Suncoast Fresh Prodcast

Did you know salt is the world's oldest seasoning? Many of the world's most distinguished chefs recognise the taste advantage of sea salt over other salts. But how is this magic condiment mined.   We've got James White , the General Manager of Olsson's Salt , on the poddy to spill all the salty secrets! With a love for good-quality ingredients, sustainable food and regenerative agriculture, James...

Cooking magpies! Wait what? You'll have to listen in. From working scrubbing dishes at age 12 to winning hundreds of thousands of dollars at global cooking competitions, John McFadden's cheffing journey is nothing short of legendary.   Throughout his epic 35+ year career, he has racked up some pretty impressive titles like World Food Champion in 2022 and World Seafood Champion in 2022 and 2023. Oh...

Robert Pekin puts the culture into agriculture. The former dairy farmer has lived quite a life— from living wild like Bear Grylls in the Tasmanian bush to working as an aircraft maintenance engineer—he's seen it all. But his journey eventually led him back to his farming roots, with a mission to flip the script on industrial agriculture by promoting it as dignifying life and respecting the landsca...

Guess who's back? It's the one and only Raymond Capaldi from @ raycapaldiconsultancy , joining us for the 7th and final instalment of our @ tasteportdouglas Speed Dating Series! Fun fact: Ray once worked at the Sheraton Mirage in Port Douglas, where the festival is held every year. He returned this year as an ambassador, marking his 8th year at this incredible event!   In this episode, Ray touches...

We've hit the big 100! Who better to celebrate with than the remarkable @ michael.lambie for part 6 of our @ tasteportdouglas Speed Dating Series.   Michael's culinary journey is nothing short of epic. From being a head chef under Marco Pierre White to bringing his talents Down Under, he's turned England’s loss into Melbourne’s gain. He’s the mastermind behind iconic spots like @ taxikitchenmelbou...

Culinary mastermind @ chefiancurley joins us for Part 5 of our @ tasteportdouglas Speed Dating Series.   Ian co-owns the kitchens at @ frenchsaloon and @ kirkswinebar in Melbourne. Ian’s expertise extends beyond the kitchen—he also lends his talents and knowledge to @ ovolohotels and @ melbourneracingclub through his consultancy work. You might have also seen him on TV shows like Conviction Kitche...

Dear friend of the Podcast, @ benwilliamsonisgood , is back for Part 4 of our Speed Dating Series from @ tasteportdouglas . The real question is, what hasn't Ben been up to? He’s the co-owner of @ anyday.hospitality , which owns a string of hotspots including @ agnes.restaurant , @ agnes.bakery.brisbane , @ bianca.restaurant , @ same.same.restaurant , @ honto.restaurant and @ los.landofsmiles .  ...

One of Australia's favourite French chefs and TV royalty @ manufeildelofficial joins us for Part 3 of our Speed Dating Series from @ tasteportdouglas .   Manu has been lighting up our screens since 2006, starring in favourites like @ mykitchenrules , Australia's Got Talent , @ plateoforiginau , Boys Weekend, @ readysteadycookau , Dancing With The Stars and @ sasaustralia . But he doesn’t stop ther...

Join us for another incredible chat from @ tasteportdouglas with globally recognised Chef @ markbest , renowned for his consultancy work with @ thecalilehotel and his appearances on @ masterchefau and @ netflix The Final Table.   Mark is like a living encyclopedia, brimming with inspiration, knowledge, and insight. His wise and warm energy is truly captivating.   In this episode, he takes us behin...

Colin Fassnidge (@colinfassnidge) – what a breath of fresh air! We meet some incredible people within the hospitality industry through our Prodcast, and Colin is no exception. We recently spent a few days at @tasteportdouglas and managed to catch up with the man himself. With a career spanning over two decades, Colin is renowned for his bold and refined approach to modern pub dining and nose-to-ta...

We had an incredible time chatting with the legendary Peter Wright (@globalhospitalitygroup). With over 35 years in the hospitality industry, Peter is a true powerhouse, known for his unparalleled expertise in large-scale event management and global food service. He shared fascinating insights into the world of Olympic and major event catering, reflecting on his experiences from the Melbourne Cric...

We loved this raw and honest chat with Scottish-born chef Raymond Capaldi (@ raycapaldiconsultancy ). He shared the highs and lows of life in the kitchen, opening up about his challenging youth and recounting some intense stories of the old-school kitchen culture in Scotland, complete with a few knocks to the head and car park scraps.   Ray’s impressive career includes prestigious spots like the G...

We have 'a pretty epic' guest on the Prodcast (if you know you know)! Legend Darren Robertson (@ darrenrobertsonfood ) took a break from surfing and cooking up a storm on insta to join us for episode #92.     Born and bred in the UK, Daz moved to Australia to work for Tetsuya Wakuda at the ripe age of 24. He is extremely passionate about sustainability and ethically farmed produce, which is part o...

Ciao Amici (hello friends)! This ep will leave you inspired and hungry for more! We have an incredible guest joining us for episode 91. Daniela Maiorano lives and breathes Italian food; it's literally in her DNA! Daniela is a fourth-generation chef from Abruzzo, Italy and grew up helping her Nonna roll gnocchi and helping her Dad in the family restaurant.   Food is her love language, and she's on...

Oui Oui! We're going global. Welcome back to episode 90 of the Prodcast featuring Grenville Snowdon, one of the owners of The French Garden . The French Garden is a supplier of premium fresh produce in France and Italy, based in London's New Covent Garden Market and Paris's Rungis Market. So, if you've eaten at any of Britain's leading restaurants in the past 25 years, chances are you've enjoyed i...

We were lucky to have Thai cuisine guru and owner of Short Grain (@ shortgrainbymb ) Martin Boetz (@ martinboetz ) in the hot seat for this weeks Prodcast ep! Marty's inventive Asian dishes and iconic restaurants Longrain in Melbourne and Sydney receive acclaim from diners worldwide. After 14 years with Longrain, he returned to Brissie to open Short Grain.  In this episode, Marty details his time...

Keen to learn more about exotic fruit? Well, we have the perfect guest - our friend John Picone, the co-owner of Picone Exotics Farm (@ piconeexotics )! He's a walking encyclopedia when it comes to exotic fruits! John and his wife Lyndall grow over 300 varieties of tropical and subtropical fruits throughout the year, just a stone's throw away from Byron Bay. In this ep, John gives us an audio tour...

Joining us on the mic all the way from San Diego, California, is Produce expert Bob Harrington (@ bobatspecialtyproduce )! Bob is the president of Specialty Produce, a family-owned wholesale produce company in San Diego that's been serving the community since 1989. Specialty Produce is a culinary hub for chefs, foodies and retail consumers. So, basically the Suncoast Fresh of the States!    He is...

Welcome back, friends, to our first Prodcast episode of 2024! Who better to kick this season off than the incredible Mark Best (@markbest). While introductions may not be necessary, we'll give it our best shot!   Mark's catalogue of accolades and accomplishments is never-ending, from starring in the World's 50 best restaurant list to being crowned Chef of the Year a few years back in the annual Sy...

This episode was a long time coming!  We met Brendan at the Good Food & Wine Show last year. From the moment we met him, it was like a match made in culinary heaven. You know when you meet someone, and you instantly think, "I need to be friends with this guy"? Well, that's exactly what happened. Brendan's charm, quick wit and genuine personality had us hooked faster than you can say "dumpling....

In this week's episode, we're thrilled to chat with the dynamic @chefmassimomele. We met up with him at the delightful @peppinarestaurant in Hobart, Tasmania and learned all about his incredible journey. We were also lucky enough to secure a table for dinner, and oh my, Massimo and his team prepared a smorgasbord of delights, including artichokes grown and picked right from Massimo's garden at hom...

Welcome to Episode 81 of the Prodcast, where we dive into the fascinating world of Tasmanian White Asparagus . Join us as we unravel the story of 'Tasmanian White Asparagus,' a pioneering farm nestled in Brighton, Tasmania. Discover how Richard and Belinda Weston, alongside partners Tom Barham and Jenna Howlett, brought the premium European White Asparagus to Australia. This journey, inspired by E...

Get ready to dive into the world of food, art, and celebrity nutrition with the multi-talented Sergio Perera. Join us as we explore his Spanish roots, culinary creativity, and star-studded clientele, including the likes of Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr, and Leonardo DiCaprio. From Spain to Japan to the cutting-edge kitchens of elBulli, Sergio's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary....

Dive into Episode 81 of the Prodcast, featuring the remarkable Ollie Hansford, aka @chef_ollie_ Join us as we traverse Ollie's culinary expedition, ignited by a childhood fascination with food. Starting with his family's pâté business, he refined his skills in Leicester and furthered his training at London's prestigious Westminster Kingsway College. His journey encompasses Michelin-starred roles a...

It's time we told you something that may or may not blow your mind... Did you know the Wasabi in those green packets at sushi train isn't Wasabi? It's mainly horseradish, colouring and sugar. If you're yet to taste and cook with the real deal, you ought to do so. It's next level!   We recently took a trip to Tasmania with @ shimpeiraikuni , the Head Chef of @ sushi__room , to see @ realshimawasabi...