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