One of Australia's favourite actors Jenni Baird is our special guest this week. Jenni is currently being seen in the ABC series Plum, playing Dana Hanlon, a journalist chasing the truth in the closed men's word of Rugby League. We all remember Jenni as the villainous Regina in A Place to Call Home and roles in The Twelve and All Saints. Having recently built her own dream kitchen, Jenni cooks like an Olympic sport and shares her favourite dishes and some cracking kitchen tips. The Food Poll this...
Nov 06, 2024•24 min•Season 7Ep. 44
We are delighted to have Jo Beth Taylor join us on Food Bytes this week. Back home now in Perth, Jo Beth reveals what she's up to these days and shares some special memories from the heady days of Hey Hey its Saturday, Funniest Home Videos and a musical career that took her to the bright lights of LA. We also find out about her kitchen prowess and her dinner party guest list will surprise! This week's Food Poll is a Halloween special treat or treat. Smarties or M&Ms? Presented by Sarah Patte...
Oct 30, 2024•27 min•Ep. 43
Fresh and refreshed from her terms as the 104th Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp shares the highs and lows of her time at Town Hall plus some behind the mayoral robes secrets about her favourite beverages. Sally gives us a most eclectic and entertaining dream dinner party guest list, shares her passion for the City of Melbourne and names her favourite spots outside the 3000 postcode. Sally does not have to worry about polls anymore but we do, and the tribe has spoken in the battle between toa...
Oct 23, 2024•31 min•Season 7Ep. 42
Pastry chef extraordinaire Darren Purchese returns to Food Bytes after five years and he has lost none of his zest for cooking and life. Darren is a contestant on the second season of Dessert Masters, currently screening on Ten and Ten Play. Darren takes us behind the scenes and reveals why he chose to put himself through this competition and whether or not he himself has a sweet tooth. We also revisit a personal favourite dish, how he started in the hospitality industry and some tips on running...
Oct 16, 2024•26 min•Season 7Ep. 41
We love him in Utopia. We can’t get enough of him on the stand-up circuit. Now, we’re delighted to have award winning actor and comedian Dilruk Jayasinha join us on the Food Bytes podcast this week. As well as sharing some hilarious stories about everything from his cooking prowess to his former life as an accountant, Dilruk chats to us about his incredible journey back to his country of origin – reconnecting with family in Sri Lanka - on the SBS show Shaun Micallef’s Origin Odyssey. And we’ve g...
Oct 10, 2024•29 min•Season 7Ep. 40
Summer should bring hot fun in the sunshine and lazy days by the pool, but it can also mean tragedy. Our guests this week are doing their best to make sure all children enjoy this summer and those in the future. Laurie and Emma Lawrence through their Kids Alive program are championing the Swim into Summer message to teach kids to swim as early as possible. Laurie can walk the walk, talk the talk and do the five and Emma shares his philosophy and passion. She also spills the beans on Laurie's fam...
Oct 03, 2024•27 min•Season 7Ep. 39
Hush was one of the most popular and colourful bands of the seventies and Les Gock was the band's rock god lead guitarist. We relive the songs, the highly flammable clothes and the on-the-road diet, plus we check out what Les is up to on and off stage in 2024. Les is also no slouch in the kitchen, as you will hear. The Food Poll is perfect fodder for the footy finals. Shepherd's pie? Yay or nay? Presented by Sarah Patterson & Kevin Hillier Broadcast each Sunday on the ACE Radio Network - htt...
Sep 26, 2024•30 min•Season 7Ep. 38
You could not find a more fitting guest for this time of year as footy finals fever hits us all. Bruce Eva shares his passion for sport and commentating, which was born in his school days and became his profession. Bruce's talents behind the microphone are without question but what about his skills in the kitchen? We find out. It's a busy time of year and Bruce takes us through his Grand Final week planner. Bruce's dream dinner party guest list is a first and you will love it. There is something...
Sep 19, 2024•29 min•Season 7Ep. 37
The wonderfully engaging Ann Peacock joins us this week for a rare insight into her life and her kitchen, and what a treat it is. Ann has some refreshingly candid observations about home entertaining and shares her passion for the air fryer, ice cream desserts, her boys Andrew & Woody and thick Gravox gravy! And to finish, a very personal dream dinner party guest list and a kitchen tip that's priceless. The Food Poll this week is a bun fight, with a Yum Cha challenge between a BBQ pork bun a...
Sep 12, 2024•27 min•Season 7Ep. 36
Quarters is back. Stephen Quartermain - our very first Food Bytes guest - returns, and we find out what, if anything, has changed in his life. A keen cook, he is renowned for his roast duck fat potatoes and he gives us the secret to potato perfection. The popular Channel 10 newsman loves his job but admits the industry is changing -some of it good, some things not so good, but he still gets a buzz every day, which is not surprising given his coffee and chocolate intake. And the Food Poll asks th...
Sep 05, 2024•31 min•Season 7Ep. 35
Zoe Bingley-Pullin is as vibrant as the food she brings to the table as a nutritionist, chef, TV presenter, wife and mother and now author of the new book Eat Your Way to Healthy Hormones. Best known for TV shows Good Chef Bad Chef and The House of Wellness, Zoe shares her personal story dealing with the challenges of IVF, perimenopause and motherhood, plus a blossoming media career and how food was a guiding light in dealing with it all. You will hear about her dedication to coffee and cheese, ...
Aug 29, 2024•35 min•Season 7Ep. 34
Get ready for a wonderful dose of Australian music nostalgia as pop/rock singer-songwriter Wendy Stapleton joins us on the Food Bytes podcast this week. Wendy reminisces about her days at the forefront of the Aussie music scene and her ‘crazy rock chick’ era as part of Wendy and the Rockets. We also talk about her marriage to another great muso in Paul Norton, her acting stint as Trixie Tucker on Neighbours … and her prowess in the kitchen! Our Food Poll this week cops a bit of a roasting – are ...
Aug 22, 2024•27 min•Season 7Ep. 33
She’s one of Australia’s brightest comedy stars, and we’re thrilled to have Steph Tisdell join us on the Food Bytes podcast this week. Steph thought she’d be a lawyer. Instead, she ended up on the sometimes brutal comedy circuit, performing sell-out shows, and acting in a host of Aussie shows, including Total Control and Bump. Now, she’s an author. Her new book The Skin I’m In is a fascinating read. One of our most hilarious guests yet, Steph gives us a candid insight into her life, her cooking ...
Aug 15, 2024•32 min•Season 7Ep. 32
As Commanding Officer of the Salvation Army, Major Brendan Nottle has dedicated over twenty years of his life to working with the most vulnerable members of society, and we are privileged to have him as our special guest on the Food Bytes podcast this week. As well as shining a light on homelessness and the human toll of Australia’s cost of living crisis, Brendan shares with us some wonderful memories of his childhood years, his life’s mission and his favourite foods (dumplings with lemon syrup,...
Aug 08, 2024•30 min•Season 7Ep. 31
Not only has Mark Fine has built a loyal following of sports fans through his SEN show Finey’s Final Siren, he also happens to run one of Melbourne’s most popular delis: Lenny’s Fine Foods in Caulfield North. Joining us on the Food Bytes podcast this week, Finey waxes lyrical about his love of food creation and the joy he gets from the tidal wave of cooking that needs to be done each and every day. Soup, anyone? And our Friday Food Poll topic this week is a true winter warmer … do you love lamb ...
Aug 01, 2024•32 min•Season 7Ep. 30
He was known and loved by a generation for his role as Dr Simon Bowen on A Country Practice, and we’re delighted to say Grant Dodwell is our special guest on the Food Bytes podcast this week. As well as taking us on a nostalgic trip back to the Wandin Valley days, Grant brings us up to date on his life today, his involvement with Australian Theatre Live and his flair for making perfect banana bread! And our Food Poll this week? It’s a battle to the death between hedgehog slice and jelly slice, a...
Jul 25, 2024•35 min•Season 7Ep. 29
The new season of The Twelve has hit our TV screens, and we are delighted to have one of its stars – Anthony Brandon Wong – join us on the Food Bytes podcast this week. As well as being an award winning actor known for his roles in movies like The Matrix Reloaded, Anthony is also a keen foodie, with a professional hobby of writing restaurant reviews! He talks to us about everything from his life growing up in Sydney to his role in The Twelve, currently screening on BINGE and Hubbl. And we’ve got...
Jul 18, 2024•27 min•Season 7Ep. 28
We have a wonderful dose of nostalgia for you, with former Young Talent Timer Lorena Novoa our special guest on the Food Bytes podcast this week. As well as taking a trip down memory lane to the YTT days, we chat to Lorena about how she became a singing policewoman and session vocalist. You’ve probably heard her voice on countless commercials! A busy mum and a passionate cook, Lorena also knows her way around the kitchen and loves to chat about all things food. Our Friday Food Poll features the ...
Jul 11, 2024•29 min•Season 7Ep. 27
James Webb LITERALLY eats for Australia. He’s the #1 competitive eater in the country and he’s our incredible guest on the Food Bytes podcast this week. Digest this, if you will … among his world records, James has smashed down 59.5 doughnuts in eight minutes, 224 chicken wings in 10 minutes and over six kilos of chocolate fudge in eight minutes! Competing in this month’s famous Fourth of July Hotdog Eating contest in the US, James gives us a fascinating insight into how he trains, the kinds of ...
Jul 04, 2024•24 min•Season 7Ep. 26
The word ‘legend’ gets bandied around a lot these days, but former footy superstar Ken Hunter most certainly IS a bona fide legend, and he’s our special guest on the Food Bytes podcast this week. Skilful, feared and fearless, the Carlton great was known for his spectacular marks, and for going in where angels fear to tread! We talk to Ken about his playing days, how Aussie Rules footy has changed, his work in the mental health space with the Fifth Quarter Foundation, and why Italian food is alwa...
Jun 27, 2024•37 min•Season 7Ep. 25
In the lead up to the Paris Games, Olympic gold medallist Michelle Ford joins us on the Food Bytes podcast this week for a fascinating chat about the highs and lows of life as a professional swimmer. The 1980 Moscow Olympics were always going to be political. With athletes strongly advised not to go, Michelle opens up about the pressure of being a teenager with a huge decision to make. We also talk about Michelle’s life in Switzerland, the joys of Swiss chocolate, her newly-released book Turning...
Jun 20, 2024•33 min•Season 7Ep. 24
TV and radio favourite Bianca Dye takes centre stage on the Food Bytes podcast this week, in one of the funniest, most insightful and honest conversations we’ve ever featured on the show. As well as sharing with us her kitchen prowess – and flair for making the world’s best chicken soup – Bianca opens up about the sometimes harsh realities of working in radio, how it feels to suddenly have your life upended and the challenges of freelance life, dating … and perimenopause! Our Food Poll this week...
Jun 13, 2024•33 min•Season 7Ep. 23
Less than two months out from the Paris Olympics, former world champion cyclist Kaarle McCulloch is our very fitting guest on the Food Bytes podcast this week. As well as being an Olympian herself, Kaarle is one of Australia’s Deputy Chef de Missions for the Games. She gives us a fascinating insight into her own sporting life, brings us up to speed with how the Aussie preparations are going and gives us the lowdown on the mega array of food choices on offer in the Olympic village! And oh, a swee...
Jun 06, 2024•22 min•Season 7Ep. 22
How lucky are we to have Poh Ling Yeow as our special guest on the Food Bytes podcast this week? One of the original contestants on the very first series of Network 10’s MasterChef Australia, Poh’s become a very familiar face on our screens, having gone on to carve herself an incredible TV career. Now, she’s loving her role as a judge on the latest series of MasterChef. With her vibrant personality shining through, Poh talks to us about the highs and lows of life in the MasterChef kitchen and gi...
May 30, 2024•23 min•Season 7Ep. 21
Ross Greenwood is a very familiar face on our TV screens and he just happens to be our special guest on the Food Bytes podcast this week. As Sky News Australia’s business editor, Ross has a knack of telling viewers in an easy-to-understand way what’s happening in the world of finance. He’s always first out of the blocks with the latest news on interest rates. In this wonderful chat, Ross regales us with tales from his childhood years growing up in Wangaratta. We also discuss his travel adventure...
May 23, 2024•30 min•Season 7Ep. 20
Ann-Maree Biggar was – and as far as we’re concerned, still is – a superstar. She is also one of the warmest, most down to earth and funniest guests we’ve ever had on our show. As a mum and a teacher, Ann-Maree’s life today is about as far removed from TV as you can get, but she was only too happy to take a trip down memory lane and share with us some hilarious tales of her days hosting Agro’s Cartoon Connection. We also chat about food, family life and the portrayal of older women on TV. Our Fo...
May 16, 2024•31 min•Season 7Ep. 19
Wendy Moore is loving life as one of the hosts of Foxtel’s hit series Selling Houses Australia, and this week she’s our special guest on the Food Bytes podcast. As well as offering some expert insight on budget renovations and the dos and don’ts of putting your house on the market, Wendy reveals she’s a passionate baker. We also have a fun chat about why the kitchen has become the hub of the family home. And our Food Poll this week is a bit of a Mexican stand-off, with tacos up against nachos. P...
May 09, 2024•23 min•Season 7Ep. 18
Esteemed Australian playwright David Williamson joins us this week for the 300th episode of the Food Bytes podcast. To celebrate this milestone, we bring you a not-to-be-missed episode, as David shares with us some fascinating yarns about his country childhood as well as his uni days. Plus, we savour all the incredible behind-the-scenes snippets from classic Aussie movies including Don’s Party and The Club. And we’ve upped the baking ante this week in the Friday Food Poll. Are you a fan of the c...
May 02, 2024•31 min•Season 7Ep. 17
Acclaimed French chef, restaurateur and TV personality Jean-Christophe Novelli is our special guest on the Food Bytes podcast this week. As one of the judges on Season 16 of MasterChef Australia, Jean-Christophe is in his element, guiding and mentoring home cooks as the push their kitchen creativity to new heights. He’s also quite the character, and this ep is filled with fun and laughter as Jean-Christophe shares with us his own culinary journey, from his childhood in France to his current Aust...
Apr 25, 2024•29 min•Season 7Ep. 16
Singer, songwriter, guitarist - Jack Jones is a favourite of the Australian music industry, and we have the most wonderful (and at times hilarious) chat with him on the Food Bytes podcast his week. Jack talks about country life, the challenges of converting a church into a house, Southern Sons getting back together for a reunion tour and his love of barbecues and Japanese food … and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! If you love Southern Sons, you’re going to love this ep. This week’s Friday Fo...
Apr 18, 2024•37 min•Season 7Ep. 15
