Last year we did one of our most popular series ever on Dirty Linen, following the planning, building and opening of Martin Boetz's Shortgrain restaurant in Brisbane. It's been seven months and we were wondering...how is Marty going now? We check in to hear about staffing, costs, pricing, customers and vision - is Shortgrain the place its owner hoped it would be, and what advice does this experienced chef and restaurateur have with the wisdom of hindsight? https://www.shortgrain.com.au/ Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dirtylinenpodcast Follow Dani Valent https ..read more

Even if hospitality isn't broken, is it breaking the people who work in it? We talk to Paul Pitcher, owner of Woodhouse, a steakhouse in Bendigo. Paul and his wife Danielle run their restaurant with passion and rigour but they're finding it increasingly hard to get the numbers to stack up. What would help their business and the hospitality industry as a whole? And what motivates Paul to keep going, even when there are tough truths every way he turns? https://thewoodhouse.com.au/ Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dirtylinenpodcast Follow Dani Valent https://www.inst ..read more

Hospitality, tourism and accommodation are entwined, especially in regional Australia. But what happens when one pillar of that business is deeply compromised? We chat to Eloise Emmett, owner, chef and host at Little Norfolk Bay Bistro and Chalets in Tasmania. Eloise is troubled by booking platforms which take a huge cut of her margins and by customers who don't understand why booking direct is a great option. Is there a role for government to play in keeping tourism revenue local? https://littlenorfolkbaybistroandchalets.com/ Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dirtyl ..read more

Wiradjuri woman Tara Croker is the founder of Yaala Sparkling, a purpose-driven flavoured mineral water company that uses native ingredients to create healthy and delicious drinks. Ethics are at the heart of the business: Tara aims to change the game when it comes to the economic pathways of indigenous foods and as Yaala grows, she hopes to create employment for Indigenous people too. https://yaalasparkling.com/ Follow The Producers on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/producerspodcast/ Host Dani Valent  https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Host Anthony Huckstep https://www.insta ..read more

We've chatted about misogyny, sexism and poor culture before on Dirty Linen but it's always the right time to surface these issues and create awareness around toxic behaviour and efforts to eliminate it. Today's guest is Kaidee Grzankowski, co-owner of Maggie's Snacks & Liquor in Melbourne's Brunswick East. This is Kaidee's first business and she doesn't want her staff to experience the same sexism that has marred her time in hospitality. Have things improved? What can be done better? What does a new business owner do when they want to be the change? https://www.instagram.com/maggiessnack ..read more

Something a bit different on Dirty Linen today. We’re chatting with Melbourne musician Jess Ribeiro who has a new album coming out in April, Summer of Love. Why have a musician on a food podcast? For one thing, I think all creative industries overlap and intertwine and there are synergies and lessons that we can share. Also, Jess has had various focuses on food throughout her life and career, beginning with a childhood in Chinese restaurants, continuing with a period in remote Australian communities where kids caught birds for lunch, and moving forward to today's long tours as a muso trying to ..read more

It was big news when Teage Ezard announced his 18-year-old Melbourne restaurant Gingerboy had shut the doors. People realised that tricky times in hospitality weren't just a story, they were impacting seasoned restaurateurs. What happened behind the scenes at Gingerboy and why was now the right time to close? And does hospo veteran Teage Ezard think his beloved industry is broken? https://www.instagram.com/chefteageezard/?hl=en Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dirtylinenpodcast Follow Dani Valent https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Rob Locke (Executive Pr ..read more

Is hospitality broken? Maybe not - if you don't let it break you. Today's guest is Tim Bone, an ex-MasterChef contestant who has resisted pressure to turn Tim's Toasties, his Ballarat-based mobile food business into a bricks-and-mortar operation. Staying nimble means less risk, more flexibility and lower outlay. But is there a downside? https://timbone.com.au/ Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dirtylinenpodcast Follow Dani Valent https://www.instagram.com/danivalent Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer) https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/ Follow Huck (Execut ..read more

Is hospitality broken? Absolutely not, says Jo Barrett. The Age Good Food Guide's Chef of the Year has just announced she's closing her one-hat restaurant Little Picket, but it's on her terms. The restaurant is profitable and she's moving on to two projects she thinks need to be tackled now: wild game and bread waste.  Jo is a return guest on Dirty Linen. Listen to her illuminating takeover series here. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1TYMr5ffQFtiXr8N7r6vYJ?si=6893080a3f68492b https://www.instagram.com/jobarrett/?hl=en Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dirtyl ..read more

When Lachlan Dougherty was an apprentice chef, it wasn't unusual for his head chef to call him into a lift to scream at him. Two decades later, the owner of Black Vice cafe in Hurstbridge still feels like he's unpicking the impacts of abuse. We talk about hospitality culture and the perpetuation of bad behaviour and - crucially - how courageous questioning and practical steps can lead to positive change. This is a brave chat - there's never a bad time to talk about mental health, but with so many people in the industry feeling extraordinary pressures, it feels like an especially good moment to ..read more