In this episode of Straight To The Source, host Lucy Allon is joined by Jules Bagnato, co-owner of Brae Restaurant in regional Victoria, one of Australia’s most celebrated dining destinations and the nation’s first three-star Food Made Good accredited restaurant.

Jules shares her remarkable journey from a corporate background to shaping one of the world’s most respected hospitality venues, where regenerative farming, design, and storytelling converge to create an authentic sense of place.

From her early experiences living in Spain during the rise of modern gastronomy to leading Brae’s sustainability and culture programs, Jules reveals how she and chef Dan Hunter built a restaurant deeply connected to its landscape, people, and purpose.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about:
Building a hospitality business rooted in values, vision, and culture
How European dining philosophies shaped Brae’s approach to Australian terroir
Why sustainability goes far beyond composting and solar panels
Creating pathways for leadership, respect, and well-being in hospitality teams
The behind-the-scenes systems that support creativity and consistency

Whether you’re a chef, restaurateur, designer, or food lover, this episode offers rare insight into how one of Australia’s most thoughtful food and hospitality leaders is reshaping the future of dining.

Episode Highlights
[00:00] Welcome to Straight To The Source
[00:27] Introducing Jules Bagnato and Brae Restaurant
[03:40] The influence of Spain’s avant-garde dining scene
[07:00] Building a sense of place at the Royal Mail Hotel
[13:00] The vision and design philosophy behind Brae
[18:00] Creating culture, clarity, and respect within a team
[22:00] Defining sustainability and the Food Made Good framework
[27:00] Lessons from achieving Australia’s first three-star sustainability rating

Follow Brae Restaurant: https://www.instagram.com/braerestaurant 

Learn more about Brae Restaurant: https://www.braerestaurant.com 

Find out about the Sustainable Restaurant Association and Food Made Good Accreditation: https://thesra.org 

Find out more about Straight To The Source: https://straighttothesource.com.au

Follow Straight To The Source Food Podcast: @stts_podcast

Follow Straight To The Source: @straight_to_the_source

Connect with your hosts:
Tawnya Bahr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr
Lucy Allon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon

In this episode of Straight To The Source, host Lucy Allon is joined by Jules Bagnato, co-owner of Brae Restaurant in regional Victoria, one of Australia&rsquo;s most celebrated dining destinations and the nation&rsquo;s first three-star Food Made Good accredited restaurant.
Jules shares her remarkable journey from a corporate background to shaping one of the world&rsquo;s most respected hospitality venues, where regenerative farming, design, and storytelling converge to create an authentic sense of place.
From her early experiences living in Spain during the rise of modern gastronomy to leading Brae&rsquo;s sustainability and culture programs, Jules reveals how she and chef Dan Hunter built a restaurant deeply connected to its landscape, people, and purpose.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation about:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Building a hospitality business rooted in values, vision, and culture</li>
<li aria-level="1">How European dining philosophies shaped Brae&rsquo;s approach to Australian terroir</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why sustainability goes far beyond composting and solar panels Creating pathways for leadership, respect, and well-being in hospitality teams</li>
<li aria-level="1">The behind-the-scenes systems that support creativity and consistency</li>
</ul>
Whether you&rsquo;re a chef, restaurateur, designer, or food lover, this episode offers rare insight into how one of Australia&rsquo;s most thoughtful food and hospitality leaders is reshaping the future of dining.
Episode Highlights
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">[00:00] Welcome to Straight To The Source</li>
<li aria-level="1">[00:27] Introducing Jules Bagnato and Brae Restaurant</li>
<li aria-level="1">[03:40] The influence of Spain&rsquo;s avant-garde dining scene</li>
<li aria-level="1">[07:00] Building a sense of place at the Royal Mail Hotel</li>
<li aria-level="1">[13:00] The vision and design philosophy behind Brae</li>
<li aria-level="1">[18:00] Creating culture, clarity, and respect within a team</li>
<li aria-level="1">[22:00] Defining sustainability and the Food Made Good framework</li>
<li aria-level="1">[27:00] Lessons from achieving Australia&rsquo;s first three-star sustainability rating</li>
</ul>
Follow Brae Restaurant: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/braerestaurant">https://www.instagram.com/braerestaurant</a>&nbsp;
Learn more about Brae Restaurant: <a href="https://www.braerestaurant.com">https://www.braerestaurant.com</a>&nbsp;
Find out about the Sustainable Restaurant Association and Food Made Good Accreditation: <a href="https://thesra.org">https://thesra.org</a>&nbsp;
Find out more about Straight To The Source: <a href="https://straighttothesource.com.au/">https://straighttothesource.com.au</a>
Follow Straight To The Source Food Podcast:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/stts_podcast"> @stts_podcast</a>
Follow Straight To The Source: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/">@straight_to_the_source</a>
Connect with your hosts:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Tawnya Bahr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr</li>
<li aria-level="1">Lucy Allon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon</li>
</ul>

Welcome to Food, Views and Big Ideas where food and hospitality experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon go behind-the-scenes to have candid conversations with Australia’s most dynamic food, hospitality and agribusiness leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators. 

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

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

Welcome to Food, Views and Big Ideas where food and hospitality experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon go behind-the-scenes to have candid conversations with Australia’s most dynamic food, hospitality and agribusiness leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators. 
Follow, comment, and hit that bell for more episodes of Straight To The Source on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/straight-to-the-source/id1610058270">Apple Podcasts</a>, <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>, <a href="https://twitter.com/to_the_source">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/straight-to-the-source/">LinkedIn</a>.

Straight To The Source

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>.