Table for Two

By Phillip HallaniBusiness

Table for Two episodes

September 08, 2020 TABLE FOR TWO: Episode 10: Meet Giorgina Venzin
Episode 10 is now Live!
Meet Giorgina Venzin
One of Brisbane’s best restauranteurs, Giorgina started in hospitality at the age of 14, washing dishes, working front of house and learning what the industry is is all about.
Now, at the age of 31, with over 10 stores, Giorgina is what you call a real girl boss!
She made her name in the now famous Pawpaw cafe and was also one of the first to use social media to attract customers to her cafes and restaurants.
In today’s episode we chat about
women in hospitality, mental health, running a business with your partner and family, not taking bad feedback too personal, the power of social media and how even with 10 hospitality venues it’s so important to get the right legal advice for every venue, no matter how much experience you have.
We recorded this podcast via zoom and I’m pretty happy with the quality and how it turned out.
1 hr 4 min
September 04, 2020 TABLE FOR TWO: Episode 9: Trung Bui (Part 2 of 2)
Part two of Episode 9 is now live! Meet Trung Bui. A good friend and one of the smartest guys you will ever meet! Trung’s story is quite unique, and inspiring. He came from the construction industry to opening his first store as a franchisee with the Coffee Emporium. He had no idea about hospitality, let alone what a flat white was! After running that store successfully for 2 years he sold that and started espresso warriors. In today’s episode we chat to Trung about the highs and lows of running a franchise, having partnerships in business, the struggles he faced in the growth of his business and asking yourself....is it business or being an entrpreanur what your really want.
51 min
September 01, 2020 TABLE FOR TWO: Episode 9: Trung Bui (Part 1 of 2)
Part one of Episode 9 is now live! Meet Trung Bui. A good friend and one of the smartest guys you will ever meet!
Trung’s story is quite unique, and inspiring. He came from the construction industry to opening his first store as a franchisee with the Coffee Emporium. He had no idea about hospitality, let alone what a flat white was!
After running that store successfully for 2 years he sold that and started espresso warriors.
In today’s episode we chat to Trung about the highs and lows of running a franchise, having partnerships in business, the struggles he faced in the growth of his business and asking yourself....is it business or being an entrpreanur what your really want.
59 min
August 24, 2020 TABLE FOR TWO: Episode 8: Meet Tyson Rowsell.
Episode 8 is now live!
Meet Tyson Rowsell. Co-owner of Dirty Red, Saint Wine and Fuse Hospitality. Before owning these businesses he was a General Manager at several venues, including The Grounds of Alexandria.
I first met Tyson at The Grounds when Ramsey gave me the opportunity to work within The Grounds group. He quickly took me under his wing and is someone I now consider a mentor, brother and also a business coach.
Apart from my business partner Jake, there is no way Percy Plunkett, would be where it is without him. He has an amazing ability to get the best out of everyone and to make you believe in yourself. He has been there for me from day one. Anyone that knows me knows how highly I regard Tyson and is someone I’ll always go to for advice.
In this podcast we talk about what it means to be authentic, the notion of leadership, the highs and the lows in business and the impact he had on myself and Percy Plunkett.
Thank you to our good friends at Procal Dairies and Sonoma baking co who are passionate about supporting small business, the hospitality indistry and also this podcast.
55 min
August 17, 2020 TABLE FOR TWO: Episode 7: Meet Mouhamad Dib from MD Provodores
Meet Mouhamad Dib from MD Provodores - Sydney’s number one fruit and vege provider.

From delivering fresh fruit and vege in his trusty station wagon, Mouhamad is now supplying over 500 venues per day! This guy has truely revolutionised the wholesale and provodore industry in the way he pays attention to having the highest standards. This is reflective in the quality of his produce and customer relations. Which is such a paramount area in the success of any business.

In today’s episode, we talk about what it is like being Lebanese and Muslim in the industry, the massive influence his father had on his career, how he shifted his business to home delivery during Covid and how the best is just not good enough.
43 min
August 11, 2020 TABLE FOR TWO: Episode 6: Meet Jeremy Davidson
Episode 6. Meet Jeremy Davidson. UK-born hospitality guru who has been involved in some of the city’s most renowned foodie hotspots.

He is also responsible for the Gold Coast's most iconic and unique dining destination – The Collective, Palm beach. A 300 seat foodie loving destination with five restaurants and a rooftop bar. He has since sold The Collective, which was the highest restaurant sale ever in the GC.

Jeremy has now brought to life, Mr Consistent. A Cocktail Mix, supplying bars and restaurants all around Australia.

We chat about how the idea for The Collective came about, the importance of culture and how you have to trust your gut instinct.
1 hr 6 min
August 07, 2020 TABLE FOR TWO: Episode 5: Meet Yianni Passaris
Episode 5: Meet Yianni Passaris.
Yianni is the owner of some of Brisbane’s best hospitality venues. He is responsible for Morning After, Yolk and more recently, Ping Pong Thai restaurant.

His ability to combine his passion for interior design with his love of hospitality has set him up for success.

In today’s episode we talk about the process of how Yianni created identity within his business, how paramount culture is, trusting your designer and (just quietly) that one time Usher visited Morning After.
1 hr 10 min
July 27, 2020 TABLE FOR TWO: Episode 4: Meet Salvatore Malatesta.
Meet Salvatore Malatesta.
In 1993 while at university, 21 year old Salvatore was sick of the lack of good food and coffee options on offer. So when there was an opportunity to tender for a cafe at his campus he jumped at the opportunity. By the time he had completed his degree he had 15 cafes in the tertiary sector.
Being one of Melbourne’s most well known and loved personalities, Salvatore has since gone on to open over 80 business including the famous St Ali a cafe, roastery and lifestyle brand.
53 min
July 23, 2020 TABLE FOR TWO: Episode 3: Meet Nathan Toleman
Episode 3. Meet Nathan Toleman.
From running Australia's most iconic venues to focusing on meditation and mental health. The more successful Nathan becomes the more he wants to give back and do for the community and hospitality industry. He talks about why he decided to sell the famous kettle black, higher ground and Top paddock, how important culture is, why saying no to new opportunities is sometimes more important than saying yes and why his new venue the common ground project, is the most important thing he will ever do in the hospitality industry.
49 min
July 16, 2020 TABLE FOR TWO: Episode 2: Meet Julian Moussi.
Meet Julien Moussi. An inspirational hospitality operator in Melbourne. From running coffee carts at sporting events to building a multimillion dollar hospitality industry - there’s no stopping this guy. With over 18 venues (and counting) Julien is paving the way, showing that running a successful business and maintaining a balanced lifestyle is achievable.

Supported by our good friends at Sonoma Baking Co. & Procal Dairy
44 min