From Burnout to MasterChef: Food, Travel & Finding Your Way Back to Yourself with Larissa

What happens when the career you worked so hard to build no longer feels like the life you want?

For Larissa Hawkins, a successful career in corporate law eventually led to complete burnout — and a search for something that felt more creative, meaningful and authentically hers.

In this episode of Nourished – Stories From The Table, Mel sits down with Larissa to talk about food, family, travel, career change, burnout, MasterChef UK and the messy process of reinventing yourself.

With British and Ukrainian family roots, Larissa grew up understanding food as much more than something to eat. Her Ukrainian Baba taught her that cooking is about generosity, community and instinct — not perfect measurements, polished presentation or following a recipe to the letter.

After years working in a high-pressure legal career, food became a source of comfort and connection during a period of burnout. A seven-month travel adventure gave Larissa the space to question what she really wanted from life, eventually leading her to apply for MasterChef UK.

Her MasterChef experience brought its own challenges, but ultimately reinforced something she now carries into every part of her life: there is no such thing as perfect food, a perfect career or a perfectly mapped-out life.

We talk about the freedom that can come from travel and stepping away from your normal routine, the courage it takes to change careers, and why the “messy middle” can actually be where some of the most important transformation happens.

Larissa also shares the story behind Glass Frog, her business helping individuals navigate career change, career transitions and workplace culture with greater honesty and self-awareness.

And, of course, we talk about food.

From her Ukrainian Baba’s dumplings and homemade pesto to a memorable progressive dinner in the Cook Islands, Larissa shares the food experiences that have shaped her — and explains why true nourishment goes far beyond what we put on our plates.

Because sometimes nourishment is a meal.

Sometimes it’s travel.

Sometimes it’s community.

And sometimes it’s having the courage to admit that the life you built isn’t the life you want anymore.

• Growing up with British and Ukrainian food traditions

• How Larissa’s Ukrainian Baba shaped her love of cooking and community

• Family recipes, intuitive cooking and why life is not a set of rules — and neither is cooking

• Burnout and leaving a high-pressure career in corporate law

• How food became a source of comfort and stability during burnout

• Taking a seven-month travel break and discovering a new perspective on life

• How travel ultimately led Larissa towards MasterChef

• The highs, lows and unexpected lessons of her MasterChef experience

• Why perfect food is overrated and why the best food often has a story behind it

• A memorable Cook Islands food experience and the generosity of cooking for strangers

• What it really means to be nourished beyond food

• Career change, identity and finding yourself again in midlife

• The meaning behind Glass Frog

• Navigating workplace culture and career transitions

• Why embracing the messy middle can be transformative

• Solo travel and why Larissa believes every woman should experience it

• Comfort food, winter cooking, soups and broths

• Ukrainian dumplings, homemade pesto and the joy of dinner

• Larissa’s dream of bringing together self-taught, unconventional and culturally rooted cooks through supper clubs, retreats and community-led food experiences

  
  

You can find Larissa on Instagram or on her website

Nourished – Stories From The Table is a food and travel podcast hosted by Mel, exploring the people, places, traditions and personal stories connected by food.

If you love food, cooking, travel, restaurants, culture, inspiring women and the stories behind what we eat, you're in the right place.

🎙️ Listen to Nourished – Stories From The Table wherever you get your podcasts.

Have you ever wondered what might happen if you stopped waiting for the “right time” and started creating the life you actually want?

In this solo episode of Nourished – Stories From The Table, Mel takes a step back from the guest conversations to talk about where Nourished is heading — and the bigger vision she has for bringing women together through food, cooking, travel, adventure and connection.

From solo travel and turning 50 to the mental load women carry and the importance of making space for ourselves, Mel explores what it really means to feel nourished — not just by what we eat, but by the people we surround ourselves with, the places we discover and the experiences we say yes to.

She shares her belief that every woman should travel solo at least once, reflects on her own three-week adventure in Italy, and explains why leaving the house without organising everyone else's life first felt like a small act of rebellion.

And then there's the big dream…

Mel talks about her vision for women's food and cooking retreats in Italy, as well as future cooking classes, winery tours, dinners and food experiences where women can travel together, learn from local cooks, eat incredible food, drink good wine and form genuine friendships.

Because Nourished is becoming about more than a podcast.

It's about creating a table where women can eat, cook, travel, talk, laugh, learn and connect.

• Why Nourished is evolving into a community for women who love food, cooking, travel and adventure

• Why food is one of the most powerful ways to connect with people and cultures

• The importance of women creating space for friendship, conversation and shared experiences

• Turning 50 and deciding she doesn't want to spend the next chapter waiting for “someday”

• Why she believes solo travel for women can be such a transformative experience

• The mental load women carry — and what happened when Mel decided to leave “like a man”

• Why nourishment is about far more than food and nutrition

• The connection between food, memories, travel and storytelling

• Her dream of creating an Italian food retreat for women

• Ideas for future women's cooking experiences, winery tours and local food adventures

• What genuinely nourishes Mel: alone time, family, friendship, cooking and travel

• Why she wants Nourished to feature real stories rather than polished versions of people's lives

• Why starting small is still starting

• The importance of booking the flight, ordering the dessert and giving yourself permission to want more

• The bigger vision for Nourished — Stories From The Table

What actually nourishes you?

Is it a quiet coffee alone? Cooking for people you love? A weekend away with girlfriends? A solo trip? A long lunch? A conversation that goes on for hours?

And perhaps the bigger question:

What have you been waiting for permission to do?

Maybe it's time to stop waiting.

“Food brings people together. Always.”

“It’s not about escaping your life. It’s just you’re adding more to it.”

“Book the bloody flight. Order the dessert. You don’t need permission.”

If you're a woman who loves food, travel, cooking, adventure and meaningful conversation, this table is for you.

Pull up a chair. There's a seat here for you.

What if the food we grow up with doesn't just tell us where we've come from—but inspires us to discover where we're going?

For Paola Bacchia, food is memory.

Growing up in an Italian migrant family in Melbourne, the kitchen was the heart of her childhood. Family meals were where everyone gathered, talked, laughed and connected. That love of food eventually became a career spanning Italian cooking, food photography, storytelling, culinary travel and cookbook writing.

In this episode of Nourished – Stories From The Table, Paola takes us from her family kitchen to the food markets and streets of Italy, sharing the stories behind her four cookbooks and the memories woven through them.

We talk about Italian recipes, food heritage, crostoli and apple strudel, including the art of stretching traditional strudel pastry so thin that you can, as Paola says, “read a love letter through it.”

Paola also shares her unexpected journey onto MasterChef Australia, why she chose to walk away while her father was unwell, and how that experience inspired her to preserve her family's recipes and stories.

Her blog Italy on my Mind, early Instagram community and love of food photography eventually led to cookbook publishing and extensive culinary travel throughout Italy and the Adriatic coast.

We explore the research behind Italian Street Food, the road trip that became Adriatico, and her deeply personal book Istria, connecting food, family history, migration, war and the loss of homeland.

And then we talk about solo travel for women.

Paola shares why travelling on your own can give you something we don't always make enough space for: freedom. Freedom to slow down, breathe, explore, enjoy your own company and experience the world at your own pace.

This is a conversation about Italian food, travel, family, female friendship, cooking, food heritage, creativity, memory and living well.

• Growing up in an Italian migrant family where food was central to daily life

• Italian family recipes, crostoli and apple strudel

• The art of traditional strudel making

• Preserving family recipes and food heritage

• Paola's experience on MasterChef Australia

• Building a food community through blogging, photography and Instagram

• The story behind Italy on my Mind

• Researching Italian street food across Italy

• Culinary travel, Italian markets and regional Italian cuisine

• The road trip behind Adriatico

• The emotional family history behind Istria

• Food, migration, memory and the meaning of home

• Cooking and gathering with girlfriends

• Why every woman should experience solo travel

• Slowing down, breathing and valuing your own time

• At Nonna's Table and what's next
  

Please give Paola a follow on ⁠Instagram⁠.

You can find her books & her recipes on her website:  ⁠Italy On My Mind⁠

Cook a family recipe. Write down a food memory. Call your girlfriends.

And if you've always dreamed of travelling somewhere on your own—maybe it's time.

Loved this episode?

If you're enjoying Nourished – Stories From The Table, please follow or subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with a woman who loves good food, travel and a life well lived.

And I'd love to know: Would you take a solo trip? Where would you go?

Thank you so much for listening and for pulling up a chair at my table. Every listen, follow, review and share helps Nourished grow—and I'm so grateful you're here.

“It’s time for you. And so is travel, particularly if it’s on your own.” — Paola Fischer

So slow down. Breathe. Book the trip. Cook the recipe. Call the girlfriends. Open the wine.

Life isn't waiting for us to finish the to-do list.

What if eating better didn’t mean giving up the food you love—but simply learning how to make it differently?

In this episode Mel sits down with Violet Parcha, creator of Right At Home, to talk about real food, family, wholesome cooking and what happens when you start paying attention to how food makes you feel.

Violet shares her experience of changing the family’s meals, including the improvements she says they noticed in her husband’s energy, digestion and overall wellbeing. We also talk about the connection between gut health and mental wellbeing, and how food became part of a much bigger philosophy around family life.

But this isn't about perfect eating or complicated recipes.

With three young children, Violet understands that healthy family meals have to be practical. She shares her approach to meal prep, batch cooking, freezer-friendly food and making familiar favourites a little healthier — without making them feel like “health food.”

This is a conversation about real food, gut health, family cooking, meal prep, whole ingredients, raising kids in the kitchen and finding a healthier way to eat that still feels delicious and enjoyable.

• Violet’s journey into wholesome cooking, which began as a teenager

• How her husband’s Crohn’s diagnosis changed the way their family approached food

• Her experience removing gluten and sugar from their diet

• The impact she says dietary changes had on energy, digestion and wellbeing

• Why healthy family meals need to be practical, not perfect

• Meal prep, batch cooking and making busy family life easier

• How to make familiar foods healthier without losing the comfort factor

• Retraining your taste buds away from highly processed foods

• Getting children involved in cooking from an early age

• The influence of Jordan Rubin on Violet’s approach to whole foods and gut health

• Her favourite recipe: healthy homemade ice cream

• Farmers markets, local producers and her dream of tasting food across Europe

• Why her grain mill has become one of her most-loved kitchen tools

• Fresh-milled flour, homemade bread, pizza dough and sourdough

• Creating family rhythms around food, cooking and community

Find Violet’s recipes and food philosophy on her blog, Right At Home, and check out her Substack, where she is offering a 30-day free trial.

You can also find Nourished – Stories From The Table here:

https://linktr.ee/nourishedstoriesfromthetable

If you enjoyed our conversation, follow or subscribe to Nourished – Stories From The Table, leave a review or comment, and share the episode with a foodie friend who is trying to make family meals a little healthier.

And tell me: what’s one food habit you’d love to change in your own kitchen?

Thank you so much for listening. Every follow, share, comment and listen helps Nourished grow, and I’m so grateful to have you sitting around the table with me.

“You don’t have to change everything. Sometimes, one small change in the kitchen can change the way you think about food.”

Until next time, I'll see you around the table. 🥂

00:00 – Welcome to Nourished
00:39 – Violet’s journey into wholesome cooking
01:52 – Her husband’s Crohn’s diagnosis
03:18 – Removing gluten and sugar
05:21 – Meal prep with three kids
08:36 – Gut health and mental wellbeing
12:32 – The influence of Jordan Rubin
17:41 – Retraining your taste buds
20:44 – Farmers markets and local producers
23:08 – Violet’s ideal outdoor dinner party
26:29 – Getting kids involved in the kitchen
28:10 – The grain mill that changed her cooking
30:26 – Why fresh-milled flour is different

What if food isn't just something we eat, but a way of remembering where we come from, connecting with nature, and expressing who we are?

In this episode, Mel sits down with Marissa, a photographer, food creative, forager and storyteller whose relationship with food has been shaped by an incredibly colourful family history.

Growing up between a scientist father and generations of celebrated family chefs in Estonia, Marissa was surrounded by both curiosity and cooking. Her creative journey eventually took her into photography, food blogging, foraging and beverage creation — proving that sometimes our passions don't follow a straight line. They weave together.

From foraging for chanterelles, mushrooms, berries and wild rose petals in the Estonian countryside to simple Nordic cooking with butter, potatoes, sour cream and dill, Marissa shares the food traditions and childhood memories that continue to influence her today.

And then there are the family recipes.

Marissa has original cookbooks passed down through generations, containing recipes that are more than a century old — complete with old-fashioned measurements and even the prices of ingredients at the time. We also hear about the pancake that won her the title of best home chef in Estonia and sent her to Paris to study pastry.

But perhaps my favourite part of this conversation is the way Marissa approaches food as an experience.

We talk about themed dinner parties, including an extraordinary Alice in Wonderland evening designed around food, music, colour and atmosphere. Because for Marissa, dinner isn't simply about what's on the plate. It's about creating a feeling.

We also explore her journey into beverage technology and the creation of Saffra, a saffron-based drink inspired by her own experiences with winter darkness, seasonal wellbeing and the growing world of non-alcoholic drinks.

• Marissa's unusual upbringing between a scientist father and generations of family chefs

• How food and photography became parallel creative careers

• Why Marissa sees recipes as images before they exist

• The importance of light, colour, texture and composition in food photography

• Foraging in Estonia for berries, chanterelles, mushrooms and wild rose petals

• Simple Nordic cooking traditions and the joy of keeping food uncomplicated

• Her experiments with wild rose wines, cordials and other foraged ingredients

• Her training in beverage technology and the creation of Saffra

• Seasonal affective disorder, winter darkness and the growing appeal of non-alcoholic drinks

• Family recipes preserved in original cookbooks for more than a century

• The pancake that won Marissa the title of best home chef in Estonia

• Her trip to Paris to study pastry

• Why themed dinner parties can become full sensory experiences

• Creating an Alice in Wonderland-inspired dinner party

• Matching music to the mood of food

• The sentimental kitchen tools and utensils that carry memories

• What Marissa would choose for her last meal

• Her ultimate foodie dream — a balcony, vineyards, fire and peace

• Why testing an idea in a small quantity can be the best way to start something new

Follow Marissa on Instagram @iammarissaar and keep an eye out for her upcoming projects, including Saffra.

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow or subscribe to Nourished – Stories From The Table so you don't miss the next episode.

Share this episode with a friend who would love a conversation about food, travel, creativity and the stories behind what we eat.

You can find everything Nourished – Stories From The Table here:

https://linktr.ee/nourishedstoriesfromthetable

Because the best recipes aren't always written down. Sometimes, they're the stories we carry with us.

Thank you so much for listening, and for being part of Nourished – Stories From The Table.

Until next time, I'll see you around the table. 🥂

Episode 5: From Professional Chef to a Life Well Lived — Ed Seisun Manterola

What happens when a chef with more than 30 years in professional kitchens decides that family, food and a life well lived matter more than the next kitchen accolade?

In this episode of Nourished – Stories From The Table, Mel sits down with chef and caterer Ed Seisun Manterola for a wide-ranging conversation about food, family, travel, professional kitchens and the experiences that have shaped his life.

With Maltese and Chilean roots, Ed grew up surrounded by food and family meals before building an impressive career across Australia, London and Chile. From pubs and catering to some of the world's most respected kitchens, Ed shares stories from his time working alongside talented chefs and mentors, including his time at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen in London and the influence of London's legendary St John.

But this episode isn't really about kitchen accolades.

It's about what happens when you start asking what a good life actually looks like.

Ed talks honestly about moving to Chile, meeting his wife, raising his daughters and learning to find a better balance between his career and the people he loves most. We talk about the magic of simple food at home, why tasting is one of the most important skills in cooking, and how smell, memory and emotion can transport us straight back to another time and place.

We also get into the things chefs don't always talk about — the pressure of professional kitchens, unpaid kitchen work, mentorship, ego and the changing culture of hospitality.

And, naturally, we talk about food. A lot of food.

From family dishes and favourite kitchen tools to Ed's dream dinner party menu — complete with sparkling wine, pisco sours, gougères, duck and plenty of dessert — this is a conversation about cooking, hospitality, family, community and ultimately, living well.

• Ed's Maltese and Chilean heritage and the family meals that shaped his relationship with food

• His journey from Australia to Chile — and how meeting his wife changed the direction of his life

• The unexpected chairlift conversation that nudged him towards a career in cooking

• His journey from pubs and catering into high-end kitchens in Australia and London

• Working at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen in London and the lessons he learned about food and people

• The influence of St John and its nose-to-tail philosophy

• The chefs and mentors who helped shape his career

• Why technique matters, but should never overpower the food itself

• Why tasting as you cook is one of the most important skills in the kitchen

• How smell, memory and emotion influence the way we experience food

• The simple family dishes Ed loves cooking at home

• Why getting children into the kitchen can create lifelong connections with food

• Ed's favourite kitchen tools — including equipment he's kept for decades

• His dream dinner party menu, from sparkling wine and pisco sours to duck and dessert

• The pressures of professional kitchens and the changing conversation around unpaid kitchen work

• Why Ed believes being a dad comes before being a chef

• His dream of creating a community bakery-café

• His philosophy on hospitality, humility, mentorship and community

• The biggest lessons more than three decades in professional kitchens have taught him about life

Follow Ed on Instagram @edward_seisun or say hello via WhatsApp: +56 9 54192473

Follow Nourished – Stories From The Table wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with someone who believes the best conversations — and often the best food — happen around a table.

Because ultimately, being nourished isn't just about what's on the plate. It's about the people we share it with, the stories we tell, and the life we're creating around the table.

Until next time, I'll see you around the table. 🥂

Can you eat well, travel the world, enjoy a glass of wine—and still look after yourself? Absolutely.

In this episode, I’m talking to Tess Cheng, a health and wellness coach and clinical nutrition expert, about creating a healthier lifestyle without falling into the trap of restriction, guilt or the latest fad diet.

Tess has more than 13 years of coaching experience and takes a refreshingly practical approach to nutrition, healthy eating, cooking, travel and sustainable lifestyle change.

We talk about why food has become so confusing, how to make healthy food genuinely delicious, and why preparation—not perfection—is the secret to staying on track.

And because this is Nourished, we're definitely not talking about giving up the good stuff. Tess shares her favourite indulgent meals, from duck in France to gelato in Italy, and explains why enjoying food is an important part of a balanced lifestyle.

We also talk about her childhood in Hong Kong, her mother's influence on her love of fresh food, travel, dinner parties, cooking, batch preparation and the small changes that can make a big difference to your health.

Most importantly, Tess reminds us that healthy living doesn't have to mean missing out on the things that make life enjoyable.

• Healthy eating without restriction

• Nutrition myths and fad diets

• Simple healthy cooking and fresh ingredients

• How to make healthy food taste delicious

• Food, travel and dining out

• Balance, moderation and sustainable lifestyle change

• Why preparation is more important than perfection

• Tess's approach to changing habits one step at a time

• The role of food in health, happiness and nourishment

• Indulgent food, dessert and enjoying the good stuff

• Creating healthier versions of your favourite meals

• Tess's tips for staying healthy while travelling

You can find Tess and her health and wellness coaching at glowithtess.com.

And if you're travelling soon, check out her Glow As You Go Travel Guide for practical tips on enjoying your travels while still looking after yourself.

Because nourishing yourself isn't about eating perfectly.

It's about finding a way to eat well, travel, enjoy good food and actually live your life.

See you around the table.

What if the food you grew up with could take you all the way back to where you came from—and even show you where you want to go next?

For Angela Palermo, food is family, heritage, travel and connection.

Growing up in a Calabrese Italian family, she learned early that food wasn't simply something you ate. It was how you gathered, celebrated, shared stories and kept traditions alive.

Her journey has taken her from landscape architecture to hospitality, pastry and Italian cooking, eventually leading her to create her own cooking school in South Sydney, where she teaches the food and traditions of regional Italy.

In this episode, we talk about authentic Italian cuisine, family recipes, regional food traditions, seasonal cooking, culinary travel, cooking classes and the magic of gathering around a table.

We also talk about the difference between preserving tradition and making a recipe your own, the dishes Ange can't resist, and her dream of one day creating an Italian agritourism retreat and food tours.

It's a conversation about where food comes from, what it means to us, and how the kitchen can teach us lessons that extend far beyond cooking.

And if, like me, the thought of eating your way through Italy sounds like an excellent life plan, you're going to love this one.

• Growing up in a Calabrese Italian family

• Childhood food memories and family traditions

• Ange’s journey from landscape architecture to hospitality and pastry

• Building her Italian cooking school in South Sydney

• Authentic Italian cuisine and regional food traditions

• Seasonal eating and cooking with local ingredients

• Tortellini in brodo, seafood pasta and favourite Italian dishes

• Culinary travel and exploring Italy through food

• Food as a way to connect generations and build community

• The lessons cooking teaches us about life

• Ange’s dream of an Italian agritourism retreat and food tours

Want to learn how to cook authentic Italian food and bring a little more la dolce vita into your kitchen?

Explore Ange's cooking classes and courses and use code NOURISH10 for 10% off.

Website: angelapalermo.com.au

So grab a coffee—or better yet, pour yourself a glass of wine—and join us around the table.

Because good food doesn't just feed us.

It connects us to where we've been, who we are, and sometimes, where we're going next.

If you're enjoying Nourished – Stories From The Table, follow or subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with a woman who loves great food, travel, wine and a life well lived.

Thank you for pulling up a chair at my table. Every listen, follow, review and share helps Nourished grow, and I'm so grateful you're here.

What if the food we grow up eating becomes the passport to the places we travel, the people we love, and the stories we carry with us?

For Steph, food has always been about much more than eating.

As a little girl, she was famously a fussy eater. But somewhere between cooking with her beloved grandmother, Mamina, in southern Chile and gathering around her family’s dinner table, food became a way of connecting with people, culture and place.

Her love of food eventually took her to San Francisco to study culinary arts, sparked a passion for Japanese cuisine and cooking over fire, and led her back home to southern Chile—where she now runs Huiro Lodge with her dad, surrounded by some of the most incredible seafood and produce in the world.

In this episode, we talk about family recipes, Italian and Chilean food culture, culinary travel, cooking, hospitality, Japanese cuisine, life-changing meals and the magic of discovering a destination through its food.

And, of course, we talk about the people behind the food—because sometimes the most nourishing part of a meal is who you're sharing it with.

This conversation felt less like a podcast interview and more like two women sitting around a kitchen table with a bottle of wine.

And honestly? Those are my favourite kinds of conversations.

• Growing up as a fussy eater

• Cooking with her grandmother, Mamina

• The importance of family meals

• How travel shaped Steph’s love of food

• Studying culinary arts in San Francisco

• Japanese cuisine and cooking over fire

• Returning home to southern Chile

• Running Huiro Lodge with her dad

• Culinary travel and discovering a place through food

• Why food is really about connection, people and stories

A little note from me: the audio isn't quite as polished as I'd hoped, and unfortunately the ending of our conversation wasn't usable. But the heart of Steph's story was simply too good not to share.

So pour yourself a glass of wine, settle in, and come with us to southern Chile.

See you around the table.

What happens when you stop waiting for the “right time” and finally do something just for yourself?

For my 50th birthday, I packed my bags, travelled solo to Italy, and went to culinary school.

It wasn't a holiday in the traditional sense. It was an investment in myself—and one of the most nourishing things I've ever done.

That experience reminded me that food, travel, cooking and self-care aren't simply luxuries or indulgences. They can be ways of reconnecting with ourselves, discovering new passions and creating the kind of memories that stay with us long after the meal—or the trip—is over.

And that's the heart of Nourished – Stories from the Table.

I'm Mel, and I've always believed that some of life's best conversations happen around a table. Over a beautiful meal, a morning coffee or a glass of wine, we slow down, connect and share the stories that make us who we are.

This is a podcast about food and travel, cooking and wine, family and relationships, adventure, self-care, midlife and living well.

But most importantly, it's about people.

Each episode, I'll sit down with fascinating people to uncover the stories behind their food memories, travels, traditions, challenges and adventures. Because everyone has a food story—and those stories often reveal so much more than what's on the plate.

If you're a woman who loves food, travel, cooking, wine and meaningful experiences, and you're ready to make a little more room for pleasure, adventure and self-care, you're in the right place.

Pull up a chair.

There's always room at the table.

Welcome to Nourished – Stories from the Table.