Table of contents
About Coolroom Confessional
Food and beverage venues are the lifeblood of our neighbourhoods and communities, but staying afloat can be a tough game. Now more than ever, innovation and experience is invaluable.
Coolroom Confessional is a practical series where in each episode, we help one hospitality business through a major issue they’re facing in their business.
We hear from founders and learn their business story, the problem they’re facing, and how it impacts their business. We then learn from industry experts and other business owners who have soared – or failed and learned! Throughout each episode, we keep coming back to our award-winning host and culinary heavyweight Melissa Leong and our Aussie business owners as they react to what they’re learning in real time.
Whether it is a global chain, a hatted restaurant or ma and pa coffee shop, hospitality businesses and their staff are providing a true service to the community – and this is our way of empowering them.
About our host
Melissa Leong is an Australian freelance food writer, food critic, television host, radio broadcaster, cookbook editor and marketer. She is currently a judge on Network 10’s Dessert Masters alongside Amaury Guichon, and was previously a judge on MasterChef Australia from 2020 to 2023, alongside Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo, where she was nominated for A TV Week Gold Logie.
She has also guest-hosted Fight Week for UFC on Foxtel Sports, starred in the SBS documentary The Hospital: In The Deep End, judged the SBS series The Chefs’ Line, hosted a regular food show The Friday Delicious on FBi Radio in Sydney for half a decade, as well as Spotify series More Than Talk.
Where to listen to the podcast
You can find Coolroom Confessional on all major podcast platforms, or listen to it on our publication The Bottom Line, where you can find our show notes with information about our guests and some fun extras.
Season 1 guests
Throughout this season you will hear from a plethora of guests, including:
- Ade Adeniyi – Little Lagos
- Janine Allis – Boost Juice
- Michael Bascetta – Bar Liberty, Capitano, Falco Bakery, Grada
- Colin Birney – Head of Business Development, Square Australia
- Nick Connellan – Editor, Broadsheet Australia
- Lorenzo Fantarella & Isaac Varano – Pasta Prego
- Patrick Fisher – Bernie’s Bar
- Hannah Green – Etta Dining
- Ben Lipschitz – CEO & Co-founder, FoodByUs
- Christopher Norris – Opus Coffee Brewers
- Nat Paull – Beatrix Bakes
- Nick Palumbo and Donato Toce – Gelato Messina
- Reynold Poernomo – KOI Dessert Bar
- Martin Rehak – Bridges MD Belgian Dining
- Mo Saad – Fricken
- Georgie Smith – G’s Jaffles
- Benjamin Terkalas – Kosta’s Takeaway
- James Tischhauser & Isaac Kara – Margaret River Roasting Co
- Joel Valvasori – Lulu La Delizia
- Joseph Vargetto – Mister Bianco, Fondata 1872
- Luke Whearty – Byrdi
- Gareth Whitton – Tarts Anon, winner of Dessert Masters S1
Production team
Host – Melissa Leong
Production company – DM Podcasts
- Executive Producer – Xanon Murphy
- Producer – Camille Bianchi
Square team
- Creator / Executive Producer – Jay Ooi
- Main Artwork Designer – Yuri Sakakibara
- AU Integrated Marketing Lead – Stacey Lowther & Annalise Booker
This podcast is powered by American Express. If you’re a Square Seller, let your customers know they can spend with you by ordering complimentary signage and supplies.
