chefs may have rockstar aura, but it’s easy to forget that these screen stars also have a whole other life. The demands of filming on Karen Martini’s family and businesscrew. “I needed to make big changes moving forward,” says the award-winning restaurateur, who is one of the longest-serving presenters on the show. “I just opened two new restaurants – Johnny’s Green Room and Saint George in Melbourne – and I’m also overseeing Thyme at Alba on the Mornington Peninsula.” The prolific menu curator coordinates at least 60 different dishes a week. “I also have lots of energy to try new things, to try different styles of presenting. It’s important to keep pushing the boundaries. But, first, I need to take a breather.”
