Suncoast Fresh Prodcast

Episode 63: Dominique Rizzo

We had the lovely opportunity to sit down with chef, author, food advocate and presenter Dominique Rizzo while away for the @tasteportdouglas festival. Dominique is one of Queensland's leading female chefs who has been within the business of food for over 30 years. She launched her career with a memorable stint on Ready Steady Cook, and from there, took life by the reins, crafting a beautiful story full of tasty flavours and good times. We chatted in detail about the strategies she uses to balance life, her general ethos behind the beautiful dishes she creates, how confidence changes the way you cook in the kitchen, her renowned Food Tours and Travel Experiences (that you can be a part of!), her fantastic cookbooks and last but not least her NEW Cooking School! We had a blast getting to know Dominique, and we think you will too. Listen now and enjoy! 

Episode 62: Alastair McLeod @chef_mcleod

As I live and breathe! The next Suncoast Fresh Prodcast is with the brilliant Alastair McLeod. He is an absolute legend and someone we're proud to call a dear friend. A committed family man, a cook, the best MC you'll ever come across, a television personality, and last but not least, the Al'FreshCo Catering founder. Alastair McLeod was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, trained classically in Europe, and then worked his way around the globe, working in several Michelin Star restaurants. He now resides in Brisbane, living a conscious life, ensuring he is treading lightly on this earth. 

We caught up with Alastair at the Taste Port Douglas  festival and dug deep into his life and how his career progressed. He tells us stories about his remarkably talented family, speaks about his ethos behind his catering business and so much more. So you know what to do. Sit back, relax and tune in. Enjoy!

Episode 61: Carolyne Helmy

We were lucky enough to visit @thestargoldcoast, where we recorded a Prodcast with Carolyne Hemly, the Chef de Cuisine at the Sovereign, in The Star. Carolyn moved to the Gold Coast in 2008 and since then has been the mastermind behind the culinary offering of the property's luxury suite hotel, The Darling. 

Initially, she found herself in the corporate world of communication and acquired her Bachelor of Business Communications and a Master in Corporate Communication at Bond University. However, it wasn't until a San Diego trip where she found herself surrounded by beautiful food and culinary entrepreneurs that she wanted to leap into cooking.

She now leads a team of over 20 chefs and stands tall for all women in leading positions within the kitchen worldwide. Carolyn is a captivating individual who is incredibly genuine and warm. Her food is next level and we loved every moment of this Prodcast. If you would like to learn more about how Carolyne got to where she is today, sit back, relax and tune in! Enjoy.

Episode 60: Spencer Patrick

Episode 60 has hit the decks with Spencer Patrick! He began his career in the 90s, where he was trained by British chef, restaurateur, and TV personality Marco Pierre White, his ultimate dream! His next leap led him to The Café Royal Grill Room in Piccadilly, where he was Head Chef and awarded a Michelin Star at the ripe age of 26. 

Born and bred in Leicestershire, England, Spencer came to Australia in 2008 to pursue a new adventure, and this was the best decision he ever made because Reina came into his life, his beautiful wife. They now find themselves in Port Douglas at their very own restaurant called Harrisons, named after their firstborn son. Oh, and they're even organising Taste Port Douglas, where they're welcoming some of Australia's best chefs and industry experts. This festival is a foodies dream and we're so excited to attend in October. 

It was an absolute joy to crack some beers and learn more about Spencer and his incredible career. To hear more about all the achievements and stops in between, tune in to episode 60 on the Suncoast Fresh Proadcast. Enjoy! 

To find out more about Taste Port Douglas, head to www.tasteportdouglas.com.au 

Episode 58: Oscar Solomon

Here we gooo! Oscar Solomon is next off the rank for our Suncoast Fresh Prodcast. It was an absolute pleasure talking to him and learning more about his story. His career progression is a little different to your typical chef. He started as a designer studying graphic design and textiles and even started a fashion label with a friend in his early 20s. 

Soon after that, he launched himself into cooking and discovered his true passion. He now finds himself as Head Chef at an INCREDIBLE Japanese restaurant along Howard Smith Wharfs called Yoko. Their menu is second to none and everything you eat is of the absolute best quality and freshness, especially the produce. 

We chat about how to keep it fun in the kitchen, hierarchical practices in business, owning your mistakes, training your staff rather than blaming them, how art and design influences his approach to food, his favourite books, the challenge of dietary requirements in the kitchen and ohhh so much more. So what are ya waiting for? Take a break, sit back, relax and tune in!

Episode 57: Cordell Khoury

What's the secret to a pumping Italian restaurant? Well, well, well, wouldn't you like to know! We had an awesome chat with Cordell Khoury, the head chef and co-owner of @beccofinoteneriffe, @juliuspizzeria and @barbrutusbne, and he may have just let us in on the secret... The collective success between the establishments has been astronomical. It's the type of pizza and pasta you'd eat even if you were gluten intolerant because the pain is so worth the gain. So, if you haven't been to Beccofino and tried their famous Duck Ragu pasta or even their classic Calamari, you'll need to get their asap. Or perhaps, you'd be keen for a few drinks at Brutus!? In Prodast 57, we chat with Cordell about how his career progressed, why keeping things consistent matters, his annual trips to Italy & the US and how that influences their approach, plus so much more. Crack a bevvy or pour yourself a cuppa and tune in!

Episode 56: Brendon Hoyle

We were lucky enough to visit humble farmers Brendon and Ash Hoyle from Ashbern Farms right near the Glass House Mountains. We felt so welcomed by team and loved every moment of it. We had a tour of the farm, got acquainted with the fastest pickers in Aus and, of course, recorded episode #56 with Brendon on the Suncoast Fresh Prodcast. We discuss the perfect strawberry, soil health, challenges, successes, organics, breeding, sustainable practices, biological control, food waste, farm history, innovations and how things have evolved. 

Each piece of produce is different, and it's imperative to recognise how much work goes into that perfect product. In peak periods, pickers work from sun up to sundown, and growers spend immense amounts of time perfecting soil health, maximising yield, testing varieties, managing pests and disease, and so much more. It was a privilege to learn about the intensive work that goes into it all. We really do appreciate our farmers and suppliers who put in the effort and time to do things right. Tune in to learn more. Link in bio, enjoy!

Episode 54: Dean Harrison

Can you imagine swimming with dolphins on your lunch break? Can you imagine travelling to the most beautiful spots around the world while working? How good with that be?! Our latest Prodcast guest, Dean Harrison, does precisely that. For the last 12 years, Dean has combined his passion for cooking with his love for the ocean, working and living on superyachts, and loving every single moment.  Tune in to learn more about how Dean got the opportunity to cook for the rich and famous. His first-hand experiences that led him to feel concerned for ocean health,  his fun travel experiences, the yachting community he has created, his next big project, plus so much more. You know what to do. Crack a beer, pour wine, relax and tune in! You're going to love this one. 

Episode 53: Tony Kelly

In Prodcast 53, we sat down with Tony Kelly, a Chef, Restaurateur and Consultant. He is the mastermind behind some of the best places to eat and drink around the Sunny Coast and Australia. Rice Boi, Market Bistro, Giddy Geisha, Hello Harry and Spero are just a few of his flavourful creations.

 

It's almost as if he has perfected the blueprint to a flourishing food-based business. In fact, we think he has! We get into the thick of what it takes to attract and keep skilled and passionate employees, how he launched a multitude of successful companies, his career progression, challenges, successes, family life and so much more. Whether you're at the start of a hospo career eager to learn or you're a mature and skilled chef who is looking to develop even further, we believe you'll get a lot out of this Prodcast! Listen in and enjoy. 

Episode 52: Julian Mitchell

Can mushrooms extracts enhance human potential? We'll let you be the judge! In Prodcast 52, we took a trip to Byron Bay to catch up with the co-founder of @lifecykel Julian Mitchell @julianmitchelllc

Life Cykel began in 2015 when Julian and his business partner Ryan Creed discovered that mushrooms could grow and thrive in urban environments with the help of agricultural waste like coffee grounds.  

Life Cykel has caught global attention, and with 107K followers on Instagram and an incredibly engaged community, we thought it was worth checking out.

Julian speaks about health, wellness, mushroom extracts like Lion's Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Shiitake. The research and studies surrounding these mushrooms and the legitimacy, the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness, what life will be like in 200 years, UFC fighters, Olympic runners, steep learning curves in businesses, mushroom forages in Alaska, and so much more.

You know what to do, sit back, relax and enjoy!