Deep in the Weeds - A Food Podcast with Anthony Huckstep

Today, we welcome a true visionary who has spent her life celebrating and sharing Indigenous Australian ingredients. With over 25 years of experience as a professional chef, Nornie Bero founded the Mabu Mabu brand, Tuckshop, and Big Esso. She is now a driving force in educating Australians on how to unlock the power of native ingredients in their kitchens. https://www.instagram.com/norniebero/?hl=...

For many chefs, cooking is a craft, a passion, or even a business, but for today's guest, it became a way to heal and reconnect with his roots. After a personal tragedy, Zach Green (The Storyteller Chef) turned to his Indigenous heritage and native ingredients of the Top End to create something truly special. https://www.instagram.com/thestorytellerchef/?hl=en SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLU...

Jake Sheedy is the driving force behind Sisu Wines in Tasmania’s Upper Coal River Valley. In 2020, he made the bold move to establish a dream from the ground up, embracing both the challenges and rewards of building a vineyard in one of Australia’s most exciting cool-climate regions. ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sisuwines/?hl=en⁠ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVEAWAYS AN...

A car accident, induced coma and over 20 operations almost derailed Timothy Cassimatis (Olympic Meats, Marrickville) dream of one day owning a restaurant that honoured his Greek heritage. But time, patience and family helped him find a way through adversity and now he runs one of the most popular venues in Sydney where the food of his family is front and centre. https://www.olympicmeats.shop SUBSC...

A true culinary force whose passion for food began with her Italian heritage. Emma D'Alessandro’s (Cognoscenti Food and Wine, Belgrave Dandenong Ranges) remarkable career included over 16 years at the iconic Donovan’s in St Kilda. Now, together with her husband Kevin, she’s embracing new creative outlets in regional Victoria where family and their restaurant help balance the scales of a rich life...

Ed Carr is a bit of an enigma, there is no one quite like him. Chief winemaker at the House of Arras, Ed has quite literally put the buzz into the Australian Sparkling wine scene. A pioneer of fine wine, I am thrilled to have Ed join me today. ⁠https://houseofarras.com.au⁠ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVEAWAYS AND BEHIND THE SCENES ⁠https://deepintheweeds.us6.list-man...

Today, we're talking with Zac Young, the visionary behind Canberra's only overnight café, Kita. A café open 6pm-6am and feeding shift-workers, party goers and families alike. We explore how his vision to create a welcoming space for the uncatered became a thriving, family-run business with a powerful community spirit. https://www.kitakafe.com.au SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES,...

Today, we are joined by Alexander Kelly, a restaurateur dedicated to revitalizing local institutions. As the co-owner of Baba's Place, he has a deep understanding of what makes a neighbourhood venue special. More recently he’s taken on the challenge of reopening Corner 75, preserving its legacy while infusing it with new life for the community. https://www.babasplace.com.au SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLE...

Dylan Grigg is a viticulturist and devoted guardian of the vine. Through his consultancy, Meristem Viticulture, and his own label, Vinya Vella, he has earned a reputation for excellence and deep respect for the land. His commitment was recently recognised with the McWilliam’s Excellence in Action Award presented at the Australian Wine Industry Awards. ⁠https://vinyavella.com⁠ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS...

What happens when a fine dining chef discovers a new passion? Chef Tim Greaves shifted his focus from exclusive kitchens to a mission of sustainability, embracing practices like foraging and fermentation. He joins us to discuss how he helps chefs create a more mindful food system by teaching them how to do more with less. https://finefoodaustralia.com.au/speaker/tim-greaves/ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSL...

From Edinburgh to Spain and now to the heart of South Australia, our guest today is a chef whose culinary path is as rich and flavourful as his cooking. He's known for his honest, unpretentious style and his passion for local produce. Today, the head chef of Longplay Bistro, Calum Horn joins us to take us on his culinary journey. https://www.nearmint.com.au/longplay-bistro SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLET...

Andrew Caillard MW is the embodiment of a true wine professional. He carries himself with grace, humility, and honour, and holds a global reputation as one of the most dedicated wine scholars of our time. Master of Wine, author of The Australian Ark, co-founder of Langton’s Fine Wine Auctions, and associate producer of acclaimed wine films such as Red Obsession and Blind Ambition. Andrew is a resp...

How do you create a venue that fulfils your dreams of a restaurant and acts as a kind of love letter to diners. A venue that become a part of the community and part of people’s lives and puts your sense of hospitality on display. Today, we're joined by Jess Gregory, co-owner of Thermidor Oyster Bar & Brasserie, who together with her partner Josh has done just that. https://thermidor.com.au SUBSCRI...

Homer Rogue Taverna is a gritty, raw Athenian eatery that's challenging Sydney's fine-dining scene with its laidback, casual approach. Today’s guest, co-founder Harry Kapoulas, has put his heritage front and centre with this new venue, which aims to be a boundary-pushing mix of the past and present. https://www.homerroguetaverna.com.au SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVE...

Christopher Carpenter is the winemaker at Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard. Based in California, he is also the talent behind the wines of Cardinale, Lokoya, La Jota, and Mt. Brave. Safe to say, he’s a busy man—and I’m thrilled he’s carved out some time to join me while he’s in Australia today. ⁠https://www.hickinbothamwines.com.au/?preferred_domain=AU⁠ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ART...

It’s been four years since we caught up with Tom Sarafian who took us on a wild and colourful journey through his family’s culinary history and his incredible career. Back then he hinted at a special project, and now Zareh, his new restaurant is here. https://www.zareh.com.au SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVEAWAYS AND BEHIND THE SCENES ⁠https://deepintheweeds.us6.list-...

Corrina Wright is the winemaker and the face of Oliver’s Taranga in McLaren Vale. She is a sixth-generation farmer whose passion infuses everything she touches. Immensely respected and a true voice for change, I’m thrilled to have finally bribed, coerced, and pleaded my way into getting her on the show. ⁠https://www.oliverstaranga.com/shop/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21347313269&gbraid=0AAAAA9zGJ...

Running your own hospitality business has its challenges, but what’s it like peering through the window and finding the right solutions to help other businesses? With passion and an extreme sense of self in most hospitality offerings, is it hard to instil change in a venue to help it prosper, and prepare for a possible sudden exit? Culinary director turned Hospitality consultant Olivia Casson join...

Many establishments explore the intersection of tradition and innovation in the culinary world. But how about this approach while trying to straddle two cuisines too? Today, we're diving into the celebration of Japanese and Korean cuisines brought together over the fiery hibachi grill in the Nation’s capital by chef Luffy Koh at new restaurant Azuma Den. https://azumaden.com.au SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NE...

Catering for large events and scaled business conferences can have its challenges, but how do you ensure sustainability is at the core of everything too. Reducing landfill, selective sourcing and a means to cut emissions all while pleasing everyone at the event too. Henri Turra the owner of Radish Events, a B Corp-certified leader in sustainable catering, joins us to discuss a sustainable future f...

Can you run a restaurant based on one dish. Not a signature dish amongst many others, but one dish? Well today’s guest has helped create just that, all the while looking after one of the world’s best restaurants with one of the country’s largest menus. Santiago Aristizabal, executive chef of Rockpool Bar and Grill Sydney, and new restaurant 24 York to talk about his new 200-seater with only one ma...

From Melbourne's vibrant culinary scene to the Michelin-starred kitchens of London, Nick McGonigal (The Dining Room at Lancemore Lindenderry) has honed his craft at some of the world's most prestigious establishments. Now, back on the Mornington Peninsula, he's embracing new challenges and a new way of life. https://www.instagram.com/thediningroomredhill/?hl=en SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCL...

Alex Beckett is the Head Winemaker at Marnong Estate, located in the Sunbury region of Victoria’s Port Phillip Zone. After making waves in the Hunter Valley, Alex is now focused on cool-climate winemaking and championing the region’s potential. ⁠https://marnongestate.com.au⁠ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgment of Traditional Custodians 00:28 Alex Beckett's Journey into Winemaking 02:55...

From sleeping on the floor of their first coffee shop to now owning three venues, Ben and Emily Calabro (Rosa, Quick Brown Fox and District Eatery) have faced the highs and lows of the hospitality world together as siblings. Now they’ve made a return to their roots. https://www.instagram.com/rosa__aus/?hl=en SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVEAWAYS AND BEHIND THE SCENES...

Christopher Keys is the winemaker at Gibbston Valley Winery, located just east of Queenstown in the magnificent Central Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. With close to two decades of experience, I'm delighted to have Christopher join me to share more of his story. ⁠https://www.gibbstonvalley.com/au/⁠ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgments 03:00 Christopher's Journey into Winemak...