Deep in the Weeds - A Food Podcast with Anthony Huckstep

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

Although Covid had an impact on his two popular pubs in Newcastle Luke Tilse (The Happy Wombat, The Young Street Hotel) has seen nothing like the current economic downturn. Although he’d like some solutions from government, he’s putting his best foot forward with some innovative ways to increase average spend, get more bums on seats and become a real hub of the community. https://www.thehappywomba...

Picardy Wines has been producing world class, fine wines at their estate in Pemberton, Western Australia since 1996. But their story hails back much further than that with William & Sandra Pannell pioneers of the Margaret River region. Today their son Dan Pannell joins me to tell the story of Picardy. https://www.picardy.com.au/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVEAWAYS A...

While cooking on a whim in Hong Kong, chef Jamie Musgrave (Restaurant Botanic, Adelaide) decided it was time to return to Australia for a new challenge. An opportunity to join the team at one of Australia’s most progressive fine diners soon saw him cooking outside his comfort zone and eager to learn more. The commitment has lead to a rising of the ranks, and now he’s leading the team in a new dire...

He only planned a short 6-month working holiday in Australia but over the last decade or so Fabio Dore (Sella Sardinian Wine Bar and Restaurant) has help create some of Sydney’s most influential Italian restaurants. Now he’s putting everything he has into an homage to his homeland Sardinia and putting old school hospitality front and centre. https://www.instagram.com/fabiodorevino/ SUBSCRIBE TO OU...

Mountain Yuzu is located on the foothills of the Australian Alps in North East Victoria. It is here where Jane Casey and her husband Brian grow an array of unique cold climate culinary citrus including Yuzu, Sudachi, Bergamot and Chinotto. https://mountainyuzu.com.au/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVEAWAYS AND BEHIND THE SCENES https://deepintheweeds.us6.list-manage.co...

Shaun Presland was destined for a career as a food and beverage manager before a snap decision to go to Japan changed everything. Italian set him on a path to learn Japanese cookery, and help steer the ship of some of Australia’s most popular Japanese restaurants. Now he’s back in Queensland doing something a bit different. https://www.instagram.com/chefshaunpresland/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER F...

Teaching himself to cook at a young age, Zac Ng (Restaurant Ka) knew he wanted to have a career in food. After leaving Hong Kong for Australia to study at university, he took the leap and opportunity to explore the Australian hospitality industry. After years working in some of Sydney’s most influential establishments he has opened his own 12-seater restaurant where he is exploring his heritage in...

After decades away from the commercial kitchen, and in the limelight on our TV screens, Ed Halmagyi (Avners) has been lured back into hospitality with his new bakery Avners. A venue that leans into his heritage as much as it fosters good will in the local community. After so long away from the day to day at the coalface, what’s it like being in the industry again? https://www.instagram.com/fastedm...

After cutting his teeth in hospitality in one of Hobart’s busiest and longest-running kitchens, Da Angelo’s, Christian Ryan headed to Melbourne’s Taxi Dining Room before a move to London to join the team at Gordon Ramsay Group who opened the prestigious Savoy Grill within the Savoy Hotel. On his return to Tasmania, he discovered a reinvigorated Hobart and soon joined the throng of exciting new ven...

Viv Thompson is the fourth-generation vigneron at Best’s Wines Great Western. With over 60 consecutive vintage experiences, Viv is considered by many as an industry icon. He joins me today for a glimpse into his world and I am truly honoured to have him on the podcast. https://www.bestswines.com/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVEAWAYS AND BEHIND THE SCENES https://deep...

Given the challenges in turning a profit in hospitality, its always astounding to hear of venues that raise the bat on a decade of trade and beyond. Spice Temple hidden beneath the legendary Rockpool Bar and Grill has been dishing up an array of Chinese feasts for 15 years now. Andy Evans is the executive chef of Spice Temple in Sydney joins us to share a few yarns over the years. https://spicetem...

After growing up in the world of hospitality in a family that owned a restaurant in Germany, Giulia Treuner (Giuls and Harry’s by Giuls) decided a career in food was not for her, but after needing to find a job in Australia it re-shaped her thinking. Landing in a restaurant group that reminded her of home and gave her a sense of family she rose the ranks and embraced a life in food. It’s led to st...

Michelle Powell (Mishy’s) never envisaged having her own restaurant but after the success of her jar sauces and condiments created during Covid she needed to find her own commercial kitchen space. Landing on a site in a back street of Sydney’s Surry Hills, the opportunity to do something special for the local community soon revealed itself. Now, after a lot of hard toil she’s created a restaurant...

Wil Martin serves as the Group Sommelier at Stokehouse Precinct. As a leader in hospitality, Wil oversees the beverage program and a team of sommeliers to deliver exceptional restaurant experiences. Today, he joins me to tell me what it's like to be the one who brings the drinks. https://stokehouse.com.au/melbourne/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVEAWAYS AND BEHIND THE...

Rob Diletti is the winemaker at Castle Rock Estate in the Great Southern subregion of Porongurup, Western Australia. Rob has been making fine wines for many years and doing so in style. I am looking forward to hearing more about this hidden gem of the West Coast. https://castlerockestate.com.au/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVEAWAYS AND BEHIND THE SCENES https://deepi...

Growing up in a commune in a small regional town Jed Gerrard (Wills Domain Winery, White Horse) learnt about growing food and making things from scratch at a young age. Italian would eventually lead to a career in food, and after climbing the ranks and leading big brigades he yearned to have a greater connection to the land like in his youth. Now he’s leading the brigades of two very different and...

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

Growing up in the Fleurieu Peninsula, Thomas Campbell (Thelma) was surrounded by food and produce, a lot of which stemmed from Greek Cypriot grandparents. After asking for a job at Adelaide’s Africola, the commercial food world opened before his eyes and soon enough he climbed the ranks in some of Britain’s and South Australia’s most forward-thinking venues. Now he’s on the verge of opening his ow...

Dan Redman is the fourth-generation winemaker at Redman Wines. Redman stands as one of the founding estates of Coonawarra, boasting a rich history interwoven throughout the region.  Dan is here to share how Redman has endured the test of time. https://www.redman.com.au/ Follow Over a Glass https://www.instagram.com/overtheglasspod  Host Shanteh Wale https://www.instagram.com/shantehwale/?hl=en Exe...

Annelies Nijskens operates Madocke Beer Brewing Company with her husband Jimmy in the Gold Coast of Queensland. The tale of this Independent small brewery’s creation is anything but ordinary, it’s a story of yearning, passion and resilience. https://www.madocke.com.au/ Follow Over a Glass https://www.instagram.com/overtheglasspod  Host Shanteh Wale https://www.instagram.com/shantehwale/?hl=en Exec...

Growing up in Tuscany, Italy Alessandro Tintori (Sosta) learnt that food was the foundation of family. He grew up eating the spoils of the family farm and it spurred him to carve a career as a chef. He cut his teeth in Italy and London before finding a home in Melbourne where he has been an active part of the Italian food scene for over a decade. Now he has his own restaurant and he’s treating the...

After convincing his parents that he didn’t want to be a doctor and he could carve out a great career in food, Ronith Arlikatti (Hopper Joint) set his sites on Melbourne eager to immerse himself in all things food. He set himself a goal to work at different venues to acquire new skills, both in technique and in managing a kitchen and it led him to some of Victoria’s best. Now he’s leading the brig...

Justin Jarrett has had close to 30 years with his feet firmly embedded in the ground. A pioneer of organic viticulture, he and his wife Pip have moved mountains to farm sustainably. Their sanctuary is See Saw wines in Orange of NSW. https://seesawwine.com/ Follow Over a Glass https://www.instagram.com/overtheglasspod  Host Shanteh Wale https://www.instagram.com/shantehwale/?hl=en Executive Produce...

After traversing the globe running the kitchens of some of the most luxurious hotels and resorts, to cooking for The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and many more VIPs, Shannon Batten started a young family and decided Brisbane was the best place for kids to grow up. He ventured to the Queenies city of the north and is now running two hotels and making a name for himself in the process. https://www.ma...