Deep in the Weeds - A Food Podcast with Anthony Huckstep

After cutting his teeth and learning solid technique in Canada, Russia and London it wasn’t until he landed in Australia that Konstantin Putkin (The Good Shed, Ballarat) discovered the profound relationship between produce and cooking. Inspired by a throng of Australian venues that places emphasis on simplicity in cookery while using the best produce, he’s now running one of the largest regional v...

Sarah Andrew operates in almost all important educational and scholarly sectors within the Australian drinks scene. She is a huge contributor to academic learning in this country, and I am thrilled to have her on the podcast to discuss more. https://www.instagram.com/sarahandrewwine/?hl=en Follow Over a Glass https://www.instagram.com/overtheglasspod  Host Shanteh Wale https://www.instagram.com/sh...

Growing up in an Italian Australian family, Dave Dellai (il Bacaro) was surrounded by amazing food and festivities. It lead to a yearning to live a life in food, and after finding his way in commercial kitchens he became part of the team of one of Melbourne’s institutions. Now he’s become a key component to its longevity. https://www.instagram.com/daviddellai/?hl=en Follow Deep In The Weeds on Ins...

Wiradjuri woman Tara Croker is the founder of Yaala Sparkling, a purpose-driven flavoured mineral water company that uses native ingredients to create healthy and delicious drinks. Ethics are at the heart of the business: Tara aims to change the game when it comes to the economic pathways of indigenous foods and as Yaala grows, she hopes to create employment for Indigenous people too. https://yaal...

\While studying at university Jake Ahrens (Nomad Sydney) needed to earn some money, so his father offered a deal - cook dinner three nights a week and he’d pay him for it. Soon enough a love of cooking took over and he found himself veering from university and into a commercial kitchen. After working is way through some of Sydney’s best establishments, he’s now leading one of the largest kitchen t...

Rhys Julian is the General Manager of Strange Nature Distilling, based in New Zealand. Their signature gin is rewired in wonderful ways. Today Rhys joins me to uncover if Strange Nature is in fact by name, nature or flavour. https://www.strangenaturegin.com/ Follow Over a Glass https://www.instagram.com/overtheglasspod  Host Shanteh Wale https://www.instagram.com/shantehwale/?hl=en Executive Produ...

Growing up in a family that placed great importance on good food, James Spreadbury began a fascination with wine and service from a young age. Driven by a deep desire to learn, perfect his service skills and expand his world knowledge of wine, he ventured to Europe, where he eventually earned the role of Service Director at the world renowned restaurant, noma. After returning to South Australia to...

After plying her craft in some of London’s and Sydney’s most influential establishment Eilish Maloney (The What if Society) knew she was ready to open her own establishment. Lured by the connection to producers in the region she grew up in, she began to build a business that connects producers to consumers, focuses on zero waste, and with a goal to not only change a few lives, but take on the worl...

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:/...

Lee Tran Lam is a freelance journalist. She has a fascinating curiosity about the culinary world and goes about documenting it with wild enthusiasm. She has written for every worthy food publication in Australia is also the host of many a podcast. https://www.instagram.com/leetranlam/?hl=en Follow Over a Glass https://www.instagram.com/overtheglasspod  Host Shanteh Wale https://www.instagram.com/s...

After growing up in a hospital family it seemed only natural that Joshua Mason (Quoi Dining, Ciel wines) would venture into the kitchen for a career in food. After cutting his teeth in some well-known venues the likes of Atelier Crenn, Mason saw an opportunity to bring a finer dining establishment to the Hills District of Sydney. Now a few years later he has the only hatter restaurant in the distr...

Tossing up a career as an aeronautical engineering or cooking Nabila Kadri (Supernormal) chose the latter and flew to Australia to immerse herself in the hospitality scene. Gradually she worked her way through some of the most influential restaurants of the modern era. Then she got pregnant and in Italy thought her career could be in jeopardy while juggling parenthood, but instead she discovered a...

Pierre Toumanoff is one half of the duo that created Stay n Sip, with his partner Mercedes Mendoza they have re-wired how you enjoy your wine experience in the Hunter Valley. https://staynsip.com.au/ Follow Over a Glass https://www.instagram.com/overtheglasspod  Host Shanteh Wale https://www.instagram.com/shantehwale/?hl=en Executive Producer Rob Locke https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Execu...

Last time we caught up with Willa Arantz (Racine Bakery) we talked of the incredible impact her regional business has had on the dining landscape and the adversity and little triumphs of negating covid. But Willa has had much greater adversities since then, diagnosed with a rare brain tumour. https://www.racinerestaurant.com.au/ Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram    https://www.instagram.com/de...

Anyone who’s making 7 different types of chocolate gelato deserves our attention. Debb Makin is a chocolate lover, craftsperson, educator and determined small business owner at Ratio Cocoa Roasters, expanding ideas of how to appreciate and enjoy chocolate. Along the way, she’s also empowering consumers: once people understand the issues embedded in this complicated and often opaque international i...

While at university Pasan Wijesena (Earl’s Duke Joint, Jacoby’s Tiki Bar, The Trocadero Room, The Magpie of Enmore) picked up part time bar work to get by. He soon became enamored with the world of cocktails and small bars and began to dream of bringing the small bar experience to Sydney’s inner west. Over a decade later and he has four of the most influential small bars in Sydney’s suburbs, all w...

Anthony Pieri has poured his fair share of unicorn wines. As a sommelier that has worked in some of Australia’s best restaurants. He is a deep thinking and even better articulator of all things wine, I am thrilled to have him on the podcast https://www.instagram.com/drinkingwithmagellan/ Follow Over a Glass https://www.instagram.com/overtheglasspod  Host Shanteh Wale https://www.instagram.com/shan...

After a career in food working for others, Hayley Hammond (Relish Café, Toowoomba) dreamt of opening her own café – a place where locals felt at home, and it served as a hub of the community. When an opportunity arose out of covid she leapt at the chance, and although its been a bumpy road, she’s got one of the busiest regional cafes in Queensland. https://www.instagram.com/relish_highfields_/ Fol...

I remember when Josh’s Rainbow Eggs first arrived at my local supermarket 14 or 15 years ago. The brightly coloured box promised free range eggs and the packaging had a photo of a young boy’s face on it - how great to be able to support a kid in his ethical business, I thought. Josh Murray was nine then and he’s 23 now. What is the backstory to this boy with a bunch of happy chickens? https://www....

Justin James (Restaurant Botanic) cut his teeth in classic American bar and grills to get by but soon discovered in insatiable appetite for hospitality. Driven to learn from the best he made it into the kitchens of Eleven Maddison Park, Blue Hill at Stone Barns and all the way to executive chef of Australia’s own Vue de Monde. Now he’s leading the team of one of Australia’s most fascinating restau...

Jacob Stein is chief winemaker at Robert Stein Winery in Mudgee. He stands as the third generation of one of Australia’s pioneering winemaking families. He joins me today to shed some light on the iconic estate. https://www.robertstein.com.au/ Follow Over a Glass https://www.instagram.com/overtheglasspod  Host Shanteh Wale https://www.instagram.com/shantehwale/?hl=en Executive Producer Rob Locke h...

After building his career in a throng of Sydney institutions such as Rockpool, Fratelli Fresh and Café Nice, Dave Young (Temporada) decided to uproots, and move to Canberra to be closer to family. He landed a gig at one of the Capital’s most influential establishments Aubergine before a chance to run and own one of the new wave restaurants presented itself. On the eve of closing after a decade of...

Growing up in a family that worked in the hospitalty sector, Lee Carroll (Queen Margherita) was destined to be a Hospo lifer. But after two decades on the pans, it wasn’t until he took a trip to Naples that his true destiny unfolded - Neapolitan pizza. He’s now recognized as not only one of Australia’s best, but in the top fifty of the Asia pacific region too. https://www.qmos.com.au/ Follow Deep...

Kate Goodman is one talented operator. Named Winemaker of the year twice over, her love for the grape is demonstrated in her creativity, dedication, and sheer mastery in winemaking at Penley Estate Coonawarra. https://penley.com.au/ Follow Over a Glass https://www.instagram.com/overtheglasspod  Host Shanteh Wale https://www.instagram.com/shantehwale/?hl=en Executive Producer Rob Locke https://www....

Joanna Marsh hit the Australian wine scene running and she hasn’t stopped since, in her slip stream is a wealth of awards and accomplishments. Her progressive work under her own brand Billy Button Wines in the Alpine Valleys of Victoria has set tongues wagging. Let’s find out why. https://www.billybuttonwines.com.au/ Follow Over a Glass https://www.instagram.com/overtheglasspod  Host Shanteh Wale...