Meet The Team

Having travelled extensively in South America, Central America, and Asia I have survived on my fair share of staples like rice, beans, corn, and chilli, accompanied by the local beverage.

I have eaten highland guinea pig in Peru but declined to eat dog in South Korea. I’ve got too drunk on backyard Bolivian chicha and had massive hangovers from too much Colombian aguardiente.

The curry in India goes superbly with Kingfisher beer and the stewed chilli while trekking in Bhutan was surprisingly mild. The fried grasshoppers in Mexico went well with the local mescal and making my own caipirinhas in the middle of the Brazilian Pantanal listening to a million frogs was wonderful.

Living in Argentina gave me appreciation for Malbec and doing a road trip through the Margaret River region was life lived at its best.

Favourite wine:
Orange Mountain Riesling from west of Orange and a Hunter Valley Shiraz from Mount Pleasant Estate.

Favourite food:
Shared platters and dishes with Korean being a fave with its kaleidoscope of colour and flavour.

My travel and exploring began when I was wee baby at 10 months old when my parents migrated to Australia from Fiji. I have been very fortunate to have travelled as often as I have and it has taken me on some amazing adventures with so many places still to discover.

My most favourite experiences have been in Europe where I was fortunate enough to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, got to drink beer like a German and party hard like the Irish.

I love my food as much as the next person and there is nothing like experiencing the local culture and cuisine of a different country from goulash to paella or schnitzel to pommes with mayo.

Favourite wine:
I generally have a sweet tooth and lean towards the sweeter wines. Iron Gate’s Sweet Shiraz hits the spot at any time of day, Piggs Peake’s I Swine caters to my sweet tooth cravings, Kevin Sobel’s Tawny warms me right up during the winter season and Leogate’s Frizzante with a fresh cut lime and ice is the right wine to have after a hot summer’s day.

Favourite food:
I believe a good burger can satisfy the soul and is always my go to food for any mood I am in.

I always try to embrace the local specialties when I visit a new country. Having a sweet tooth you can bet that I managed 14 scoops of gelato within a few days in Rome. Cinnamon, nutella, or filled with ice cream – Trdelník was certainly the dish of the day – every day – in Prague.

Snacking on fresh fruit and macadamia nuts in Wakiki, and enjoying shave ice in the Maui summer sun. Eating Sicilian pasta dishes for every day I spent in Taormina, accompanied by an Aperol Spritz (or two).

The freshest tempeh, satay and nasi goreng in Indonesia. Eating raclette melted and scraped from the wheel onto a fresh piece of bread right in front of me in Lauterbrunnen Switzerland. The list goes on….

Favourite wine:
I love some Hunter Valley Shiraz during the winter months of course. Summer time I can be caught drinking anything from a Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Prosecco, to some sort of cocktail fusion!

Favourite food:
My two favourite dishes – freshly made gnocchi with a burnt butter and sage sauce, OR an Indian banquet consisting of a bowl of curry such as dahl or paneer served with rice, naan bread, and a generous dollop of accompaniments (raita, chutney and chilli pickle) – YUM!

I grew up in Kuala Lumpur and travelled extensively around South East Asia prior to moving to Australia when I was 18.

Throughout my travels, I have been exposed to an array of exotic food from fried locusts, bitter beans, fermented shrimp paste, frogs’ meat, pig intestines, smelly tofu and many others that wouldn’t cross your mind.

Some of my favourite (food) memories include savouring freshly-fried banana fritters on a boat at a floating market in Bangkok, learning to make Vietnamese spring rolls from scratch at Halong Bay and looking for street food in Jogjakarta on a scooter late at night.

I now settle for more conservative meals such as lamb roasts, stews and my all-time favourite lamb cutlets (the best I’ve had is from the country pub at Delegate, NSW!).

Favourite wine:
In summer, a glass (or more like a bottle!) of McLaren Vale Rosé with fresh seafood. And in winter, a glass (or two!) of McGuiggan’s Noon Harvest Merlot with roast.

Favourite food:
I can’t get enough of sashimi and oysters. And I’m a massive fan of bocconcini cheese!

I love to travel and experience different cultures! I have extensively travelled across 6 continents and I’m only missing Antartica.

One of my favourite countries in the world is Thailand. I love the food and the people. You can’t beat a classic chicken pad thai or pad see ew with an ice cold singha on a piping hot Bangkok day.

Another favourite country, which is actually my second home is the good old USA. I have visited 44 out of 50 states and have eaten and drank my way through all of them. I have to say that a home cooked southern meal paired with a peach tea moonshine is a great way to watch the sunset in Georgia.

I think that my most memorable foodie experience was in Vanuatu. My husband went out deep sea fishing and caught a wahu. He gave most of the huge fish to the fishermen for their village, but brought a nice big piece back to our hotel so the chef could prepare it 5 different ways. It was amazing!

Favourite wine:
When celebrating a special occasion I can’t go past a champagne. But my go to wine would have to be a Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of New Zealand. You just can’t go wrong in that region! If I’m in the Hunter Valley though on a hot summers day then I would choose a nice Verdelho and if I’m visiting in winter you can’t go past a Hunter Shiraz.

Favourite food:
It’s really hard to go past a Lamb roast dinner! We have some of the best quality lamb in Australia and I would usually pair it with a good french rose. Delicious!

A delicious country’s signature dish, with a refreshing beverage to accompany – that’s the traveller’s dream (well, my travelling dream). Experiencing new cultures is exciting, especially when it comes to food!

I have explored different parts of the world, trying new foods and drinks that tantalise the tastebuds.

Whether it’s been a big slice of cheesy pizza in the hustle and bustle of New York City, Beef Rendang with a Bintang on the beaches of Bali, Singapore Slings in Singapore, Pad Thai in Thailand, Fish Chowder on the wharfs of San Francisco – it’s hard to deny that rich culture is shown through some amazing signature foods from all around the world.

Yes, I’ve had some great experiences overseas – but I’m lucky enough to have amazing produce right here in my own backyard! Australia is a big country, with so much to explore. The food and wine here alone, is enough to make you travel down under.

Favourite wine:
A nice cold glass of Rosé from the Hunter Valley in summer, is a dream. The only thing better on a hot day? A frosé! (Frozen Rosé)

Favourite food:
Fresh, Aussie seafood can’t be beaten. Whether it’s a bunch of fresh prawns by the beach, fish and chips in the park, or some oysters and sashimi at a fancy restaurant – I love it all!