Cover: Women's Health Magazine

She’s graced our TV screens for years, cheering and cajoling budding home cooks. But now #MelissaLeong (@fooderati) is stepping out of her comfort zone, adding new layers to a unique personal journey.

In many ways, Mel is a fitting first digital cover star as we usher in a new era of Women’s Health. For just as we, as a brand, seek to explore the multi-faceted world of wellness beyond the dumbbell or yoga mat, Mel, too, is proving that you can be just as at home poring over perfumes as you can perfecting jiu-jitsu moves. After all, life is a rich dish indeed.

“I think the lesson is to dare to dream and to say yes to zany opportunities because you just don’t know what’s around the corner.”

Click here to read the full interview with the food critic, presenter and author.

Head of brand and words @scarlett.keddie
Editorial director @yeayea.nah
Photography @stevenchee
Styling @grantpearce.inc
Makeup @pinkiiieee
Hair @richardkavanagh
Styling assistant @elisestaveley
Head of social @ariellekatos

On the cover, Melissa wears @Ajeathletica coat, @The_upside top, @Nagnata skirt, @Veja shoes, @Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Shades watch.

Australian Financial Review 2020 Power List: Top 10 Most Culturally Powerful People in Australia

What can I say. I’m still kind of in shock over the year I’ve had and the work I’ve been so lucky to be involved in. ⁣⁣
The most meaningful part of it, has been to know that my being here means something to those who struggle to feel seen, heard and valued in this place.⁣⁣⁣
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Thank you @financialreview for including me 4th on this list of most culturally powerful people in Australia for 2020, I am in awe to stand alongside the likes of the incredible Pat Turner, Chief Justice Susan Kiefel, Celeste Barber and Nicole Kidman. I could never have dreamt to be grouped with such inspiring women who make a difference. ⁣⁣⁣
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Today is a cathartic day for the little girl in me who never felt like she would ever belong or be understood. ⁣

To anyone reading this who feels the same as I did, know that no matter what they tell you, your place in this world holds incredible value. Be real and own who you are: your time is on its way.

“On an entirely domestic scale, 2020’s fourth place-getter, Melissa Leong, too, had found her moment in disaster. In the case of the rookie MasterChef Australia judge, the catastrophe was twofold: the 2019 pay dispute that had led to the departure of the show’s three middle-aged male judges; and the COVID-19 lockdown that coincided with its make-or-break 12th season.

Melissa Leong: "Why is it even a surprise that Melissa is the face of lockdown television? She’s amazing." Kelly Gardner

Into a suddenly resounding vacuum – as pantry staples flew off supermarket shelves and a nation cooked to cope – stepped a formidably articulate food writer with a singular flare for being herself. Leong refused to sanitise a social media trail that included previous unflattering comments about the show and was entirely upfront about her own mental health battles. Better still, she demonstrated a moist-eyed empathy for the cooks in distress that are the show’s stock in trade. She also just happened to be not only the show’s first female judge but its first non-Caucasian.

“Who knew that an incredibly intelligent, beautiful, skilled and experienced person could be successful?” Graeme Mason asked with wide-eyed irony. “What could possibly have been holding her back? That’s the diversity conversation for 2020: why is it even a surprise that Melissa is the face of lockdown television? She’s amazing.”

Just how amazing was confirmed by the second-highest overall ratings in the show’s history. Its April 13 launch was watched by 1.23 million viewers, one-third more than last year and one of 2020’s most-watched debuts, and the closing moments of the finale hit 2 million. Fiona Menzies spoke for the panel when she said, “Melissa is a true find because she’s so authentic in every way. Nothing has been contrived to make her into the perfection that she is.”

MasterChef Australia: Meet Your New Judge Melissa Leong

While she might not be a household name - yet - Leong is kind of a big deal in the foodie world. As a freelance food (and travel) writer and recipe editor, she’s been responsible for helping some big name chefs, like Colin Fassnidge and Dan Hong, bring their cook books into fruition. Plus, she started Fooderati, a website that fuses her love for food and style (this woman has taste).

Aside from being a wordsmith, Leong is a presenter and has appeared on radio, TV and podcasts talking about what she finds rather delectable. Taking a detour from the food writing world, Leong spent five years as a restaurant marketing, public relations and digital consultant.

For the new MasterChef host, food has been a passion ever since she was that kid “who brought the weird lunches to school”.

“Food’s always been central to who I am because it really forms such a core part of a Singaporean identity,” Leong told the Head Ovary Heels podcast.

“I was born in Australia but my parents are from Singapore and, you know, you eat and you shop and that’s about it… food is very much at the centre of every conversation, it’s how we communicate with family.

“Food has always been part of my existence and identity and I feel lucky to now call it a core existence of what I do in a professional capacity.”

She’s a champion for diversity

Leong has long been campaigning for more diversity, particularly in her area of food journalism, saying we need to “encourage a more inclusive and balanced perspective” when it comes to writing about cuisine from different ethnicities.

“It’s fair to say there’s a general dissatisfaction across the board when it comes to the current media state of play,” Leong wrote for Hospitality magazine earlier this year.

“Does it explain the amount of published pieces irately forwarded to me from chefs and restaurateurs, or why I sometimes feel a sense of cringe when I read a piece about the food I grew up with written by a writer who doesn’t quite seem to get it? Is it the overly knowing tone, a lack of diversity in voices and backgrounds or just terrible journalism that’s bothering us?”

She’s critiqued MasterChef in the past

Now, here’s where things get a little spicy; long ago tweets have surfaced where Leong takes a bit of a dig at the whole MasterChef franchise.

In another from 2012, she retweeted a tweet that disparaged the show: “HAHAHAHAHAHA RT @hierohero The biggest mistake an amateur chef can make is going on #masterchef”.

When quizzed about it last night on The Project, the new host wasn’t fussed or flummoxed and refused to back down from her comments.

“We're all humans and we all have perspectives on things that change over time. Why should I scrub all of my social media clean of former opinions that I've had?” she said.

“I may not believe the same things that I did before, but I also don't believe in presenting a sanitised version of myself that is highly edited because that is not who I am.”

Yes, we’re sold on this woman already.

Want to go steady? Sign up to our whimn.com.au newsletter for more stories like this.

Masterchef Australia

It is with great excitement that I share with you possibly the biggest news of my career, to date. I’m thrilled to confirm the whispers happening out there and say YES! I will indeed be part of the new guard for MasterChef Australia!⁣

I could never have dreamed that I would be asked to be part of the next chapter of this great Australian legacy, and it is with deep respect and appreciation for everything that has come before, that we take our first steps into the new. ⁣

Thank you to everyone for their belief and support and a huge HELLO to those of you I am yet to know! Goodbyes are hard, and greeting new people isn’t always easy, but bringing everything I have to the table is a promise I make to you, and one I plan to keep.

The Chefs' Line Airs on Netflix

Netflix August 2019

Two years ago, I would have laughed in your face if you’d told me I’d be co-host and judge on a show on @netflix with my pals @hongsta_gram and @markblackolive, and alongside trail blazing shows I’ve loved and admired.⁣
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Since then, my world has opened up so much, and I’m so humbled by the crazy things I get to call work these days, in addition to my job as a food and travel writer. ⁣⁣
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We filmed Season 1 of #thechefsline so long ago it feels like a distant memory (would someone tell me never to cut a fringe?!), but if you’re new to the show, thank you for watching!

Click here to watch now! #netflix

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What is The Slowdown? From Burnout To Breaking Down, Here's My Story.

I spent some time recently, with the incredible @katepascoesquires for her new publication @theslowdownpress. It’s easily the most raw I’ve been about who I am and how I’ve come to view the world, but I think that real talk is the kind we should be having more with one another in the world, whatever the medium. ⁣⁣
In it, I talk about my personal struggles with mental health, what really happens when you burn out, and an honest account of how I’ve finally come to be comfortable in my skin. If you read it, thank you for sharing my story and I wish you well in yours. The Slowdown is a wonderful online publication that shares the stories and lessons learned by a heap of people from all walks of life and perspectives, so I invite you to read on, and maybe find some inspiration on your own path.

Click here to read my story.

Images and words by Kate Pascoe Squires.

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The Design Files: A Day In The Life

I have been freelancing for over a decade as a writer, journalist, television presenter, media/communications consultant, editor and general food industry dogsbody. No day is ever the same, but nonetheless, I attempted to explain what a day in my life looks like, to the fine people at The Design Files. I have been a fan of Lucy Feagins and her impeccable style and design website for so long, and it is truly a dream come true, to be featured among its beautiful pages.

Click here to read the story!

Photos by Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

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Want To Go On A Date With Me?

Sponsored content made with Visit Victoria and News.com.au

Recently, I was asked by News.com.au, to write a piece on my picks on where to eat and drink, in a suburb by suburb guide to Melbourne (below). Join Joe and me as we go on a date night hit list of some of our favourite haunts; just a few of the reasons why I love this town!

How to eat your way through Melbourne’s neighbourhoods

Regardless of whether you’re southside chic or hip in the north, part of the cool young family crew in Footscray or beachy in St Kilda, one thing’s for sure: Melbourne knows how to eat.

news.com.au has teamed up with Visit Victoria to give readers the best local knowledge on where to find Melbourne’s hottest dining destinations. 

From weekend brunch to late night bites, each pocket of Melbourne contains something delicious, no matter what time it is… because, it’s always time to eat.

Melburnians are a loyal bunch. They’re not afraid to stick with the places that have served them well, and as such, many venues stand the test of time and dining dynasties are born. Over by the beach, Ronni Di Stasio’s eponymous namesake restaurant and bar may have recently opened a city iteration (Citta), but there’s real charm in visiting the original Café Di Stasiofor a Negroni and a plate of fritto misto. Meanwhile, down the street, Lau’s Family Kitchen sets the bar for what a local Chinese restaurant can be. It’s famous sister restaurant Flowerdrum may garner the accolades in this family, but there’s something to be said for soul food in the ’burbs.

A rush of new blood is always a great thing though, and historic live music venue The Espy has recently been reborn into its latest life; featuring plush new interiors, 12 bars over five floors, including cocktail bar The Ghost of Alfred Felton; helmed by Oska Jarvis-White, formerly of Fitzroy gold standard drinking establishment, The Everleigh. Meanwhile, over at The Stokehouse, it’s time to get bougie on the bay and enjoy a long, luxe lunch in architecturally inspired Pascale Gomes-McNabb designed space on the water.

Creeping towards the city, the South Yarra/ Windsor area celebrates the dichotomy of old and new; with classics like French bistros France Soir and Entrecôte continuing to occupy a crucial part in the cultural heart of the south. Enduring pub venue The Botanical is also undergoing a fresh lease on life, with new ownership in the driver’s seat. Meanwhile, new venues like Galah and Atlas Dining provide a fresh, new perspective on all things stylish and south of the Yarra.

We know South Melbourne has a great fresh food market scene, but that doesn’t mean options are short on the ground when it comes to great eats. The area around South Melbourne Market is littered with edible gems, including pastry palace Chez Dre; revered pastry chef Andres Reiss’ namesake café, while Bibelot is her glossy, modern ode to all things chocolate, coffee and supremely covetable. For something more savoury, Park Street Pasta & Wine has also been giving Melbourne a solid run for its money when it comes to Melbourne’s best pasta.

From hot pot to hotspot, the city is changing daily, especially when it comes to late night eating. Dragon Hot Pot’s 24-hour spicy Chinese odyssey has much of Melbourne’s hospitality crowd happy after service, as well as Butcher’s Diner, for one of the best burgers in the city, no matter how late (or early) it is. On the cult classic front, Ling Nan also will never not be a chef favourite. Here, 2am means bronzed, crispy five-spiced quail, pippies in XO over noodles, ice cold Tsingtao and half a dozen of your best mates.

A night out on the town is best-spent venue hopping, exploring the city’s charming alleyways, bars and dining spots. After 11 years, chef Matt McConnell and restaurateur Jo Gamvros’ Bar Lourinhã on Little Collins Street continues to be one of the city’s most compelling date night spots, with some of the best food in the city, sans the hype. A few streets over, their friend and sometimes-cohort, bartender Joe Jones matches them in the romance department (I should know, I’m married to the guy) at his aptly named and intimate table service cocktail bar, Romeo Lane. Speaking of lanes, Punch Lane’s media darling Sunda relishes showcasing the merits of truly imaginative fusion; with chef Khanh Nguyen’s imaginative interpretation of South East Asian food, presented through an Australian lens. A stumble next door, and neighbour Bar Saracen (owned by Middle Eastern restaurant royalty Rumi Dining) offers up delicious bar snacks “of Middle Eastern Appearance”.

Edging out of the city into the north, Carlton’s proud Italian heritage appears to be in good hands, with a new generation of operators, lifting up one of Australia’s most vital migrant cultures. Multi-venue behemoth, King & Godfree has finally reopened, offering an Italian deli, rooftop bar, gelateria and (set to open soon) wine bar, while new kids on the block Capitano and Leonardo’s Pizza Palace bring a new-school, Americano Italian vibe, to the Carlton massive. 

In nearby Fitzroy, chef Shannon Martinez, of Smith & Daughters, has reimagined her vegan restaurant menu into a hit parade of Italian trattoria favourites, which are punchy and vibrant regardless of the absence of meat. 

Tucked in the leafy streets behind Brunswick Street, Napier Quarter lives up its quest to provide a neighbourhood sanctuary in the form of a smart café by day and a chic wine bar with al fresco seating, come sundown.

If pubs are more your thing, Fitzroy and Collingwood’s quiet neighbourhood bars provide each to their own, with everything from bar cats (his name is Barry) and free pool on Mondays at Labour in Vain, to live rockabilly music and excellent Texan style BBQ ’n’ bourbon shots at The Gem Bar. 

The city fringe suburbs are not exempt from the action either, with Yarraville welcoming superlative fine diner Navi, to the neighbourhood, while Footscray has evolved to expand its offering of delicious authentic Ethiopian and Vietnamese cuisines like Addis Abeba and To’s Bakery, to include dynamic newcomers like gastropub Harley & Rose and boozy bakery Bad Love Club. And speaking of bakeries, it would be remiss not to mention nearby North Melbourne’s Beatrix Bakes; purveyors of some of the best CWA-style cakes, hand pies and slices in town, from their tiny hole-in-the-wall shop on Queensbury Street.

Whether you identify with a tribe in a specific area, or you’re simply an indiscriminate eater, Melbourne’s litany of food offerings from shoestring to Champagne and suburb to city, is a delicious, moving feast. From pop-ups to 24-hour joints, institutions and newcomers, chances are there’s something for everyone, and the next time you’re looking for somewhere to eat, the landscape will have changed yet again. Not bad, for fresh food.

Dining out in this foodie town can be serious – seriously fun. Melbourne offers culinary experiences from all-day breakfasts to all-night delights. Visit Melbourne and discover it for yourself. Find out more at visitmelbourne.com

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Ever Done A DNA Ancestry Test?

As an ambassador for A Taste of Harmony 2019, I was asked if I wanted to fill out an ancestry DNA test to find out a little more about where I come from. I wrote about what I discovered for their website, but I thought I’d share with you a little bit about me here. The basic process for a test, no matter which service you use, is:

1. Order your test online. There are great services like 23 & Me or Ancestry which make it super easy. It’s around $100usd.

2. You will receive a parcel in the mail. Open it, follow the instructions carefully, but essentially, the first thing in the morning before you brush (gross!), spit into the tube supplied, seal the bio hazard bag, and send the parcel back according to instructions.

3. A few weeks later, you’ll receive your results, some of which, you can feed through other website data engines, to help you find out things like medical predispositions to illnesses and intolerances, etc.

4. That’s it!

So here’s my story.

Melissa Leong, 3 years old, Singapore.

I was always curious about my cultural heritage beyond what I knew about my family being from Singapore, with Chinese ancestry. Growing up in a predominantly white Australian community, with a few Greek and Italian families, I was always fascinated about how far and wide they knew their family tree. It’s not really an Asian thing, to pass down detailed information about family, at least not in mine. As a migrant family to Australia, my parents were more focused on giving us a future, instead of reflecting on the past. 

I grew up learning a lot about my culture though, through food. It’s the way with most Asian kids, and you aren’t necessarily taught, you learn by exposure and by doing. I was always included in the kitchen when my mum or grandmother was cooking, from leaning to pound chillies with a heavy stone mortar and pestle for sambal, or mixing the mince for wontons, different foods carry different symbolism and importance for different occasions. My mother is a fantastic cook and through her, I have a collection of recipes I make over and over again. They’re the ones I reach for in times of needing comfort or to feel more connected with who I am. I love making Hainanese chicken rice, Nyonya chicken curry, beef rendang and steamed oysters with ginger, spring onions and soy… not bad heirloom recipes to own!

All I really knew about my cultural identity prior to taking the DNA test, is that my grandparents on both sides were originally from China, removed by about a generation or two on each side. My mother, from Fujian Province, mixed with Peranakan Chinese and my father, from Canton, China. My facial features, however, suggested that there may be more to the story than just Chinese heritage, and I always suspected that because of my Singaporean roots, and its history as a place in the with such a multicultural trade significance, that I might also have Dutch or Portuguese ancestry thrown into the mix.

Imagine my surprise to find out that I’m 92% ethnically Chinese, with the remaining 7ish% broader East Asian (this has now come back saying that I have ancestry from The Phillipines and Guam)…and about 1% Native American. I never could have predicted that last part! It’s a fascinating piece of information about my history that I could have never predicted and I would love to explore where, how and when this part of my history played a part in my family. 

 If I had to bring a dish to A Taste of Harmony event, it would probably be wontons. They’re such a crowd pleaser and I love that Australians have taken to dumplings with the kind of obsessive quality any Asian can respect. We are, after all as Australians, a part of South East Asia – something I think our politicians and leaders tend to forget. I think by embracing who we are as a rich multicultural mix of cultures, we are better placed to create a safe, dynamic and peaceful place to live. Diversity to me, means inclusion for all, and an opportunity to learn from and grow with each other. 

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Delicious Magazine: Why You Should Visit Slovenia

There are jobs and there are DREAM JOBS. Being sent to Slovenia with Nikki To last year was definitely one of them, and I’m thrilled with how the story came together in the March issue of delicious. Australia, out today. I cannot express to you how incredible this tiny country is, I hope you enjoy the story! You can find it in print in newsagents, and online later in the month. But for now, support newspapers and magazines and go pick one up!

Delicious Magazine Australia, March 2019 Issue

Thank you to Luxury Escapes for sending us, true masters of an all killer, no filler tour. If you would like to tread the exact same trip, with the best in the biz, find out more here.

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Facing The Food Industry's Hypocrisy: Duncan Welgemoed Speaks

It takes a lot of guts to get up in front of your peers on a global stage and speak out against negative issues, no matter your world of work. For the global food industry, the rise of celebrity chef culture and the ever blurring lines between commercial partnerships, talent and content, has led to a shocking decline in ethics and transparent engagement with consumers.

You buy a product because a chef you admire endorses it, but what are they really getting out of it…and is it any good for you? We’re yet to reach the dizzying heights of Kardashian Sponsored Kontent, ala, Kendall Jenner’s shocking display of vulnerability, paid for by acne skincare giant Proactive, but we’re not far off.

At Food On The Edge 2018, a symposium held in Galway, Ireland in late 2018, South African Australian chef and restaurateur Duncan Welgemoed of Adelaide’s Africola, spoke on the responsibility we have in the face of the popularisation of the food industry, as our profiles and spheres of influence expand. There is deep catharsis in hearing someone publicly say what we are all thinking, because not all of us have the platform or the guts to say it ourselves. A worthy 11 or so minutes of your day, whether you work in food or not. Video shared via Fine Dining Lovers.

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Celebrating The Lunar New Year With The Star

It’s the year of the pig, if you follow the Chinese zodiac. What does it mean? Just like those juicy, sweet little porcine beauties, the year is set to be prosperous one, full of fortune and luck. Along with the very fabulous Dami Im, I spoke to journalist Penny Carroll about what symbolic foods you should have on the table during the Lunar New Year to encourage good health, longevity and prosperity.

Melissa Leong Joins ABC Radio Melbourne Afternoons as a Regular Guest

Throughout 2018, I had such fun occasionally popping up on the ABC Radio Melbourne with Richelle Hunt on her Afternoons program. So I am THRILLED to announce that in 2019, I will be a series regular on her show, to talk about food, social politics and the media. Click the above link to hear our chat this week; from the #10yearChallenge, to why it’s more than just trivial that Sandra Oh is having her time in the Hollywood sun, we talk about Lo Mai Gai, our favourite home cooking recipes…and our shared nostalgia over the local neighbourhood pharmacy.

TV host says Sandra Oh’s Golden Globes victory gives her hope for greater representation in Aussie media

Pop culture may seem trivial but then again, so much in this world is right now. So we take the good where we can get it, and today that came in the form of the incredible Canadian actor Sandra Oh, not only hosting the Golden Globe Awards, but winning Best Female TV Actor. In doing so, she became the first Asian woman in 38 years to win the award.

Months ago when the film adaptation of the book Crazy Rich Asians was released, I wondered why it hit me so emotionally to see female lead Constance Wu on the cover of Time Magazine. Then I read an interview with Sandra Oh by The Hollywood Reporter and it all made sense.

“Just speaking for my own community, people cried a lot in [‘Crazy Rich Asians’], and it’s not only because it’s a great story and a classic romantic comedy — it is  because seeing yourself reflected onscreen is really emotional when you don’t even know that you’re carrying so much grief of never  being seen.”

To be seen, regardless of who you are, is to matter. Oh’s words resonate with so many because we all need to feel like the space we take up in this world means something. This conversation we’ve been having in popular culture about diversity isn’t a novelty to ping ratings, or to push an agenda. It’s a far-to-late one, highlighting the need to represent our world for who we are. All of us. Every face, race and perspective.

Thank you to the fabulous website Draw Your Box, for pushing the conversation forward for women of colour, and for mentioning my little social media fist pump on the Divine Lady Oh’s many reasons to celebrate right now in this moment.

Click here to read the article in full.

Sandra Oh made history today when she not only became the first Asian host of the Golden Globes, but also the first Asian woman to win Golden Globes in multiple categories.

The 47-year-old star scored the gong for Best Performance By An Actress in a Television Series — Drama  for her stellar performance in Killing Eve, and her win had quite the impact on other Asian women across the globe as social media has shown.

Melissa Leong,  host of SBS’ The Chef’s Line, praised Sandra’s victory and highlighted the importance of greater representation on screen in not only Hollywood, but the Australian TV and film industry.

“Each win like Sandra Oh’s night at The Golden Globes is not only a win for extremely hard earned talent, but in some way, for everyone who feels seen in that public acknowledgement,” wrote the Singaporean-Chinese presenter.

“It gives me hope that Australia will one day catch up and represent us publicly in a more honest and accurate way…because we are STILL so far from being there yet.”

As host of the Golden Globes, Sandra had the opportunity to pay tribute to films such as Crazy Rich Asians, Black Panther and BlacKkKlansman that have changed Hollywood’s landscape this year.

She also acknowledged her greater involvement in the awards show playing a part in making change.

“I said yes to the fear of being on this stage tonight because I wanted to be here to look out into this audience and witness this moment of change,” she emotionally admitted

“Next year could be different … but right now, this moment is real. Trust me, it is real.”

Congrats Sandra on a very well deserved win.

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All About Slovenia on ABC Radio

When you tell people you get to travel for work, people usually ask “How do I get that job?” To which I usually answer… “You’ll have to fight me for it!” For as long as I have thought about what I want to do for work when I grew up, I have wanted travel to be a part of that. Recently, Luxury Escapes sent me to Slovenia to write a story for Delicious Magazine and, spoiler alert, it was bloody amazing. You’ll be able to read about it in an upcoming issue in 2019 but for now, I spoke to Richelle Hunt on ABC Radio Melbourne about my trip - good notes for my upcoming deadline!

It is an excellent place to road trip, but if you want a more curated tour of this incredible country, click here to find out how you can skip the queue for Hiša Franko (and get an inside look at this magical place from the experts who know everyone on the ground).

Click below to listen.

Aired November 26, 2018 2.00pm

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Melbourne Farewells A Hospitality Legend

Many of us have taken a moment to absorb some meaning and sentiment from the tragic loss of Sisto Malaspina, co-owner of Melbourne icon Pellegrini’s. Almost every visitor to, or resident of this city has a story, a memory of Sisto’s hospitality, warmth and generosity. If nothing else, this is the stuff that connects us and makes the industry of hospitality so crucial, especially in times of uncertainty, fear and doubt.

You of watermelon granitas and spaghetti bolognese and big smiles, thank you for living the benchmark of what true hospitality is about.

Joe Jones and I headed into the ABC Radio Melbourne studios today to talk about what Sisto’s passing has meant for the hospitality community and for the city in general…and how should all be a little more like Sisto.

Click below to listen to the podcast.

November 12, 2018

Body + Soul: Healthy-ish Podcast

Published: November 9, 2018 Body + Soul

The lovely crew at Body + Soul had me in to chat about what it’s like when food is work and work is life… spoiler alert: it’s all about balance (something I don’t always get right!). Read the interview below, and listen to my chat with legend radio woman Maz Compton and Dr Andrew Rochford! I promise there will be snacks!

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Fact one: The average healthy female will consume a minimum of 730,000 calories a year.

Fact two: The average person will also spend a staggering 32,098 hours eating in their lifetime.

Two facts that hold two very large numbers; but what happens when you factor in a job that pays you to eat?

Firstly, it’s pretty much certain that you’d have to multiply those numbers by 10, but it’s also guaranteed those numbers on the scales would look a little frightening.

Living the life of a food writer sounds like the ultimate dream job, but when it comes to attempting to stay healthy, it’s definitely no easy feat. Just ask the ultimate foodie Melissa Leong, who had to learn the hard way.

“I started in my late 20s and I thought my metabolism was fine – I can eat everything, I can do all the things,” the TV presenter on SBS Australia’s The Chef’s Line tells co-hosts Dr Andrew Rochford and Maz Compton in the latest episode of podcast Healthy-ish: Why does our social life revolve around food?

“I would have these massive eating sessions with my chef friends where we’d go out for a whole day and eat all of the things, and it never occurred to me once that all of my friends are dudes who are six-foot-something or 150 kilos – I would just match them to the toe.”

It wasn’t until Melissa was in her early thirties did she realise her amazing job was taking a toll on her health.

“My metabolism wasn’t the same as what it was and I didn’t look the same anymore, and that was a really sobering thing to realise,” the foodie recalls.

So how in the world does she stay healthy when her life revolves around indulging in food all day long?

Between running to and fro around the globe as a freelance food and travel writer, media consultant, radio broadcaster, TV presenter and cookbook editor, Melissa somehow makes sure she fits in a Pilates session whenever she has the time.

And when it comes to her diet, it’s all about planning, balance, and listening to her body.

“If I’m eating out professionally, if I’m going out to restaurants all day, then the days that I’m not it’s really simple things.”

While she admits she loves pasta, cake and bread (girlfriend, we hear you), she understands it “doesn’t agree” with her body so she tries to minimises complex carbs when she can, and instead focuses on lots of protein and veg.

“It’s about cooking for yourself because you know what you’re putting into your food, and I know what works for me.”

But the foodie doesn’t praise home-cooked food only for its healthiness; yes, she’s tasted almost every dish to grace this planet and dined at the finest restaurants around the world, but it’s the soul and heart of her mother’s homemade meals that trump every dish she’s ever critiqued.

“My mum’s Hainanese chicken and rice is a cracker of a dish, but it’s nostalgic, and I would definitely eat this as my last meal for sure.”

Want to hear more about what life’s like living as a food and travel writer? Find out in episode 37 of our podcast Healthy-ish. Listen above, at Apple iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

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How To Entertain Like A Restaurant Architect

From my family to yours, as featured in delicious. Magazine’s annual Entertaining Issue.

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Pascale Gomes-McNabb is the creative force behind some of Australia’s most stylish restaurants, but how does this architect design the ultimate long lunch? A few heavy-hitting culinary cohorts don’t hurt. Food and travel writer Melissa Leong happens to be one of them and she saved us a seat at the party.

The average Australian diner may not know Melbourne-based architect Pascale Gomes-McNabb by name, but they’ve certainly heard of the restaurants she’s had a hand in bringing to life. In designing high-profile establishments such as the original Cutler & Co. and Cumulus Inc. in Melbourne, Sydney’s Bentley Restaurant & Bar, Cirrus and Monopole, and SA’s Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant (to name but a few), she’s had a hand in the way Australians dine at the top end of town.

We’re gathered at Pascale’s latest masterpiece – the North Melbourne terrace she calls home – to break in her new digs (not that these guys need much of an excuse to pop a bottle of Champagne). It’s full of her signature dark metals, contrasting textural finishes and pops of colour by way of bowerbird curios.

The guests include chef Matt McConnell of Bar Lourinhã; his wife and business partner, Jo Gamvros; close friend Linda Jones of Alimentari; Felix Allsop of cocktail bar The Everleigh; his mate Joe Jones from cocktail bar Romeo Lane and restaurant The Mayfair… and yours truly.

Matt’s eclectic Latin-spiked cuisine displays an ease and generosity of flavour, with an uncomplicated style that belies the extensive experience he’s picked up from his travels and years spent overseas. “Fun is kind of crucial,” he adds.

Cocktails are mixed by former chef Joe Jones, who has built his drinks career on elegantly simple beverages with classic roots and minimal fuss.

There’s a sign at Bar Lourinhã that reads ‘Good Times’, and those are certainly had every time these friends get together.

Style

“We don’t do minimalism here,” says Jo. “Our collective style is loud, unapologetically bold and colourful.” Pascale favours striking jewellery such as her evil bunny ring by Emma Abrahams from Heart of Bone, while metallic threads and big prints are offset by the odd neutral for balance. Jewel-toned flowers against a dark backdrop add drama to the table.

Menu

It’s all about easy, shareable, seasonal food that’s big on flavour, colour and texture. Vibrant bottarga shaved over potato, a summer-worthy skirt steak bathed in mojo verde, and subtle seafood offset by smoky chilli and rich slivers of lardo.

RECIPES

Corn crisps, steak tartare and smoked herring roe

BY DELICIOUS. TEAM

RECIPES

Scallop, lardo and smoky chilli

BY DELICIOUS. TEAM

RECIPES

Whiting crudo with radish

BY DELICIOUS. TEAM

RECIPES

Seared skirt steak, mojo verde and shaved horseradish

BY DELICIOUS. TEAM

RECIPES

Stracciatella, pickled carrot and fennel

BY DELICIOUS. TEAM

RECIPES

Potato 'salad', vinegar, bottarga

BY DELICIOUS. TEAM
RECIPES

Orange caramel molotovs

BY DELICIOUS. TEAM

Playlist

From Marvin Gaye and Grace Jones’ My Jamaican Guy to Michael Jackson’s Beat It and satanic pop rock by Ghost, with a little Nancy Sinatra thrown in for good measure, the tunes are as eclectic as the group’s style.

Drinks

“Always start and end with bubbles!” yells Linda.

Punchbowl cocktails scream party fun and are a great way to make cocktails an easy affair when entertaining.

RECIPES

Beehive punch

BY DELICIOUS. TEAM

A twist on everyone’s favourite, the Negroni, is also perfect, even outside aperitivo hour.

RECIPES

Tequila negroni

BY DELICIOUS. TEAM

Sunday Life: My Day On A Plate

For as long as I’ve read the paper, I’ve loved reading My Day On A Plate in Sunday Life. Such fascinating insight into what people eat and do…well, I’m pretty thrilled to have had my very own day on a plate published, a dream come true! These things are hard to write for me, what I eat varies wildly from day to day, so I wrote it based on the day I was asked to write it. Read more below.

8.30am

After hosting a dinner event with Peter Gilmore at Sydney's Quay last night, I wake up realising I probably won't be eating anything [nearly as] fancy today.

10.30am Craving noodles for breakfast, I head to Chinatown for a bowl of khao dtom sen: chewy Thai rice noodles swimming in steamy pork bone broth, topped with soft pork ribs, chilli oil, Thai basil, bean sprouts and lime. [NB: For those playing, I went to Boon Cafe]

2.30pm A protein bar on the flight to Melbourne; nobody wants a hangry Mel.

5.30pm Back in Melbourne, I have two corn thins topped with avocado, chilli, salt and lemon before heading to Pilates, where I might very well die.

7.30pm Didn't die, hooray. Taste-testing recipes to cook on breakfast TV next week. I decide on Hainanese chicken with smashed radish and cucumber salad. Two glasses of wine are obviously crucial to this "testing process".

9.30pm Current obsession: crumbles. A cup of frozen berries, topped with a crumble made from a little almond meal, butter, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg, thrown in the oven for 20 minutes. Served with a spoonful of Greek yoghurt.

Dr Joanna McMillan says: 

Top marks for … Your wonderful Thai soup breakfast. This gave you vegies, carbs to fuel your day, protein to rein in your appetite. As a bonus, the fluid aids in hydration.

If you keep eating like this you'll … Fall short on the antioxidants, other beneficial chemicals and fibre types we get from plant foods. You also failed to meet the daily recommendation of two serves of fruit and five of vegies, and had no wholegrains or legumes to boost fibre.

Why don't you try … Getting some leafy greens into your everyday diet. Pick up an apple or other fruit in the airport lounge while travelling and include beans, chickpeas or lentils a few times a week – they work beautifully in a salad or soup.

Catch Melissa on The Chefs' Line at 6pm weeknights on SBS. Episodes are also available via SBS On Demand. 

This article appears in Sunday Life magazine within the Sun-Herald and the Sunday Age on sale September 23.