Coolroom Confessional with Melissa Leong

Featuring Martin Rehak from Bridges Belgian Dining and Joel Valvasori from Lulu La Delizia

Setting up shop in a tourist destination should be a no-brainer, especially when you have a delicious menu and even better beers, but what happens when the audience doesn’t know what you do?

Featuring Christopher Norris from Opus Coffee Brewers and Joseph Vargetto from Mister Bianco

Chris visits coffee shops... And buys them. He is very good at setting up a cafe, but he admits that just 10 weeks out from accidentally opening two more venues at once, he doesn’t know just how it will go running it all on his own. Cue restaurateur Joe Vargetto who has some advice for Chris at the pointy end before launch day.

Featuring Isaac & Lorenzo from Pasta Prego and Benji Terkalas from Kosta’s Takeaway

Isaac and Lorenzo are best mates from primary school but they’ve got an issue: they are looking to open their second venue and are looking to start a prep kitchen. Thankfully Benji has been there and done that, with four locations including one HQ.

Featuring: Patrick Fisher from Bernie's Bar and Gareth Whitton from Tarts Anon

Patrick Fisher sees the purpose in Bernie's Bar, a beloved LGBTQ+ institution, but the restaurant part of the business isn’t thriving. He looks to a top chef for menu inspiration to bring diners inside. Will it work as the beloved bar approaches crunch time?

Featuring: Georgie Smith from G’s Jaffles and Mo Saad from Fricken

Solo operator G is thinking about expanding her food truck business, but doesn’t know if now is the right time. She and Fricken Chicken’s co-founder Mo talk building a team and shifting from food truck to venue.