collecting firewood from a neighbour who offered him some pigs. Now after years of hard work he is dedicated to preserving and promoting the Hampshire and Duroc breeds and their genetics within Australia. https://www.dewsburyspork.com.au/ Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huck https://www.instagram.com/huck...

He is one of the most talented young chefs in the country, but Mal Hanslow (Pilot and Such and Such) is also one of the most humble. He’s not only showing restraint beyond his years, he’s inspiring his young team to do special things in the nation’s capital. https://www.andsuchandsuch.com/ Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huck https://www.instagram.com/huc...

One of Australia’s most celebrated chefs, Martin Boetz (Shortgrain) has had pork at the centre of many of his creations in the kitchen. After years wowing Sydneysiders with Longrain, and putting on feasts to remember in the Hawksbury he’s now making his mark on the Brisbane landscape – and Brisbanites can’t get enough of him. https://www.shortgrain.com.au/ Follow The Crackling https://www.instagra...

After dabbling with smallgoods as a chef, Damon Porter (Saison Smallgoods) took a leap of faith and chanced his arm on a career detour as a charcutier. The shift has been nothing short of monumental, with his smallgoods considered some of the best in Australia. https://saisonsmallgoods.com.au/ Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huck https://www.instagram.com...

Renowned for his unwavering dedication to quality produce, Javier Cordina (Moda Restaurant) meticulously selects the freshest ingredients each morning, personally visiting local markets to ensure only the best finds its way onto his plates. His pork creations are no different, where he uses local pigs and best in class produce of the day to create something special. https://www.modarestaurant.com....

Cooking over fire is the most primal form of cookery, but it also demands instinct, awareness and a willingness to read the elements and produce accordingly. Ryan Carlson (Agnes) is leading the kitchen of one of Australia’s most exciting establishments where they have an exciting pork program that challenges the team to think differently when cooking pork over fire. https://anyday.com.au/agnes-ven...

The Schultz Family Farm has been operating since 1894, with the fifth generation currently growing up on the property and raising pigs. Vaughn Schultz is passionate about ethical husbandry and believes animals deserve to be treated with appreciation and respect. The animals have constant access to the outdoors; forest and pasture, to turn stones, dig in soil and wallow, to see the sky and express...

It’s not uncommon to see signature dishes in the spotlight, but rarely do we see a hero dish using an animals extremities so widely championed in the media as we have with today’s guest Brendan Fong (Hubert) who has put pig’s totters well and truly in the spotlight. https://www.instagram.com/brendan.fong/?hl=en Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huck https:/...

It’s the Deep in the Weeds podcast network Christmas episode and we’ve rounded up all our hosts - Dani Valent, Shanteh Wale, John Susman and Anthony Huckstep for a good old chin wag on the year that was, what were hoping for in 2024 and a few Christmas yarns too. Tune in! https://linktr.ee/DeepintheWeedsNetwork Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huck https:/...

Many people agree that bacon possess one of the most alluring aromas and eating experiences on the planet, but how do you make the world’s best? For Luke Jensen at Meat Cellar in Toowoomba Queensland, it’s all about decades on the tools and a collaborative work environment. https://meatcellar.com.au/ Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huck https://www.instag...

There are many pig breeds farmed in Australia, all delivering very different culinary experiences. For Shaun Blenkiron (Gumshire Pork) and his family, The Hampshire breed is central to their farm and business. https://www.instagram.com/gumshire_pork/?hl=en Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huck https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/ Follow Rob Locke (Execu...

Local, seasonal and sustainable food is central to many regional restaurants. And for Trevor Perkins (Hogget Kitchen) a nose to tail approach when it comes to meat and fish preparation is not only at the core of their local sustainability ethos, it’s just the tip of the I ever too. https://www.hogget.com.au/ Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huck https://ww...

In Australia the humble sandwich is part and parcel of many diets. But when it comes to sandwiches Italy’s panino and its many iterations are hard to beat. For Peter Mastro, the vision of his Panino bar began as a child. https://www.saluministi.com.au/ Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huck https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/ Follow Rob Locke (Executive...

Showcasing the culinary offerings from one’s heritage and presenting them in a modern context are a common feature of many restaurants in Australia. For chef Adrianne De Jesus Davo (Luna, Canberra), the chance to re-imagine food with complex umami flavours or fun twists is getting her recognised far and wide. https://lunabar.com.au Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast...

Growing up in a mixed family with different heritage and cultures is not uncommon to most people in Australia, but what impact does that have on a career and approach as a chef? For Adam D’Sylva (Decca and Boca Gelato) it’s about embracing the beauty of it all and nuancing it to create the best possible dining experience. https://www.instagram.com/adamdsylvachef/?hl=en Follow The Crackling https:/...

Born and raised for their entire lives in a stress-free, natural outdoor environment – Gooralie pigs are free to roam 24 hours a day and live their best lives. For farmer Charisse Ladner it’s an environment that also produces incredible pork too. https://www.gooraliefreerangepork.com.au Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huck https://www.instagram.com/huckst...

At Eco Valley Farm pigs are pasture raised in small groups and rotationally grazed in a combination of open grazing grass country and native forest bushland. Farmer Randal Breen believes this results in happy, healthy pigs that are free to express their inner piggyness. https://www.echovalley.com.au Follow The Crackling https://www.instagram.com/thecracklingpodcast/ Follow Huck https://www.instagr...