Straight To The Source

 In the final instalment of The Inspired Series with Luke Mangan, recorded live at Foodservice Australia 2025 and presented by Straight To The Source, chef and restaurateur Ross Lusted pulls back the curtain on the realities of the modern food industry. From reinventing his career path to leading hotel kitchens, Ross shares insights on leadership, innovation, resilience, staffing, and what it...

 In Part Two of The Inspired Series , recorded live at Foodservice Australia 2025 and presented by Straight To The Source, chef and restaurateur Dan Hunter of acclaimed restaurant Brae joins Luke Mangan for a deep and honest conversation on the realities of farming, the evolution of modern Australian cuisine, and the true purpose of hospitality. With clarity and conviction, Dan Hunter shares...

Enjoy the highlights of our vibrant stage at Discover the Source in Melbourne. In this engaging conversation, Luke Mangan chats to chef Hugh Allen, who shares his journey from a young apprentice to launching his own restaurant,  Yiaga . He discusses the importance of international experience, the challenges of the restaurant industry, and offers valuable advice for aspiring chefs. The convers...

Have you ever wondered what the Sydney Royal Fine Food competition is about, who gets involved, and why?  Tawnya Bahr catches up with Lyndey Milan OAM, Councillor of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, to find out what goes on behind the scenes of the iconic Sydney Royal Fine Food competitions. Lyndey has long been involved and has played a crucial role in this important agricultural compe...

Join Lucy Allon for an inspiring conversation with Nick Cozens, Head of Beverage at NON—a pioneering Australian brand redefining the alcohol-free drinks category. Nick shares the mission driving NON's unique, zero-alcohol alternatives to wine, the creative journey behind their globally acclaimed range, collaborations with top chefs like Matt Stone, and NON’s rapid international growth. Together, t...

Join Lucy Allon in this special edition episode as she sits down with Chris Bolton, the newly crowned 2024 delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards ‘Producer of the Year’. Chris, a third-generation fisherman from Kurrimine Beach in Far North Queensland, has dedicated his life to sustainable, wild-catch fishing alongside his partner Kim. In this episode, Chris shares his journey of carving out a nic...

In the latest episode of Food, Views and Big Ideas, Lucy Allon catches up with our good friend, Chef Sam Burke. From his early days in the kitchen to his current role as Product & Business Development Manager and Corporate Chef for Meat and Livestock Australia, Sam’s journey is one of passion, vision, and relentless dedication. We explore how he’s helping to shape the future of Australian red...

Join us as we unveil the program for The Source Kitchen at Fine Food Australia! From September 2nd to 5th at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, this collaboration between Fine Food Australia, Global Victoria, and Straight to the Source promises exciting sessions for all food industry professionals. Explore 12 unique sessions covering topics from plant-based innovation and sustainable...

Join Tawnya Bahr as she sits down with Tom Stefanovic from Mandolé Orchard to uncover the inspiring journey behind this premium almond brand nestled in the heart of the Riverina. Tom shares his incredible transition from bustling city life to the serene, yet demanding, rural landscape. Discover how his passion for sustainable farming and commitment to quality have shaped Mandolé Orchard into a ren...

Join Tawnya Bahr as she delves into the inspiring journey of Dessert Masters star and Executive Pastry Chef, Kay-Lene Tan. From experiencing a career plateau to undergoing a transformative quarter-life crisis at 25, Kay-Lene shares her personal story and passion for food, which ultimately led her to pursue a career in the culinary industry. Discover Kay-Lene's path of resilience, passion, and culi...

Join host Tawnya Bahr as she sits down with Gerry Maher, the General Manager of Culinary Operations at the Australian Turf Club. In this episode, Gerry shares his lifelong passion for cooking, sparked by his grandmother's baking and his father's adventurous palate. Dive into the world of high-stakes culinary management as he discusses overseeing five unique venues: Royal Randwick, Rosehill Gardens...

Join Lucy Allon as she sits down with David Murphy from Lyre's Non-Alcoholic Spirit Co., the world’s most awarded non-alcoholic spirit company. From humble beginnings in Australia, Lyre's has revolutionised the drinks industry by creating non-alcoholic versions of the world’s most popular cocktails, closely mirroring the original premium spirits. Whether you’re a cocktail enthusiast, a spirit’s co...

Come and join Tawnya Bahr as she sits down for a heart-to-heart with her friend Westerly Isbaih, a passionate olive oil & table olive expert, and long time advocate for the Australian olive industry. Through their engaging chat, they discuss Westerly's unique pathway to the world of food, and unravel the diverse cultural odyssey that led to her love of the ancient and noble olive tree. In this...

Join Tawnya Bahr as she sits down with David Beak, the driving force behind Australia's leading manufacturer of premium ready-made meals, Beak & Johnston. Discover how David's meat industry heritage coupled with his passion for great-tasting food, shaped the success of his innovative company manufacturing value-added meal solutions.   This episode is proudly supported by Fine Food Australia, t...

Join hosts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon as they dive deep into the heart of ICC Sydney's culinary ethos. In this dynamic episode, they sit down with Executive Chef Rakesh Pillai and Sommelier William Wilson to explore how ICC Sydney prioritises 'respect' in all facets of their food and beverage supply chain. Discover the foundation of their ground breaking 'Feeding Your Performance' program and the...

In this episode host Tawnya Bahr engages in a candid conversation with seasoned entrepreneur Darren Gersbach, who has over three decades of experience in starting & growing food distribution companies. From sourdough to Manna from Heaven, to Gershgoods and his latest venture, The Little Coffee Company, Darren shares insights into the dynamic nature and intricacies of the supply chain.  Explore...

Join Lucy Allon for a deep dive into the new frontiers of kelp farming in Australia with marine scientist and owner of Sea Health Products, Jo Lane. Based on the South Coast of NSW, Jo hand-harvests 100% Australian kelp, crafting a range of culinary products including Golden Kelp Granules & Powder and Furikake, as well as body-care treats like Blue Eucalyptus Kelp Soap. With a background in ma...

Join us as Tawnya Bahr chats to Chef Restaurateur Colin Barker. From his humble roots as a Hawkesbury country boy, Colin's trajectory has taken him from the days of old-school kitchen regimes, to the pinnacle of culinary excellence in his new home, Lot 101.  In this episode, we explore Colin's expansive career to date working at prestigious establishments such as Banc, The Ledbury in London, and B...

In this episode of Food Views & Big Ideas join Lucy Allon as she delves into the awe-inspiring journey of Serena Zipf, co-owner of Rocky Point Aquaculture in Queensland, Australia. After their $1.5 million prawn farming business was decimated by a deadly disease, the family took an audacious risk by farming new fish species. Tune in to hear about their unwavering determination and triumphant c...

In this episode of "Food, Views and Big Ideas" host, Tawnya Bahr, sits down with chef turned social media influencer, Issac Martin, and renowned chef, Adam Moore, as they delve into the ever-evolving – and not always pleasant – landscape of social media in hospitality. Get ready to uncover the highs and lows of using digital platforms to showcase your brand and personal life. Tune in as Issac and...

In this episode host Tawnya Bahr delves into the past, present and future of two dynamic leaders in the food industry, managing director of UNOX Australia, Wayne Viles, and the company's sales manager, Sean Cunnington.  UNOX Australia is synonymous with culinary innovation, and constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the kitchen. From their state-of-the-art cooking equipment to the...

Chef Adam Moore joins us on episode 34 this week to share his insights on Australian food culture and embracing our indigenous ingredients. He also spoke about the important role seasoned chefs play in mentoring the young and helping to create lasting memories for people. * Adam and Tawnya discuss mental health in this episode. If you are triggered by anything you hear you can contact Lifeline on...

In this episode we chat to Will Barton, CEO of Gundagai Meat Processor, one of Australia's most innovative and progressive lamb processors, about the company’s exciting new brand, Gundagai Lamb. Will shares insights on the challenges and opportunities of launching a new brand in the highly competitive meat industry and tells how his company has managed to differentiate themselves from their compet...

World Seafood Champion, World Food Champion, Mentor Extraordinaire and National Business Development Manager for Squizify John Mcfadden joins Tawnya Bahr to discuss opportunities for growth beyond the kitchen and where a chef’s career, a lot of dedication, and commitment can take you. Follow John on social media at  Instagram FaceBook LinkedIn Squizify You can find out more about Chef Of The Year...

Australian Food & Wine icon Lyndey Milan joins Tawnya Bahr in an unmissable conversation about what it means to connect at the table, turning your interest into a successful career and following your culinary passion. Follow Lyndey on social media at: Instagram Facebook Find out more about her Culinary Tours here   And her recipes here Or check out her website To find out more about Straight T...