Eat It

Cam Smith and Matt Steadman get together in the studio to chat about cheap eats around Melbourne and the turn of the weather! Alexander Perry calls in from Castlemaine, in the foyer of his restaurant, Situation Dining, to talk about the benefit of having smaller 'micro-managed' farms as opposed to huge, large-scale ones. Alexander also tells us all about the Mount Alexander Taste Festival! John gives his usual market report for the best of autumn produce, and Dani Valent visits the studio again to discuss her new column for The Age called 'Eat Streets'.

Cam Smith is once again joined by Karl Chapman for another effervescent episode of Eat It! In this installment, Karl regales his adventure to Kyneton and chats mushrooms with Cam, which leads into more fungal discussion with Dan Hunter! Dan chats with Cam about things he is doing to run his farm-restaurant, Brae, as sustainably as possible. He also talks about his newly awarded 3 star status by the Organic Creditation from the Sustainable Restaurant Association (UK). 'Queen of Desserts' Phillippa Sibley teaches us how to peel chestnuts, gives us directions to her restaurant, Pinotta, and tells Cam what she's drawing at the moment, and that drawing is NOT the same as painting! And lastly, Duncan Buchanen returns to the show to discuss grape ripeness and when it's the best time to harvest!

Cam Smith and Kent Goldsworthy play an engaging game of 'Is it Worth It?', where Kent throws Cam the true, hard-hitting questions! Is it worth paying premium for balsamic vinegar? or even a specialty pasta? Accomplished Cheesemonger and Affineur, Anthony Famia, joins Cam and Kent to discuss his famous toasties from his shop Maker and Monger, which can be found at the Prahran Market. Anthony also delves into the different bacterias that are grown on cheese! Darren Purchese of Burch and Purchese and Cath Claringbold call in to chat with Cam about Studio Kitchen! Studio Kitchen is an online resource that provides users with recipes, a food blog written by Cath, video lessons, and much more.

On today’s Easter Sunday we spoke with superstar chef Jo Barrett from Lorne’s Little Picket about her upcoming travels to the US, caught up with John at home rather than the market, and then spoke to Iranian refugee and café operator Hamad Allahyari about his journey from Iran to Melbourne and his café Salamatea.

Join Cam Smith and Matt Steadman for Easter Sunday EAT IT! On the show, Jo Barrett joins with news on Little Pickett and heading to America. Market Correspondent John chats about what he has on his plate, and Hamad Allahyari joins the duo to chat about his restaurant SalamaTea and his inspirational journey to Melbourne in 2012 from Iran. Join Cam Smith and Matt Steadman for Easter Sunday EAT IT! On the show, Jo Barrett joins with news on Little Pickett and heading to America. Market Correspondent John chats about what he has on his plate, and Hamad Allahyari joins the duo to chat about his restaurant SalamaTea and his inspirational journey to Melbourne in 2012 from Iran. Join Cam Smith and Matt Steadman for Easter Sunday EAT IT! On the show, Jo Barrett joins with news on Little Pickett and heading to America. Market Correspondent John chats about what he has on his plate, and Hamad Allahyari joins the duo to chat about his restaurant SalamaTea and his inspirational journey to Melbourne in 2012 from Iran. Join Cam Smith and Matt Steadman for Easter Sunday EAT IT! On the show, Jo Barrett joins with news on Little Pickett and heading to America. Market Correspondent John chats about what he has on his plate, and Hamad Allahyari joins the duo to chat about his restaurant SalamaTea and his inspirational journey to Melbourne in 2012 from Iran. Join Cam Smith and Matt Steadman for Easter Sunday EAT IT! On the show, Jo Barrett joins with news on Little Pickett and heading to America. Market Correspondent John chats about what he has on his plate, and Hamad Allahyari joins the duo to chat about his restaurant SalamaTea and his inspirational journey to Melbourne in 2012 from Iran. Join Cam Smith and Matt Steadman for Easter Sunday EAT IT! On the show, Jo Barrett joins with news on Little Pickett and heading to America. Market Correspondent John chats about what he has on his plate, and Hamad Allahyari joins the duo to chat about his restaurant SalamaTea and his inspirational journey to Melbourne in 2012 from Iran. Join Cam Smith and Matt Steadman for Easter Sunday EAT IT! On the show, Jo Barrett joins with news on Little Pickett and heading to America. Market Correspondent John chats about what he has on his plate, and Hamad Allahyari joins the duo to chat about his restaurant SalamaTea and his inspirational journey to Melbourne in 2012 from Iran. Join Cam Smith and Matt Steadman for Easter Sunday EAT IT! On the show, Jo Barrett joins with news on Little Pickett and heading to America. Market Correspondent John chats about what he has on his plate, and Hamad Allahyari joins the duo to chat about his restaurant SalamaTea and his inspirational journey to Melbourne in 2012 from Iran. Join Cam Smith and Matt Steadman for Easter Sunday EAT IT! On the show, Jo Barrett joins with news on Little Pickett and heading to America. Market Correspondent John chats about what he has on his plate, and Hamad Allahyari joins the duo to chat about his restaurant SalamaTea and his inspirational journey to Melbourne in 2012 from Iran. Join Cam Smith and Matt Steadman for Easter Sunday EAT IT! On the show, Jo Barrett joins with news on Little Pickett and heading to America. Market Correspondent John chats about what he has on his plate, and Hamad Allahyari joins the duo to chat about his restaurant SalamaTea and his inspirational journey to Melbourne in 2012 frjJoiJoin Cam Smith and Matt Steadman on Easter Sunday! On the sjhshow., Jo Barrett joins the show to discuss Little Pickett and travelluiing to America. Market Correspondent John discusseds what he has on his plate, and Hamad Allayhhyari is in the studio to instell his story of his restuaauran, SalamaTea, and, and his trechouachorous journey to Australia in 2012 from Iran. inspirationalCafe Sunshine and SlamaTea

Cam Smith catches up with Stephanie Alexander and Natasha Grogan, of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation to delve into the origins of their majorly successful school programs and how enriching it is to teach children how to grow and prepare their own food in a way that is pleasurable to them! Duncan Buchanan calls in to chat with Cam about the optimum time to pick fruit for wine making, altitude temperatures, and different types of wine glasses.

Cam Smith and Matt Steadman get together (over zoom) to chat about the fantastic range of food festivals that are on at the moment, and Cam joins John at the Queen Vic Market for John's autumn produce market report! Leo Donati of 'Donati's Fine Meats' sits down with Cam to talk about his upbringing in Melbourne, and how this lead to Donati becoming a butcher. The pair also delve into Donati's time serving during the Vietnam War and the difficulties of running a butcher shop whilst in another country, in addition to the challenges that came with being Italian in Australia in the 70's.

Cameron and Matt talk to Cathalina Pauta from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre about their upcoming Feast For Freedom - a cuisine exchange experience in aid of people seeking asylum in Australia. They also talk to experts on challenges when operating restaurants.

Cam and Matt speak with Karen Martini all about her new St Kilda restaurant Saint George, reminisce on her incredible career so far, and get to the bottom of whether or not Karen is hanging up the TV apron for good after 17 years-spoiler alert: you'll have to wait and see. Later, Cam and Matt are joined by Pat Nourse, Creative Director of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, to celebrate the festival's 32nd edition, running from the 15th to the 24th of March. From the World Longest's Lunch, the incredible featured chefs from around the world, and where you'll find the best Danhattan in town, the crew discuss everything you can expect to see at the festival this year.

Cam walks and talks with Hohn from Tomato City about picking the best tomatoes at Queen Vic Market. Cam chats with Sebastian Raeburn from Distiller for Craft & Co. about tequila and mezcal and the new Agave liquor they managed to produce from Australian produce.

Cam and Matt sit down with Besha Rodell, chief restaurant critic for The Age and Good Food, to catch up on the state of the restaurant scene in Melbourne. John Pontelandolfo checks in from a hot day at Tomato City in Queen Victoria Market. And winemaker Duncan Buchanan chats about the excitement of the summer season at the vineyard.

Cam Smith and Kent Goldsworthy chat with the delightful Ashleigh Butler about her new book 'The Small Kitchen Cook: Thoughtful Recipes for Tiny Kitchens', which is a collection of recipes for those living the van life, or are living in a tiny home. Butler explains how raising her twins in a combi van helped inspire her to come up with dishes that only need to be cooked on two burners! Three time winner of the International Gin Producer of the Year, Cameron Mackenzie (of Four Pillars Gin), joins Cam and Kent in the studio to reflect on the beginnings of his business. After starting out in the wine industry (after attempting to qualify as a sprinter in the olympics), Mackenzie bought a still with his business partners and began making gin in the back of a shed in Warrandyte, which brought them to where they are today! They also discuss how the team managed to create a carbon neutral distillery.

Join Cam and Matt as they catch up with award winning food writer, Richard Cornish, who enthuses about Slow Food, an organisation that is centered around traditional cooking and local food promotion. Cornish expands on the magical experience of coming together with people and eating home grown foods, and talks about some of his favourite places that promote Slow Food. John meets with Cam at the Queen Vic Market for his market report and talks all things eggplant, green capsicum, unwashed potatoes, and more! Former Melbourne Food and Wine Festival industry engagement manager, Zenon Misko calls in from Bangkok to talk about his decision to live there, and how it's taken him to all kinds of street corners and back alleys in the name of food! Misko also discusses his street food guide which covers eleven cities - Bangkok included - and can be found on https://roadbook.com/.

This week, Cam’s joined by Matt Steadman for a delicious episode. Cam heads to Prahran Market to chat white truffles with Mushroom Man Damian Pike, along with cherries, white asparagus and giant strawberries. Then, Jury chair for the 2023 Eat Drink Design Awards Amy Woodruff chats about design in hospitality sector and the big winners this year.

The Great Queen Vic Market Doughnut Fire of 23' is nigh!!! Cam Smith and Kent Goldsworthy catch up with Eva and Maria Konecsny, founders of the 'Gewurzhaus' franchise which began in Lygon Street, and now stretches beyond Melbourne to Sydney, Adelaide, and Canberra. Eva and Maria talk about their life changing time in Munich which inspired them to open their shop, and their new book 'Kindred' which is more than just a recipe book, but also a collection of traditions, rituals, and stories from their own family. Self-proclaimed 'Mad Scientist' Roz Kaldor-Aroni chats with Cam about her healthy ice-cream brand, 'Elato'! She talks about her experience working in intellectual property law and how that helped her develop her own brand. Roz also reveals how she worked out how to create recipes using the least amount of sugar possible without compromising the taste, by using sweet ingredients (that aren't strictly sugar).

Join Cam Smith and Matt Steadman as they learn about Pinsa dough from the delightful Carmine Constantini - owner and chef of the St. Kilda-based restaurant Pinsabella - which is a lighter alternative to the pizza dough we are used to! We also learn about the Roman origins of Pinsa, and Carmine's time studying to learn how to make it. John delivers the market report and gives Cam some advice on how to cook scallops without letting them dry out. Cam Hines (co-founder of Mountain Goat, which he's now departed from) makes an appearence in the studio to talk about his new venture, Southern Seagreens. Hines brings in a little sample of homegrown seaweed for Cam and Matt, and explains the reasoning behind using wakame to make the seaweed and how it's helping keep native kelp populations alive.

Cam Smith and Karl Chapman are joined in the studio by Co-Editors of The Age Good Food Guide 2024, Ellen Fraser and Emma Brahimi, to chat about the new edition and what went into creating it. They also talk about the process for being awarded a hat by the critics, which restaurants to look out for this year, and culinary trends. Also, the owner of Lygon Street Restaurant, Rumi, Joseph Abboud also joins the show and talks with Cam about his new book Rumi: Food of Middle Eastern Appearance. Joseph tells us about all the fabulous people who were behind the creation of his book and reminisces about his cooking career and how he got started.

Cam and Matt are joined by Professor Russell Keast, from Deakin University, talking about the psychology and physiology of taste and its impact on our decision-making. Then, John Pontelandolfo from Tomato City shares insights into the great quality and prices of his fresh products at Queen Victoria Market. Finally, Chef Noah Crowcroft talks about his Texas roots and his cooking style at Rice Paper Scissors restaurant.

Cam Smith and Kent talk to restaurant builder Nathan Scarfo about how design can influence noise levels while dining; John takes us to Tomato City in the market report; Plus, Max Moolman and Bridget Lansell from the Wonki team come along to chat sustainable seltzers during a live tasting.

Cam Smith and Matt have a chat with Chef and Co-Owner of Masons of Bendigo, Sonya Anthony while she takes a walk around Daylesford Lake with her Beagle! Sonya talks about her parents' experience immigrating to Austalia from Solvenia in the 60's and how that impacted the way she feels about food. She also talks about Blume's Historic Bakery and Cam congragulates Masons' 12th birthday! Cara Devine joins Cam and Matt in the studio to talk about her new book, 'Strong, Sweet, and Bitter: Your Guide To All Things Cocktails' and her introduction to bartending. Cara also enlightens us on the Triangle of Taste and how to make a balanced cocktail!