Master pastry chef Christopher The shares his career from a start in fine dining to global success with BlackStar Pastry to coming full circle and back home with his new cake shop and cafe, HEARTHE. Located in the heart of Christopher's childhood backyard in Stanmore, HEARTHE is an expression of Christopher's dedication to creativity and a backdrop for an exploration of Australian native flavours. It also pushes the boundaries to redefine what we think of as 'pastry'.

Follow Christopher on Instagram



Follow HEARTHE on Instagram

or visit the website

Read about your hosts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon here

Join the Straight To The Source community here

Learn more about Straight To The Source here

Master pastry chef Christopher The shares his career from a start in fine dining to global success with BlackStar Pastry to coming full circle and back home with his new cake shop and cafe, HEARTHE. Located in the heart of Christopher's childhood backyard in Stanmore, HEARTHE is an expression of Christopher's dedication to creativity and a backdrop for an exploration of Australian native flavours. It also pushes the boundaries to redefine what we think of as 'pastry'.
Follow Christopher on <a href="ttps://www.instagram.com/the_christopher_the/">Instagram</a>
 
Follow HEARTHE on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hearthe_aus/">Instagram</a>
or visit the <a href="https://www.hearthe.com.au/">website</a>
<a href="https://straighttothesource.com.au/about">Read about your hosts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon here</a>
<a href="https://straighttothesource.com.au/community">Join the Straight To The Source community here</a>
<a href="https://straighttothesource.com.au/">Learn more about Straight To The Source here</a>

Welcome to the Straight To The Source podcast, where leadership meets the future of food.

Hosted by two of Australia’s most respected food industry voices, Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon, the Straight To The Source podcast connects you directly with the changemakers shaping how we grow, source, and experience food.

With decades of experience spanning the kitchen, dining room, and boardroom, as chef, restaurateur, consultants, and educators, Tawnya and Lucy bring an insider’s lens to the challenges and innovations driving the industry forward.

From producers pioneering regenerative practices to hospitality leaders reimagining what sustainability means on the plate, each episode explores the strategies, stories, and leadership mindsets transforming the global food landscape and ensuring a thriving, sustainable food future for generations to come.

Get ready for bold ideas, honest conversations, and the kind of insights that move industries forward.

Follow, comment, and hit that bell for more Straight To The Source episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

To stay up to date, follow Straight To The Source on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Welcome to the Straight To The Source podcast, where leadership meets the future of food.
Hosted by two of Australia&rsquo;s most respected food industry voices, Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon, the Straight To The Source podcast connects you directly with the changemakers shaping how we grow, source, and experience food.
With decades of experience spanning the kitchen, dining room, and boardroom, as chef, restaurateur, consultants, and educators, Tawnya and Lucy bring an insider&rsquo;s lens to the challenges and innovations driving the industry forward.
From producers pioneering regenerative practices to hospitality leaders reimagining what sustainability means on the plate, each episode explores the strategies, stories, and leadership mindsets transforming the global food landscape and ensuring a thriving, sustainable food future for generations to come.
Get ready for bold ideas, honest conversations, and the kind of insights that move industries forward.
Follow, comment, and hit that bell for more Straight To The Source episodes on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/straight-to-the-source/id1610058270">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1FwFeGJI0wp15O9KiDn28c?si=20a9b788479446c7">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@straighttothesource7730">YouTube</a>.
To stay up to date, follow Straight To The Source on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/straight.to.the.source/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/straighttothesourcefoodtours">Facebook </a>and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/straight-to-the-source/">LinkedIn</a>.

Straight To The Source

Straight To The Source Food Podcast

Ep 28: Christopher The - Straight To The HEARTHE

In this episode of Straight To The Source, Lucy Allon sits down with one of Australia's most respected drinks voices, Mike Bennie. A journalist, wine judge, educator, and co-founder of P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants, Mike has spent decades tasting, writing about and championing Australian drinks culture.

From emerging wine trends and changing consumer habits to the rapid growth of the non-alcoholic category, Mike shares his unique perspective on where the drinks industry is heading and why Australia continues to be one of the world's most innovative beverage producers.

They also taste chef-turned-winemaker Matt Stone’s first vintage Pinot Noir. Plus, Mike reveals the Australian drinks every wine lover should know about right now, including the local sparkling wines, Grenache producers and Mediterranean varieties he believes are genuinely competing with the world's best.

What You'll Hear in This Episode

Inside the life of a professional wine critic: From tasting up to 30 wines before breakfast to judging, writing, travelling and staying on top of a constantly evolving global drinks industry.

Why Australians are drinking less but drinking better: Mike's perspective on changing consumer habits and why today's drinkers are becoming more selective, more adventurous and increasingly focused on quality over quantity.

What makes Australian drinkers unique: Why Australians have developed a deep understanding of wine regions, a willingness to experiment and a refreshing lack of rules when it comes to what they drink.

The role of festivals in shaping food and drink culture: How events like Vivid Fire Kitchen and regional food festivals are creating stronger connections between producers, hospitality businesses and consumers.

Tasting Matt Stone's first Pinot Noir: Mike shares his thoughts on the inaugural Wines by Matt Stone Pinot Noir and explains why the wine reflects a commitment to finesse, balance and fine winemaking.

Why chefs often make great winemakers: The parallels between cooking and winemaking and how some of Australia's most respected chefs have developed a deep passion for wine.

The permanent rise of low and no alcohol drinks: Why non alcoholic beverages have moved far beyond trend status and become a permanent part of Australia's hospitality landscape.

How the best restaurants approach non alcoholic pairings: Why some of the most exciting drinks innovation is happening outside traditional wine programs, with sommeliers and chefs creating sophisticated alcohol free experiences.

Australian pioneers changing the non alcoholic category: The impact of brands like Aaron Trotman’s NON and Heaps Normal, and the producers helping reshape how Australians think about drinking.

Global drinks trends Australia should be watching: What Mike is seeing overseas, from wellness beverages and functional drinks to the growing influence of legalised cannabis on alcohol consumption in the United States.

Why wine packaging needs a rethink: Mike's candid views on why wine remains tied to outdated formats and how packaging innovation could help the industry better connect with modern consumers.

Australian sparkling wine versus Champagne: Why Mike believes Australia's best sparkling wines are genuinely competing with, and in many cases outperforming, some of Champagne's biggest producers.

The rise of Australian Grenache: Why Grenache has become one of Australia's most exciting wine categories and how old vine vineyards are helping produce wines that stand alongside the world's best.

The Mediterranean grape varieties thriving in Australia: How varieties like Vermentino, Greco and Nero d'Avola are proving better suited to Australia's climate, cuisine and modern drinking culture.

The next chapter for craft beer: Why beer drinkers are moving beyond heavily hopped styles and becoming more interested in provenance, farming practices and where ingredients come from.

Going straight to the source of drinks: How concepts like provenance, sustainability and producer connection are becoming increasingly important across wine, beer, spirits and non alcoholic beverages.

The future of Australian drinks culture: Mike's vision for a more inclusive, collaborative and less gatekept drinks industry that embraces changing consumer habits while continuing to champion innovation.

Why hospitality needs broader drinks education: How breaking down the silos between wine, beer, spirits and non alcoholic drinks could create a more knowledgeable and adaptable next generation of hospitality professionals.

What the next five years could look like: Mike's predictions for Australian hospitality, from lower alcohol consumption and evolving consumer values to a greater focus on ingredient quality, transparency and sustainability.

Follow Mike Bennie, and, P&V Wine & Liquor Merchants:
@mikebennie101 
@pnvmerchants

Watch our short film, Pork To Fork, Grain to Glass, of our Straight To The Source trip taking Mike Bennie & Nik Hill to Voyager Craft Malt & Dewsburys Free Range Pork

Resources & Mentions
P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants: https://pnvmerchants.com
• Wines by Matt Stone: https://www.instagram.com/wines_by_mattstone
• Heaps Normal: https://heapsnormal.com
• NON: https://www.non.world/en-au
• Little Food Market Sydney at Carriageworks 21-23 August 2026: https://thelittlefoodmarket.com/sydney

About Straight To The Source

Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. 

Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia’s food and hospitality industry.

You can find us: 
Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE
Straight To The Source Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ 
Straight To The Source Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au

Tawnya Bahr 
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ 
Instagram: @tawnyabahr  
Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au

Lucy Allon
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ 
Instagram: @lucy_allon 
Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au

Keywords: Australian wine, Australian drinks industry, Mike Bennie, wine trends Australia, Australian sparkling wine, non alcoholic drinks Australia, Australian Grenache, Australian beer trends, wine podcast Australia, drinks culture Australia, Matt Stone wine, Australian hospitality industry, low alcohol drinks, wine education, beverage trends Australia, Straight To The Source

In this episode of Straight To The Source, Lucy Allon sits down with one of Australia's most respected drinks voices, Mike Bennie. A journalist, wine judge, educator, and co-founder of P&amp;V Wine + Liquor Merchants, Mike has spent decades tasting, writing about and championing Australian drinks culture.
From emerging wine trends and changing consumer habits to the rapid growth of the non-alcoholic category, Mike shares his unique perspective on where the drinks industry is heading and why Australia continues to be one of the world's most innovative beverage producers.
They also taste chef-turned-winemaker Matt Stone&rsquo;s first vintage Pinot Noir. Plus, Mike reveals the Australian drinks every wine lover should know about right now, including the local sparkling wines, Grenache producers and Mediterranean varieties he believes are genuinely competing with the world's best.
What You'll Hear in This Episode
Inside the life of a professional wine critic: From tasting up to 30 wines before breakfast to judging, writing, travelling and staying on top of a constantly evolving global drinks industry.
Why Australians are drinking less but drinking better: Mike's perspective on changing consumer habits and why today's drinkers are becoming more selective, more adventurous and increasingly focused on quality over quantity.
What makes Australian drinkers unique:&nbsp;Why Australians have developed a deep understanding of wine regions, a willingness to experiment and a refreshing lack of rules when it comes to what they drink.
The role of festivals in shaping food and drink culture: How events like Vivid Fire Kitchen and regional food festivals are creating stronger connections between producers, hospitality businesses and consumers.
Tasting Matt Stone's first Pinot Noir: Mike shares his thoughts on the inaugural Wines by Matt Stone Pinot Noir and explains why the wine reflects a commitment to finesse, balance and fine winemaking.
Why chefs often make great winemakers: The parallels between cooking and winemaking and how some of Australia's most respected chefs have developed a deep passion for wine.
The permanent rise of low and no alcohol drinks: Why non alcoholic beverages have moved far beyond trend status and become a permanent part of Australia's hospitality landscape.
How the best restaurants approach non alcoholic pairings: Why some of the most exciting drinks innovation is happening outside traditional wine programs, with sommeliers and chefs creating sophisticated alcohol free experiences.
Australian pioneers changing the non alcoholic category: The impact of brands like Aaron Trotman&rsquo;s NON and Heaps Normal, and the producers helping reshape how Australians think about drinking.
Global drinks trends Australia should be watching: What Mike is seeing overseas, from wellness beverages and functional drinks to the growing influence of legalised cannabis on alcohol consumption in the United States.
Why wine packaging needs a rethink: Mike's candid views on why wine remains tied to outdated formats and how packaging innovation could help the industry better connect with modern consumers.
Australian sparkling wine versus Champagne: Why Mike believes Australia's best sparkling wines are genuinely competing with, and in many cases outperforming, some of Champagne's biggest producers.
The rise of Australian Grenache: Why Grenache has become one of Australia's most exciting wine categories and how old vine vineyards are helping produce wines that stand alongside the world's best.
The Mediterranean grape varieties thriving in Australia: How varieties like Vermentino, Greco and Nero d'Avola are proving better suited to Australia's climate, cuisine and modern drinking culture.
The next chapter for craft beer: Why beer drinkers are moving beyond heavily hopped styles and becoming more interested in provenance, farming practices and where ingredients come from.
Going straight to the source of drinks: How concepts like provenance, sustainability and producer connection are becoming increasingly important across wine, beer, spirits and non alcoholic beverages.
The future of Australian drinks culture: Mike's vision for a more inclusive, collaborative and less gatekept drinks industry that embraces changing consumer habits while continuing to champion innovation.
Why hospitality needs broader drinks education: How breaking down the silos between wine, beer, spirits and non alcoholic drinks could create a more knowledgeable and adaptable next generation of hospitality professionals.
What the next five years could look like: Mike's predictions for Australian hospitality, from lower alcohol consumption and evolving consumer values to a greater focus on ingredient quality, transparency and sustainability.
Follow Mike Bennie, and, P&amp;V Wine &amp; Liquor Merchants:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mikebennie101">@mikebennie101</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/pnvmerchants">@pnvmerchants</a></li>
</ul>
Watch our short film, <a href="https://youtu.be/u58PHNiVjJk?si=spOkOWdR3lU3rHci">Pork To Fork, Grain to Glass</a>, of our Straight To The Source trip taking Mike Bennie &amp; Nik Hill to Voyager Craft Malt &amp; Dewsburys Free Range Pork
Resources &amp; Mentions
<ul>
<li>P&amp;V Wine + Liquor Merchants: <a href="https://pnvmerchants.com">https://pnvmerchants.com</a> &bull; Wines by Matt Stone: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wines_by_mattstone">https://www.instagram.com/wines_by_mattstone</a> &bull; Heaps Normal: <a href="https://heapsnormal.com">https://heapsnormal.com</a> &bull; NON: <a href="https://www.non.world/en-au">https://www.non.world/en-au</a> &bull; Little Food Market Sydney at Carriageworks 21-23 August 2026: <a href="https://thelittlefoodmarket.com/sydney">https://thelittlefoodmarket.com/sydney</a></li>
</ul>
About Straight To The Source
Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon.&nbsp;
Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia&rsquo;s food and hospitality industry.
You can find us:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Straight To The Source Food Podcast: <a href="https://lnk.to/jBCTBE">https://lnk.to/jBCTBE</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Straight To The Source Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/">https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Straight To The Source Website: <a href="http://straighttothesource.com.au">http://straighttothesource.com.au</a></li>
</ul>
Tawnya Bahr&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">LinkedIn:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tawnyabahr/">@tawnyabahr</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au</li>
</ul>
Lucy Allon
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">LinkedIn:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lucy_allon">@lucy_allon</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au</li>
</ul>
Keywords: Australian wine, Australian drinks industry, Mike Bennie, wine trends Australia, Australian sparkling wine, non alcoholic drinks Australia, Australian Grenache, Australian beer trends, wine podcast Australia, drinks culture Australia, Matt Stone wine, Australian hospitality industry, low alcohol drinks, wine education, beverage trends Australia, Straight To The Source

Mike Bennie: The Future of Australian Drinks, Wine Trends & What Every Australian Should Be Drinking

After more than a decade at Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Chef Alex Prichard is trading Bondi for Berry with the launch of Sara Dining & Garden, a produce-driven restaurant grounded in farming, sustainability and regional hospitality on the NSW South Coast.

In this conversation, Lucy Allon sits down with Alex to discuss the realities of opening a farm-led dining destination in today’s economic climate, why chefs need a deeper connection to producers and how regional Australia is reshaping the future of hospitality.

Alex’s career has taken him through some of Australia’s most respected kitchens, including Momofuku Seiobo, Sake and The Cut, before becoming Head Chef at Icebergs at just 24 years old. Now, with Sara Dining & Garden, he’s entering a new chapter focused on immersive dining experiences, seasonality and creating a stronger connection between food, land and community.

From five-hour daily commutes and failed melon crops to Michelin in Australia and the pressures facing restaurants right now, Alex shares an honest perspective on what it takes to build a modern hospitality business.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode
Leaving Icebergs after more than a decade Why Alex decided it was finally time to step away from one of Australia’s most iconic restaurants and pursue his long held dream of opening a regional farm to table venue
The road from Bondi to Berry How commuting five hours a day from the South Coast to Icebergs reinforced both his love for the restaurant and his desire to build a life closer to family and community
The vision behind Sara Dining & Garden The story behind the partnership with Linnaeus Collection and the creation of a destination dining experience built around accommodation, produce, wellness and hospitality
Building a restaurant around the land How Alex and his team spent the past 12 months experimenting with crops, understanding the property and learning what can realistically be grown at scale
Pretty gardens vs ugly gardens Why designing a working farm that also functions as luxury accommodation required balancing operational efficiency with aesthetics
The harsh realities of farming What happened when Alex attempted to grow melons at scale and how weather, mould and seasonality has reshaped his approach to menu planning
Why 100% local isn’t always realistic Alex’s honest perspective on sourcing, commercial realities and why supporting great Australian producers sometimes means looking beyond your immediate region
Australian produce and luxury dining Why regional diners shouldn’t have to miss out on exceptional Australian seafood and produce simply because they’re outside major cities
Why every chef should grow something How harvesting ingredients yourself changes your understanding of waste, labour, value and respect for producers
The rise of regional dining in Australia Why more chefs are leaving major cities and how hospitality migration is reshaping dining destinations across regional New South Wales
Rethinking the restaurant experience How Alex wants Sara to feel more like visiting someone’s home than dining in a traditional restaurant, with guests encouraged to explore the farm and settle into the experience
The business realities facing hospitality The pressures of labour costs, shrinking margins, rising produce prices and why restaurants now need a genuine point of difference to survive
Solving regional hospitality challenges How Sara is approaching transport, non-alcoholic drinks and local engagement to create a sustainable regional dining model
Michelin, Australia and staying authentic Alex’s thoughts on Michelin arriving in Australia and why he hopes Australian restaurants never lose their relaxed, egalitarian style of hospitality
The importance of knowing your producers Why understanding the people behind ingredients matters just as much as the ingredients themselves, and how those relationships shape the way Alex cooks
The future of Australian hospitality Alex’s hopes for the next generation of regional restaurants, young chefs and a more produce-connected dining culture across Australia

Follow Alex Prichard, Sara Dining & Garden, and, Linnaeus Collection:
@alexsprichard 
@saradiningandkitchen
@linnaeuscollection 

About Straight To The Source

Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. 

Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia’s food and hospitality industry.

You can find us: 
Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE
Straight To The Source Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ 
Straight To The Source Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au

Tawnya Bahr 
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ 
Instagram: @tawnyabahr  
Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au

Lucy Allon
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ 
Instagram: @lucy_allon 
Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au

Keywords: Alex Prichard, Alex Prichard podcast, Sara Dining and Garden, Sara Dining Berry, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Australian chefs podcast, Regional dining Australia, Farm to table restaurant Australia, NSW South Coast restaurants, Berry restaurants, Australian hospitality industry, Sustainable dining Australia, Produce driven dining, Australian food podcast, Hospitality podcast Australia, Straight To The Source

After more than a decade at Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Chef Alex Prichard is trading Bondi for Berry with the launch of Sara Dining &amp; Garden, a produce-driven restaurant grounded in farming, sustainability and regional hospitality on the NSW South Coast.
In this conversation, Lucy Allon sits down with Alex to discuss the realities of opening a farm-led dining destination in today&rsquo;s economic climate, why chefs need a deeper connection to producers and how regional Australia is reshaping the future of hospitality.
Alex&rsquo;s career has taken him through some of Australia&rsquo;s most respected kitchens, including Momofuku Seiobo, Sake and The Cut, before becoming Head Chef at Icebergs at just 24 years old. Now, with Sara Dining &amp; Garden, he&rsquo;s entering a new chapter focused on immersive dining experiences, seasonality and creating a stronger connection between food, land and community.
From five-hour daily commutes and failed melon crops to Michelin in Australia and the pressures facing restaurants right now, Alex shares an honest perspective on what it takes to build a modern hospitality business.
What You&rsquo;ll Hear in This Episode
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Leaving Icebergs after more than a decade Why Alex decided it was finally time to step away from one of Australia&rsquo;s most iconic restaurants and pursue his long held dream of opening a regional farm to table venue</li>
<li aria-level="1">The road from Bondi to Berry How commuting five hours a day from the South Coast to Icebergs reinforced both his love for the restaurant and his desire to build a life closer to family and community</li>
<li aria-level="1">The vision behind Sara Dining &amp; Garden The story behind the partnership with Linnaeus Collection and the creation of a destination dining experience built around accommodation, produce, wellness and hospitality</li>
<li aria-level="1">Building a restaurant around the land How Alex and his team spent the past 12 months experimenting with crops, understanding the property and learning what can realistically be grown at scale</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Pretty gardens vs ugly gardens Why designing a working farm that also functions as luxury accommodation required balancing operational efficiency with aesthetics</li>
<li aria-level="1">The harsh realities of farming What happened when Alex attempted to grow melons at scale and how weather, mould and seasonality has reshaped his approach to menu planning</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why 100% local isn&rsquo;t always realistic Alex&rsquo;s honest perspective on sourcing, commercial realities and why supporting great Australian producers sometimes means looking beyond your immediate region</li>
<li aria-level="1">Australian produce and luxury dining Why regional diners shouldn&rsquo;t have to miss out on exceptional Australian seafood and produce simply because they&rsquo;re outside major cities</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why every chef should grow something How harvesting ingredients yourself changes your understanding of waste, labour, value and respect for producers</li>
<li aria-level="1">The rise of regional dining in Australia Why more chefs are leaving major cities and how hospitality migration is reshaping dining destinations across regional New South Wales</li>
<li aria-level="1">Rethinking the restaurant experience How Alex wants Sara to feel more like visiting someone&rsquo;s home than dining in a traditional restaurant, with guests encouraged to explore the farm and settle into the experience</li>
<li aria-level="1">The business realities facing hospitality The pressures of labour costs, shrinking margins, rising produce prices and why restaurants now need a genuine point of difference to survive</li>
<li aria-level="1">Solving regional hospitality challenges How Sara is approaching transport, non-alcoholic drinks and local engagement to create a sustainable regional dining model</li>
<li aria-level="1">Michelin, Australia and staying authentic Alex&rsquo;s thoughts on Michelin arriving in Australia and why he hopes Australian restaurants never lose their relaxed, egalitarian style of hospitality</li>
<li aria-level="1">The importance of knowing your producers Why understanding the people behind ingredients matters just as much as the ingredients themselves, and how those relationships shape the way Alex cooks</li>
<li aria-level="1">The future of Australian hospitality Alex&rsquo;s hopes for the next generation of regional restaurants, young chefs and a more produce-connected dining culture across Australia</li>
</ul>
Follow Alex Prichard, Sara Dining &amp; Garden, and, Linnaeus Collection:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/alexsprichard/">@alexsprichard</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/saradiningandgarden/">@saradiningandkitchen</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/linnaeuscollection/">@linnaeuscollection</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
About Straight To The Source
Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon.&nbsp;
Follow, rate and review Straight To The Source to help more people discover the stories shaping Australia&rsquo;s food and hospitality industry.
You can find us:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Straight To The Source Food Podcast: <a href="https://lnk.to/jBCTBE">https://lnk.to/jBCTBE</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Straight To The Source Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/">https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Straight To The Source Website: <a href="http://straighttothesource.com.au">http://straighttothesource.com.au</a></li>
</ul>
Tawnya Bahr&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">LinkedIn:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tawnyabahr/">@tawnyabahr</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au</li>
</ul>
Lucy Allon
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">LinkedIn:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lucy_allon">@lucy_allon</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au</li>
</ul>
Keywords: Alex Prichard, Alex Prichard podcast, Sara Dining and Garden, Sara Dining Berry, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Australian chefs podcast, Regional dining Australia, Farm to table restaurant Australia, NSW South Coast restaurants, Berry restaurants, Australian hospitality industry, Sustainable dining Australia, Produce driven dining, Australian food podcast, Hospitality podcast Australia, Straight To The Source

From Bondi to Berry: Chef Alex Prichard’s Next Chapter with Sara Dining & Garden

In this episode, Tawnya Bahr talks with Amber Doig, an impressive chef and quiet achiever about ego, culinary instinct, seaweed, and why attitude will always beat talent. 

Amber Doig left Christchurch at 17 for Australia. Twenty-something years later, she's worked alongside Alex Stupack, Chef and Co-Owner of the Empellón restaurant group based in New York City, and is now quietly reshaping how Sydney eats Mexican food.

This isn't a rags-to-riches story. It's a story about showing up, getting humbled in a New York kitchen, and realising that where you're from: your mum's single-parent cooking, your Māori heritage, your Pacific roots, is exactly what makes your food worth eating. 

What You'll Hear in This Episode
Food as family Amber grew up surrounded by professional cooking: her mother trained as a chef as a teenager, cooked through her pregnancy, and had Amber in restaurant kitchens by the age of 10, what she calls "young work experience, AKA free labour"
Rejected but undeterred When Christchurch's hospitality school turned her away over English and Maths requirements, Amber packed up and moved to Sydney at 17 to start her apprenticeship on her own terms
Learning the trade in Sydney From a Rozelle  cafe under head chef Christopher Mitchell via the Hospitality Training Network, to six-plus years with mentor Vanessa Martin at Il Piave, Rozelle, the years that built her foundation
The New York epiphany A New Year's Eve ball drop in 2010 became a life-changing encounter with Mexican cuisine at Empellón. Five years later, she went back, this time to work
Training under Alex Stupak Two years cooking across multiple Empellón concepts, including a James Beard event for the launch of Stupak's taco cookbook and ringside seats as Albert Adrià's team cooked at the Push Project dinner collaboration
A lesson in humility Why New York was a wake-up call for her ego, and how working alongside elite chefs from around the world completely redefined her understanding of speed, precision, and culinary knowledge
Returning to Sydney with purpose Coming home armed with new techniques, bold flavours, and a fire to show Sydneysiders the real depth and complexity of Mexican cuisine
Mexican food beyond Old El Paso Why Amber sees her role as partly educational: the origin story of tacos, mole, Oaxaca cheese, tomatillos, and the fact that Mexico gave the world tomatoes, chillies, and corn
Sourcing the unsourceable The challenge of tracking down Mexican ingredients in Sydney's early days, and how the scene has since transformed with local growers and specialist importers now meeting the demand
Seaweed as the next frontier Her current obsession: sea lettuce from Rocky Point Aquaculture, dehydrated for salads, blitzed into powders, and made into furikake-style seasonings
Pacific roots on the plate A ceviche-inspired ikamata dish drawing on Māori and Pacific culinary traditions, snapper, coconut, and sumac in equal parts nostalgia and innovation
Almost a decade at Applejack Her role at Butler, her involvement across new openings, and working with Director of Culinary Patrick Friesen on menu development across 13 venues
The Opera Bar, reimagined How Applejack Hospitality is bringing locals back alongside tourists: Basa Falafel, Vietnamese banh mi, broken rice, Sydney Rock oysters with Fermentalist Habanero Hot Sauce, and a genuine commitment to local producers

Follow Amber Doig
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/amber_doig_/ 

About Straight to the Source

Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon. 

Reach out, leave a review, and share this episode with someone in the industry who needs to hear it.

You can find us: 
Straight To The Source Food Podcast: https://lnk.to/jBCTBE
Straight To The Source Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/ 
Straight To The Source Website: http://straighttothesource.com.au

Tawnya Bahr: 
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/ 
Instagram: @tawnyabahr  
Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au

Lucy Allon:
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/ 
Instagram: @lucy_allon 
Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au

Keywords: Women in Food, Straight To The Source podcast, Australian chef, Applejack Hospitality Group, hospitality industry, kitchen culture, Sydney, foodpodcast,  Australian food producers, chef career advice, Mexican food, Alex Stupak, Empellón  

Resources & Links
James Beard Foundation,  https://www.jamesbeard.org/events-overview
Applejack Hospitality Group,  applejackhospitality.com.au
Opera Bar, Sydney,  operabar.com.au
Empellón: https://www.empellon.com/alex-stupak/ 
Rocky Point Aquaculture, sea lettuce and sustainable Australian seafood
Carriageworks Farmers Market, Sydney's celebrated producer market, home to local artisans, including Marrickville cheese makers

Have a story to share or a topic we should dive into? Drop us a line — we always love hearing from you.

Straight To The Source is hosted by Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon.

In this episode, Tawnya Bahr talks with Amber Doig, an impressive chef and quiet achiever about ego, culinary instinct, seaweed, and why attitude will always beat talent.&nbsp;
Amber Doig left Christchurch at 17 for Australia. Twenty-something years later, she's worked alongside Alex Stupack, Chef and Co-Owner of the Empell&oacute;n restaurant group based in New York City, and is now quietly reshaping how Sydney eats Mexican food.
This isn't a rags-to-riches story. It's a story about showing up, getting humbled in a New York kitchen, and realising that where you're from: your mum's single-parent cooking, your Māori heritage, your Pacific roots, is exactly what makes your food worth eating.&nbsp;
What You'll Hear in This Episode
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Food as family Amber grew up surrounded by professional cooking: her mother trained as a chef as a teenager, cooked through her pregnancy, and had Amber in restaurant kitchens by the age of 10, what she calls "young work experience, AKA free labour"</li>
<li aria-level="1">Rejected but undeterred When Christchurch's hospitality school turned her away over English and Maths requirements, Amber packed up and moved to Sydney at 17 to start her apprenticeship on her own terms</li>
<li aria-level="1">Learning the trade in Sydney From a Rozelle&nbsp; cafe under head chef Christopher Mitchell via the Hospitality Training Network, to six-plus years with mentor Vanessa Martin at Il Piave, Rozelle, the years that built her foundation</li>
<li aria-level="1">The New York epiphany A New Year's Eve ball drop in 2010 became a life-changing encounter with Mexican cuisine at Empell&oacute;n. Five years later, she went back, this time to work</li>
<li aria-level="1">Training under Alex Stupak Two years cooking across multiple Empell&oacute;n concepts, including a James Beard event for the launch of Stupak's taco cookbook and ringside seats as Albert Adri&agrave;'s team cooked at the Push Project dinner collaboration</li>
<li aria-level="1">A lesson in humility Why New York was a wake-up call for her ego, and how working alongside elite chefs from around the world completely redefined her understanding of speed, precision, and culinary knowledge</li>
<li aria-level="1">Returning to Sydney with purpose Coming home armed with new techniques, bold flavours, and a fire to show Sydneysiders the real depth and complexity of Mexican cuisine</li>
<li aria-level="1">Mexican food beyond Old El Paso Why Amber sees her role as partly educational: the origin story of tacos, mole, Oaxaca cheese, tomatillos, and the fact that Mexico gave the world tomatoes, chillies, and corn</li>
<li aria-level="1">Sourcing the unsourceable The challenge of tracking down Mexican ingredients in Sydney's early days, and how the scene has since transformed with local growers and specialist importers now meeting the demand</li>
<li aria-level="1">Seaweed as the next frontier Her current obsession: sea lettuce from Rocky Point Aquaculture, dehydrated for salads, blitzed into powders, and made into furikake-style seasonings</li>
<li aria-level="1">Pacific roots on the plate A ceviche-inspired ikamata dish drawing on Māori and Pacific culinary traditions, snapper, coconut, and sumac in equal parts nostalgia and innovation</li>
<li aria-level="1">Almost a decade at Applejack Her role at Butler, her involvement across new openings, and working with Director of Culinary Patrick Friesen on menu development across 13 venues</li>
<li aria-level="1">The Opera Bar, reimagined How Applejack Hospitality is bringing locals back alongside tourists: Basa Falafel, Vietnamese banh mi, broken rice, Sydney Rock oysters with Fermentalist Habanero Hot Sauce, and a genuine commitment to local producers</li>
</ul>
Follow Amber Doig
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Instagram:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amber_doig_/">https://www.instagram.com/amber_doig_/</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
About Straight to the Source
Straight To The Source brings you closer to the chefs, producers, growers and makers across the entire food chain, the people shaping where food is headed and why it matters. Hosted by food experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon.&nbsp;
Reach out, leave a review, and share this episode with someone in the industry who needs to hear it.
You can find us:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Straight To The Source Food Podcast: <a href="https://lnk.to/jBCTBE">https://lnk.to/jBCTBE</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Straight To The Source Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/">https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Straight To The Source Website: <a href="http://straighttothesource.com.au">http://straighttothesource.com.au</a></li>
</ul>
Tawnya Bahr:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">LinkedIn:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tawnyabahr/">@tawnyabahr</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Email: tbahr@straighttothesource.com.au</li>
</ul>
Lucy Allon:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">LinkedIn:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lucy_allon">@lucy_allon</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Email: lucy@straighttothesource.com.au</li>
</ul>
Keywords: Women in Food, Straight To The Source podcast, Australian chef, Applejack Hospitality Group, hospitality industry, kitchen culture, Sydney, foodpodcast,&nbsp; Australian food producers, chef career advice, Mexican food, Alex Stupak, Empell&oacute;n&nbsp;&nbsp;
Resources &amp; Links
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">James Beard Foundation,&nbsp; <a href="https://www.jamesbeard.org/events-overview">https://www.jamesbeard.org/events-overview</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Applejack Hospitality Group, <a href="https://www.applejackhospitality.com.au">&nbsp;applejackhospitality.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Opera Bar, Sydney, <a href="https://www.operabar.com.au">&nbsp;</a><a href="http://operabar.com.au">operabar.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Empell&oacute;n: <a href="https://www.empellon.com/alex-stupak/">https://www.empellon.com/alex-stupak/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.rockypointaquaculture.com.au/">Rocky Point Aquaculture</a>, sea lettuce and sustainable Australian seafood</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://carriageworks.com.au/events/carriageworks-farmers-market/">Carriageworks Farmers Market</a>, Sydney's celebrated producer market, home to local artisans, including Marrickville cheese makers</li>
</ul>
Have a story to share or a topic we should dive into? Drop us a line &mdash; we always love hearing from you.
Straight To The Source is hosted by Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon.

Ep 28: Christopher The - Straight To The HEARTHE

In 1 playlist(s)

Straight To The Source Food Podcast

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips