Conversation with a chef

Jo Rittey

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Ever wondered what goes on in the kitchens of Melbourne’s restaurants? Conversation with a chef gives the back story of our city’s favourite eating spots. This is not a slick podcast, in fact it's pretty rustic. I'm Jo Rittey. I'm a French teacher and food writer and not that great on the technology. What you'll hear is the conversation how it happened, with no bells and whistles. I'll work on that!

1일 전

#353 Apoorva Kunte | The Westin Melbourne

I always enjoy catching up with chefs to hear how they’re going, what they’re learning, and how their craft is evolving. And every couple of years, that brings me back to the Westin Melbourne to sit down with Executive Chef Apoorva Kunte. In the five years he’s been leading the hotel’s kitchens, he’s become known for his curiosity, his generosity with his team, and the thoughtful way he brings creativity, culture, and sustainability into everything he does. This conversation is another chance to check in on his journey; from navigating a post construction, fully revived hotel, to exploring native ingredients, to raising a very adventurous little eater at home. As always with Apoorva, it’s a warm, grounded chat that reflects the kind of chef and leader he’s become.

32분
4일 전

#352 Matt McConnell | Bar Lourinha

When you talk to Matt McConnell about food, hospitality and Bar Lourinhã, there is a quiet certainty and warmth that comes through immediately. Twenty years is a long time to do anything well, and Bar Lourinhã has done it with quiet confidence. Matt approaches this milestone with equal parts pride, humility and curiosity. A long, wandering journey through Spain and Portugal in the nineties inspired the bar on Little Collins Street which is built on warmth, simplicity and generosity. In this conversation, Matt reflects on that trip that changed everything, the discipline of consistency, and the enduring joy of feeding people well.

28분
4월 23일

#351 James Gallagher | Enbarr

I sat down with James Gallagher at Enbarr on a lovely autumn afternoon. We talked about mythology, Irish foodways, and the arc of his life in this building; a pub he worked in for years and has now come full circle to own. Once we’d finished talking, I was lucky enough to eat the food we’d been discussing. I haven’t stopped thinking about the soda bread since, or the boxty, dishes that felt like a deliciously warm hug. The food at Enbarr draws from Irish tradition, preservation, and storytelling, filtered through experience and restraint, and elevated without losing its soul. I’m already planning my return.

27분
4월 19일

#350 Ian Ho | Yum Sing House

Reaching 350 episodes feels a little surreal, and I couldn’t think of a better guest to mark the moment than someone I’ve spoken to before and genuinely admire. Sitting down again with Ian Ho at Yum Sing House reminded me why I love these conversations so much. Ian is one of those chefs who gives generously with his time, his stories, and his honesty and this time around, we went deeper than ever into the mindset behind the craft. In our first chat, we talked about food, creativity, and the energy of a busy kitchen. This time, we explored the inner workings of a chef’s psyche: how Ian navigates pressure, how he’s learning to draw boundaries, and how he’s growing his style of leadership while stepping into an already established team. He spoke openly about adapting to a new kitchen, finding his rhythm, and learning to let go of the things that don’t matter. We also talked about nostalgia, collaboration, and the evolution of Yum Sing House’s menu, including the radish cake he’s transformed from a humble staple into something personal and expressive. Ian’s reflections on creativity, constraint, and identity in food were thoughtful and grounded, and they made this milestone episode feel especially meaningful.

23분
4월 18일

#349 Mike Flemming | Spaghetti Club

I visited Spaghetti Club just as everything was arriving. There were boxes everywhere, glasses and pots still wrapped, that slightly frantic but very exciting feeling of something about to begin. It already felt warm and full of personality, even mid unpacking. I sat down with head chef Michael Flemming to talk about what’s taking shape here: cooking over fire, handmade pasta, Italian family rituals, and the road that’s brought him to this opening. This is a conversation about food, internal pressure, leadership, as well as about trying to recreate the feeling of sitting around Nonno and Nonna’s table on a Monday night. Michael told me this was the first time he had done a chat like this and I think you’ll agree, he’s an absolute natural: easy, generous, and with a great radio voice to match.

24분
4월 12일

#348 Raffaele Pelligra

When I first came across Raffaele Pelligra on Instagram, what struck me was his honesty. He was travelling, cooking, thinking deeply, asking questions, and sharing what he was learning and I really wanted to hear more. Now, I love a pull quote, those gems where people reveal their passion in such a perfect way. Honestly, every second sentence felt like gold in this chat, the kind you screenshot and save because it captures something bigger than food. Raffa had a lot to say about culture, creativity, community, and what it means to learn by doing. At one point, he asked me why I’d invited him onto the podcast at all. He said, “I’m not trained as a chef. I’m not a sous chef or a head chef.” And that is exactly why I wanted him here. This conversation isn’t about titles or hierarchy, it’s about perspective. It’s about what happens when you approach food as a traveller, a listener, and a human being who genuinely wants to understand where flavours come from and what food can do beyond the plate. This chat is a refreshing one. It’s about Sicily and Melbourne, tradition and fusion, adrenaline and meditation, stress and flow. It’s about learning in kitchens, markets, family homes halfway across the world and it’s about being open enough to change your mind along the way. Raffa is a young Sicilian traveller who loves to cook, and who is still very much becoming who he’s going to be. And I think that makes this conversation especially worth listening to.

41분
4월 12일

#347 Alex Meimetis | Koi Toy

From growing up in Port Melbourne, cooking alongside his Greek mother, to working across kitchens in Athens, France and Australia, Alex Meimetis’s story has been shaped by movement, patience and an unwavering love of food. It’s a story about learning by watching, earning trust over time, and understanding that leadership, especially in a kitchen, isn’t something you announce, it’s something you show. Now heading up Koi Toy, set within one of Victoria’s most historically complex sites, Pentridge Shopping Centre, Alex cooks in a way that reflects that path. We talked about learning on the job, moving between cultures and cuisines, bringing a team together, and the happiness that comes from creating something and seeing someone else enjoy it.

33분
4월 11일

#346 Zoe Birch | Greasy Zöes

People often ask me what my favourite conversation with a chef has been, and I usually say that I don’t have one. I love them all. Everyone has a story to tell, and I feel genuinely privileged to be able to hear and share those stories, which makes it hard to single one out. But sometimes a conversation lingers. Sitting inside Greasy Zoes in Hurstbridge, after that gentle shift from city to rolling hills, it became clear. What Zoe Birch and her partner, Lachlan have created here, with intention, conviction, and deep connection to place, people, and produce is the result of years of quiet confidence and commitment. This was a glorious conversation about choosing risk, staying small, cooking honestly, and building a life that makes sense. And now if you ask me what my favourite conversation has been, I have an answer: Zoe Birch.

47분

모두 보기(351개)

Ever wondered what goes on in the kitchens of Melbourne’s restaurants? Conversation with a chef gives the back story of our city’s favourite eating spots. This is not a slick podcast, in fact it's pretty rustic. I'm Jo Rittey. I'm a French teacher and food writer and not that great on the technology. What you'll hear is the conversation how it happened, with no bells and whistles. I'll work on that!

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Jo Rittey
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2019년 - 2026년
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351
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Conversation with a chef