Suncoast Fresh Prodcast

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. 

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. 

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! 

Mal Meiers @malmeiers has travelled worldwide, perfecting his craft as a Chef, and in the process established 14 Food + Wine Pop-Ups across Europe with his beautiful wife Kate @katekettlekettle We enjoyed getting to know him in episode 51 on the Prodcast. We learnt about his Food For Thought Charity Dinners, which successfully raised awareness for mental health within the hospitality industry and beyond, his career, family life, challenges, achievements and what he's doing right now. Mal and his wife Kate and chef Tabitha Thomson @tabsthomson have teamed up to bring the Food + Wine Pop Up Events to Brisbane. We'll be attending their very first event this Sunday and we can't wait! You know what to do, put the kettle on and pour yourself a cuppa and tune in. If you're keen to learn more about the event check out their instagram for more details @foodwinepopup

We've made it to episode 50, and oh, what a fantastic journey this has been so far! Today, we were lucky enough to sit down with Angela Pennefather @fuzzyangel and were blown away by her integrity, strength, enthusiasm, passion and grit. She has lived a life different from anyone we've featured on the Prodcast, and we've got to say, you're in for a treat! Ange is a Superyacht Agent, Melanesian Expedition Leader, Cultural Guide, Food Providor, Executive Chef and the owner of Pacific Provisions @pacific.provisions and Melanesian Luxury Yachts @melanesianyachts

We delve into how Ange runs her business with social consciousness and empowers families in the South Pacific through education and employment. We chat about how she has grown throughout her career and life, Melanesian culture, a few funny stories (one where a volcano erupted!), and a whole lot more. We sure know she will be back for part two as there is so much more we can chat and learn about. Crack a beer or pour a glass of wine. You know the drill, listen in and enjoy!

Two beautiful babies and two highly successful businesses, all within a couple of years. What is the secret behind this balancing act?

We recently sat down for a chat with well-respected Chef Nathan Dunnell. @nathandunnell He and his wife Freya, own and manage @elskarestaurant - a fine dining restaurant located in New Farm, Brisbane, booked out for months in advance. 

A couple of years ago, he and Freya opened a breakfast cafe in Wilston. This was a short but sweet stint because before long, the couple were itching for more, and then the idea of Elska was born.

Opening one restaurant is hard enough, so launching another with a few babies thrown in the mix seems unimaginable. How did the dynamic duo do it? What does it take? Listen in to find out.

Once upon a time, Mr Xinis washed his chef whites in a bathtub in Athens because he didn't have a washing machine. Now, he is back living in Australia, working as Executive Chef of Nostimo Restaurant and Bar in the Greek Club. Oh, and he has a washing machine now. It's crazy to think where we start to where we go! Life has a funny way of leading us on a journey and it's almost like the universe knows our destiny before we do. Alex's story is no different to this. In fact, as a baby, he was christened at the Greek Club. Can you believe that?!

Alex has a vast knowledge of traditional Greek Cuisine thanks to the influence of his mother and grandfather and his experience cooking throughout a range of different establishments, spending a lot of his time in Melbourne, where the largest Greek population live outside of Greece. 

We were fortunate enough to sit down with him and learn a little about it, plus enjoyed a delicious lunch at Nostimo. It's a must-do if you haven't already. Anyway, enough chat -  listen in and enjoy! 

What would you do if you found over 350+ weed plants on your property? One morning that was exactly what Gerard Buchanan (Buck) found on his farm near Chillingham, New South Wales. Buck brought the farm when he was just 19 and since then has been growing all different types of tropical and native produce featuring things like Finger Limes, Lemon Aspen, Kaffir Limes and Leaves, Yuzu, Buddha's Hands, Davidson Plums, Lemon Myrtle, Strawberry Gum, Curry Leaves, Mangoes and Beatle Leaf, just to name a few. Buck's Farm is a stone throw away from Mount Warning - a historic volcano that erupted over 23 million years ago, leaving behind nutrient-dense, rich, red soil that grows the best produce you've ever tasted. We've been working with Buck for years now and are proud to represent his products as they're local, tasty, and Buck and his wife Anne genuinely do the right thing by the environment and wildlife within their area. Did Buck smoke it or chuck it? Listen in to find out and hear a few other cracking stories on the way. Enjoy! 

Mark Labrooy began cooking when he was only 16, and from that point, began perfecting his craft. Labrooy is among six entrepreneurs who manage and run the Three Blue Ducks, six cafes spread across Bronte, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Rosebery, Melbourne and Nimbo. Aside from cooking, Labrooy has many hobbies and, at one point, was among the top sixteen individuals in the country competing in motorbike racing. Other hobbies include snowboarding, spearfishing, surfing, diving and hunting. We go back to our roots and talk a lot about work-life balance, family, cooking over the fire, hunting and gathering and loads more. Listen in to find out what the motley crew of the Three Blue Ducks is up to next. You know what to do - sit back, relax and enjoy! 

We were lucky enough to record a Prodcast with self-proclaimed punk hippy David Moyle @moyle_david. On his journey as a Chef to find beautifully wild produce, poultry, seafood and all the spices in between, David has lived in Tasmania, Melbourne and Byron Bay. David now resides in Byron Bay, managing and running Harvest and Barrio. In Episode 45, we speak about the hospitality industry, referencing motivation in the kitchen, structure, discipline, kitchen culture, sustainability, education and more. We have a few laughs and just a straight-up great chat. We know you're going to love this one. Crack a beer, sit back, listen in and enjoy.