Dirty Linen - A Food Podcast with Dani Valent

Karen Golding chats to us from the carpark of a variety store where she's buying supplies to reopen her restaurant at Red Hill Brewery on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. We chat about the difficulties of corralling customers who want to wander around the beautiful property - it's hard to tell a parent chasing after a toddler that they need to sit back down. Karen also talks about the benefits she found in lockdown and the elements she's trying to keep as life returns to something a bit more like normal. https://www.redhillbrewery.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Dirty Linen continues talking about diner behaviour and the impacts it can have on hospitality staff. Today we chat to experienced baker and chef Rod Shokuhi, who is currently keeping things ticking along at Beasley's Tea House in Melbourne's Doncaster. Rod had a very difficult customer a few hours before we chatted. He uses it as a teaching moment, explaining his attitude and approach to aggression in the dining room. This conversation gets pretty intense and also includes actionable tips on how to deal with tricky situations. If you need to talk to someone, make an appointment with your GP and remember that Lifeline is always there on 13 11 14. https://www.instagram.com/rodshokuhi/ https://instagram.com/beasleysteahouseofficial?igshid=qm953yfocd2q Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

What's going on with customer behaviour? This week Dirty Linen throws the spotlight onto rude, aggressive, unreasonable and upsetting diners and the impact they can have on hospitality workers. Today's chat is with Lisa Bilston, owner of Bob's Your Uncle cafe in Melbourne's Doncaster East. One day last week, a customer went ballistic about being served the wrong rice. He upset Lisa and her staff so much that she closed the cafe on the spot. We chat the next day: she's regrouped and reopened but has vowed to take a stand to protect mental health. Have some people forgotten how to be kind? https://bobsyourunclecafe.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Are backpackers exploited on Australian farms? Georgina Dent is a young UK chef working at Anchovy in Melbourne. Having arrived in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa, Georgina was required to spend 88 days on a farm to secure a second year in Australia. She ended up in Bundaberg paying exorbitant rent to do piecework picking lemons: it was hard, hot work and hard to earn money too. And out of 300 workers, 4 were Aussies. I wonder who is picking those lemons now... Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Dirty Linen continues with the topic of regional labour. Nina Meiers is a tree-changer who moved to north-east Victoria with her husband and started an organic strawberry farm instead of retiring. There have been endless challenges but her biggest problem right now is labour - there are no internationals around to pick her fruit and locals are unwilling or unavailable. The consequence? She's just made the heartbreaking decision to let her best crop rot on the ground. Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Dirty Linen is spending the rest of this week talking about labour in the regions - it's in deep crisis. We are 26,000 workers short and produce is rotting on the ground. We start with Kim McDonnell, CEO and founder of Thankful, which aims to create connection and change by fostering gratitude. In Australia, the organisation has flowered as Thankful4Farmers. They're about to launch a plan to help solve Australia's picker and packer paucity - could local kids stuck in Oz be the answer? https://www.thankful.org Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

With South Australia's six-day lockdown ending after three days, Dirty Linen decided to check back in with Daisy Miller, owner of Adelaide's Soi38. We get fired up. Why is one visa holder blamed for a major government decision? What kind of machine lies behind this? How might it tie into Federal policies that exclude and marginalise? Where do anger and trust fit into health responses? How do we reconcile our luck in being in Australia with our dissatisfaction about certain details? We're here...we might as well ask some big questions. https://www.soi38.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

For 30 years, Marika Oost has been in kitchens, including a period as Karen Martini's head chef at Melbourne Wine Room. She often struggled with the culture and expectations of the industry, finally leaving it - and her own children - for her own mental health. When we speak to Marika, she's all aches and raw fingers from her first day as a meatworker, a job that she welcomes as part of the journey to undo herself and then rebuild as a softer, surer woman, excited about the future. https://www.instagram.com/thiscreativelassie/ Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

We head back to Adelaide to talk to Daisy Miller, owner of Soi38. It's the first day of a planned six-day hard lockdown and Daisy is feeling stoic but uncertain - it's impossible to plan or to know how things will pan out, but she's panic bought an inflatable pool and is bunkering down with her family. https://www.soi38.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

As South Australia enters a hard, fast lockdown we chat to chef and restaurateur Adam Liston from Shobosho. He's a bit shellshocked but supportive of stringent measures to control a COVID outbreak that escaped hotel quarantine, so long as it does the job it's supposed to do. That is: quash the virus in six days so that Adelaide can get back to being Radelaide in time for the busy Christmas trading period. https://www.instagram.com/adam_liston/?hl=en Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Jacqui Allen owns the Wy Yung Pub in Bairnsdale, East Gippsland plus two sushi shops and a festival business. Let's face it, she's a gun. It's been a hell of a year for the 30-year-old publican, kicking off with horrific bushfires then rolling straight into the pandemic. We talk about managing change, staff shortages, resilience, application, learning, stickability and the gladness that she's managed to eke out of 2020. https://www.wyyungpubonthegrass.com Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Dirty Linen first spoke to French restaurant manager Clement Demarais in August. Melbourne was locked down and as a sponsored worker, Clement's options were severely limited. He ended up taking a job in Sydney managing a creperie. We talk about escaping Melbourne, the post-traumatic stress of emerging into low-virus Sydney, and because our topic this fortnight is staffing, we talk about the difficulties of finding skilled staff, especially in an Australia that loves restaurants as a pastime but doesn't value them as a career. https://www.instagram.com/clementdemarais/ Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Paul Stafford owns Bigger Than Texas BBQ food truck and we chat to him while he's setting up in Mornington during the first weekend that Melbourne is allowed to travel more than 25K. The Peninsula is flooded with people but there isn't enough capacity to feed them, partly because of COVID restrictions but also because businesses like Paul's can't find enough staff. As well as knowing his way around a brisket, Paul is studying accounting. We talk labour markets, numbers, $6 coffee and the cliff that is March's full stop for JobKeeper. https://biggerthantexasbbq.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Dirty Linen spoke to indomitable chef and restaurateur Joseph Vargetto two months ago when Melbourne was in a very different place. But now, with the city opening, life is actually harder. The employment market is a constant stress: where are the workers? Can Melbourne have the restaurants we pride ourselves on when there aren't enough people to work in them? Joe also makes an impassioned plea for people who don't love the industry to get out and leave it to the true believers. Also, I admit to being very, very tired. https://www.misterbianco.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

After Dirty Linen's 100th episode segue, we are back talking staffing with Jerry Mai (Annam, Bia Hoi, Pho Nom and a pop up at Mornington's Ocean 8). Jerry is a big believer in training, nurturing, work-life balance and career planning. Around 80% of Jerry's pre-COVID workforce left the country and it's proving terribly difficult to staff up again. At the same time, she encourages employees to be choosy and business owners to become first-rate employers of choice. https://www.instagram.com/chefjerrymai/?hl=en Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

To celebrate 100 episodes of Dirty Linen we decided to turn the tables on host Dani Valent. We wrangled stable mate Anthony Huckstep to take the steering wheel and discover the driving force behind Dani’s quest to unearth the issues at the heart of not only the industry, but discover who we are, as people with a podcast series that has become an integral voice of the hospitality industry. Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

UK-born chef Aidan Robinson's pandemic began on Valentine's Day when his restaurant Dinner by Heston served its last meal. Since then, Aidan has fruitlessly sought to be paid his outstanding entitlements, unsuccessfully looked for a new job as a sponsored visa holder, set up a home-based cake business Chic de Partie and applied for a partner visa, which came through last week. It's been a rollercoaster and - for now - Aidan has no plan to return to restaurants, even though they're struggling to find staff as Melbourne reopens. https://www.instagram.com/chicdepartie/?hl=en Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Chantal de Fraga owns three Richmond pubs, Kingston Hotel, Swan Hotel and Public House. We focus on staffing in this episode, an instant crisis as Melbourne restaurants reopen with a much smaller pool of potential employees to draw on. Many internationals have departed, erstwhile hospo staff have taken employment in other industries and some are content to sit on JobSeeker for now. As Melbourne heads towards COVID-normal, Dirty Linen is easing back into its original format: a week on a topic that's at the heart of hospo. This week is staff - let us know if you have a story that needs telling! https://www.thekingstonhotel.com Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Sean Kierce owns Ladro pizza restaurants in Fitzroy and Prahran. He didn't know it till we started chatting but numerous diners have been in touch with Dirty Linen to compliment Ladro's COVID-safe protocols. We chat rules and staying safe, pandemic perspective, and why it's important to play the long game as Melbourne gears back up. https://ladro.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

As Victoria and New South Wales decide to open their border, we head to Albury-Wodonga to chat to Jacob Wolki. Jake is a farmer who's about to open a butchery. He also owns Cycle Station bike shop and cafe. We talk food systems, community, connection, transparency, why he appreciates the pandemic, and local, local, local. https://www.wolkifarm.com.au Read this book: The Shepherd's Life by James Rebanks Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Is it crazy or brave to open a restaurant during a pandemic? Let's ask Pierre Geoffroy, who launched Abbiocco in bayside Highett in June. But before we talk about that, Pierre has to endure my bad French accent, followed by a long minute of Dirty Linen on the couch spilling some feels. And finally, we get to it: hospo families, whether fine dining has a future, the ins and outs of reopening to over-excited diners and the joys of a good list. Have you ever really done something if you haven't ticked it off? Nope! http://abbioccohighett.com Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Today on Dirty Linen, we talk with Suzy Pavlov from Moonee Ponds' Lebanese restaurant Bekka. Melbourne is a few days into reopening and it's a juggle of joy (welcoming customers back, facilitating happy reunions, putting food on plates again) and pain (easing laggardly diners out the door, getting heartily sick of masks, wondering why owning a business doesn't pay these days). The pandemic has caused Suzy to reevaluate everything: even though feeding people is still her passion, she wonders how much longer she can stick it out in restaurants. https://www.bekkarestaurant.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Hugo Tremayne owns Fitzroy bar Little Hop. We chat mid-way through their first weekend back open - busy, positive, crazy! Our chat is a bit of an ode to the spirit of Melbourne hospitality and a recognition of the profound importance restaurants, cafes and bars can have in the lives of their customers and workers. Hospitality is so much more than dispensing food and drink, it's weaving meaning through connection. https://www.instagram.com/littlehop_fitzroy/?hl=en https://www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out/news/how-feeding-chickens-helps-a-fitzroy-bar-owner-20200501-h1nrb7 Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Today we speak to restaurateur and salted egg obsessive Dion Sanusi, owner of Yoi in the Melbourne CBD. Yoi opened on Day One of Melbourne's emergence from lockdown and Dion talks about the joys and challenges of welcoming back diners. We also chat about the CBD - is a city restaurant viable without as many international students and office workers? And why isn't Indonesian food ubiquitous here? It's so interesting and diverse and Indonesia is so close. Deon is on a mission to make it mainstream. http://yoirestaurant.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

With Melbourne reopening, we thought it was timely to check in with epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws to look at the new landscape with a dining skew. Why is it necessary to reopen slowly? Why would a 500 sq m restaurant have the same number limits as a 100 sq m place? How to approach cleaning (antimicrobial fogging or nah?), toileting, and mask on-and-offing. Dine safe, everyone! https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/professor-marylouise-mclaws Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Melbourne is open! Coskun Uysal is gearing up to open his modern Turkish restaurant Tulum in a couple of days. He opens up about how negative and self-critical he felt during lockdown, and takes us back to his childhood in Istanbul, where the anguish of being gay and the silence he lived with was a crushing feature of life in his tiny family home. For Coskun, Melbourne is a place of love, welcome and excellent food - and he doesn't think that's going to change. https://www.tulumrestaurant.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

As Melbourne prepares to reopen, I thought it would be great to get some intel from a caterer who specialises in dealing with the unexpected - bad weather, grumpiness, collapsed marquees... Sophie Storen from Cookes Food shares tips on attitude, personnel, sheeting rain, mozzies, extreme heat and more. We also talk about one of the banes of the pandemic - takeaway containers! https://www.cookesfood.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Unstoppable Melbourne restaurateur Jessi Singh opened Mr Brownie in winter, adding it to a roster of restaurants that includes Daughter-in-Law, Mrs Singh, Dhaba at the Mill in Kyneton and Sydney's Don't Tell Aunty. He talks about growing up in Punjab and how the life and lessons of India have set him up for success in Australia, even during a pandemic. https://www.themrbrownie.com Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Alba Badrena Alcover is a Spanish waiter who had about five jobs in March then lost them all when COVID hit. She's bounced around during the pandemic, eating into her super, doing a medical trial for money, taking a free room from a kindly publican and now working at Great Ocean Ducks in Western Victoria. It's been a crazy 2020 for this lovely, lively temporary visa holder. Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Normally at this time of year, event maestro Bruce Keebaugh would be putting final touches to his Bird Cage marquees and canapes, the hottest ticket at Melbourne's Spring Racing Carnival. 2020? Not so much. Instead, he's created an outdoor restaurant and bar called The Commons, while still advocating and planning for the return of large events. The mood? Hope and joy, always hope and joy. https://thebiggroup.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Jayne Newgreen has so much going on! With her partner Christopher Howe, she runs Talbot Provedore & Eatery, a country store/cafe/restaurant with a strong local focus. She's one of the founders of Provenir, a mobile on-farm abattoir, which just won the Outstanding Innovation, Sustainability & Community gong in the Delicious Produce awards. We talk about steering staff and customers through tumult and why small abattoirs can be part of pandemic proofing. https://talbotprovedore.com.au https://provenir.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Victor Aghtan owns Tim Ho Wan and Hawker Chan, city restaurants with branches in Box Hill and Chadstone. We talk about the difficulties of reopening, particularly in the city, and especially when the restaurants' customers and staff used to be international students, many of whom have left Australia during the pandemic. Oh, and we have a big fight about Hainanese chicken rice! Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Dirty Linen chats to Manpreet Singh from Richmond's Ladyboy Dining in the wake of Victorian Premier Dan Andrew's easing of restrictions - including the limited opening of Melbourne restaurants from November 2. The next step doesn't go far enough for everyone but Manpreet is feeling positive and getting ready to welcome back diners. https://ladyboydining.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Paul Kasteel owns Hoo Haa bar in Windsor. It's upstairs on Chapel Street and has a drinking and DJ focus so sedate outdoor dining is far from a straightforward proposition. It's costing Paul $2000 a week to open for takeaway right now so he's understandably desperate to open safely. While he's waiting for clarity, there are a million things to think about and be overwhelmed about each day. https://www.hoohaa.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

There are lots of people who are ancillary to the hospitality industry - people like food writers (hello!) and photographers - hello, Kristoffer Paulsen. We talk about image-making in general, and focus on three key pics from Kris's portfolio: George Calombaris (pre-pandemic, mid-scandal), Victorian Premier Dan Andrews (pre-hotel quarantine) and Attica chef Ben Shewry (between lockdowns). https://www.kristofferpaulsen.com Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Rabih Yanni owns Botanical Hotel in South Yarra, an iconic pub that looks after a huge, invested community. Rabih is finding solidarity with other prominent restaurateurs through the pandemic and hopes that progress towards common goals will continue to knit the hospitality industry together on the other side of lockdown. Meantime, he's feeling the tough times and looking forward to better times: Melbourne will get through this. https://botanicalhotel.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Renowned Melbourne chef Philippa Sibley reckons this year has been one of the best, as well as one of the worst. She's appreciated the creativity of those around her and the opportunity to try new things herself. At the moment, she's excited about Take3byPS, her new mystery dinner delivery service. She's also feeling optimistic about a good summer in her job at city mainstay The European. Also this is the episode where I find my word nemesis: coulibiac. (I have said it 1000 times since this recording!) https://goodiegroup.com/ Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Mary-Louise McLaws is a Professor of Epidemiology, Hospital Infection and Infection Diseases Control at the University of NSW and a Member of the World Health Organisation ad hoc Infection Prevention and Control for COVID-19. We talk restaurants indoors and outdoors, and she tells us how business owners can improve safety for diners and staff. Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Today on Dirty Linen we chat to Omnia chef Steve Nairn about how sad it is to skip asparagus season and how difficult it is to plan reopening when you have no idea what the rules will be. We also dip into Steve's impressive CV to learn about grouse-plucking in Scotland and alphabetised everything at Eleven Madison Park. Fine dining is dead! Long live fine dining! https://www.omniabistro.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Dan Sims' pandemic started with a cancelled cheese festival and 1.5 tonnes of cheese to move, and continued with some big questions about the place of mass gatherings in a COVID-normal world. How on earth might you do a wine festival without spittoons, for example? Dan is a hospo guy from way back but he's just as concerned about the place of the arts in a vibrant Australia - is there a way for creative industries to be stronger together? https://revel.global Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Christo Christophidis owns Ripponlea Food & Wine in inner-city Ripponlea and Mocha Jo's in outer-suburban Glen Waverley. As president of the Glen Waverley trader's association, he's been pandemicking since January when the area's Chinese community weathered early COVID impacts. We talk about finding the fire and remembering why you lit it in the first place, getting the bricks out of the boot of your business and how you get out of the mire and back to the magic. http://ripponleafoodandwine.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Mary-Jane Daffy is a veteran cafe opener, owner and adapter in Melbourne's south-east. She's launched a bunch of new businesses at Carter Lovett in Elsternwick over the past six months and is wondering which will persist as we creep out of lockdown. MJ is a clear thinking pragmatist with strong views on hospo's pre-COVID problems - we talk staffing, wages, prices, surcharges and community. She's a gem. https://carterlovett.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

James Broadway's pandemic includes closing one 17-year-old restaurant and building a market garden, bakery and supply box store at the infant Tedesca Osteria on the Mornington Peninsula. But that's not the real conversation. James goes big and deep, talking about the true meaning of hospitality and the unexpected ways he thinks the art of hospitality can be wielded to build a better society. Don't miss this one. https://www.tedesca.com.au/osteria-tedesca Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Today on Dirty Linen we head back to regional Victoria, to Dianne Ray's The Shared Table in Buninyong. She shares her views on kindness and what 'we're all in it together' might mean and along the way we talk about why opening to dine-in trade can actually be harder and less financially viable than take-home meals. When Dianne talks about food I feel like she's putting a bowl of something on the table in front of me - I hope you enjoy your dose of sustaining comfort chat too. https://www.thesharedtable.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Chayse Bertoncello and his brother Blayne own and run O.My restaurant in Beaconsfield in Melbourne's outer south-east. We talk to Chayse about the differences between lockdown 1 and 2, the importance of community, the rhythms of farming and being so connected to produce that you know the name of each cow you eat. https://www.omyrestaurant.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Emma Handley is owner-chef at Templar Lodge in Tawonga in north-east Victoria but much closer to Albury, NSW, than Melbourne. My last restaurant meal before lockdown was with Emma - I was researching a bushfire recovery story. We talked about the fires that ruined summer and pondered the pandemic. Now Emma has just reopened (again) to seat outdoor diners in the snow. 2020! Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

We hear a lot about the mental health impacts of the pandemic but what actually might they be and how do we deal with them? We start the week with integrated wellbeing specialist and counsellor Rae Bonney (who also happens to be the mother of episode 24's George Wintle). "How does it feel to be you today?" she asks. https://www.instagram.com/rae.bonney/?hl=en Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Melbourne chef Robbie Bell was on the cusp of launching a food distribution business when the pandemic hit, forcing many restaurateurs to turn their in-house creations into retailed food items. It was a timely move. He steps us through some of the pain points of launching a food brand and shares heaps of practical tips for those who might be considering bottling that sauce. We also talk about hospo culture and why he thinks it should be hard to run a restaurant. Oh, and gratitude - a lot about gratitude. https://www.instagram.com/robbiebell8/?hl=en Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Dirty Linen darts out of the hospo space into academia. We talk to Dr Quentin Stevens, Associate Professor in RMIT University’s School of Architecture and Urban Design. Quentin is a leader in the field of 'Temporary and Tactical Urbanism' and has many creative ideas about outdoor dining. We talk city beaches, goodwill, what 'cutting red tape' might actually mean, and the opportunities for entrepreneurs as we emerge from lockdown.. Quentin is a leader in the field of 'Temporary and Tactical Urbanism' and has many creative ideas about outdoor dining. We talk city beaches, goodwill, what 'cutting red tape' might actually mean, and the opportunities for entrepreneurs as we emerge from lockdown. Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/

Jason Jones was an 11-year-old pianist in a country fine diner when he fell in love with hospitality. Putting steaks in boxes isn't the warm service experience he lives for but he's managed to make delivery fun. We talk about dealing with uncertainty, staff shortages, the tricky prospect of outdoor dining, the fact that sometimes you might need to spend five days in bed, and his belief that Melbourne will be back. https://www.entrecote.com.au Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Dani https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Deep In The Weeds on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deepintheweedspodcast/?hl=en Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/