We are elated and honoured that Gimlet at Cavendish House received Victoria’s Best Wine List of 2023 from Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards.

Meatsmith’s first cookbook, Meatsmith: Home Cooking for Friends and Family, is Andrew McConnell and Troy Wheeler's collection of over 80 trusted recipes - a cookbook that is as much about the exchange of knowledge and ideas on quality heritage meats and skilled butchery, as a chef’s point of view on eating and drinking well.

Since the papers inception, Andrew McConnell has been contributing recipes, with everything from tonkatsu sanwiches and lamb kebabs with eggplant & Turkish chilli to crème brûlée with poached rhubarb and apple galette.

‘The talent pool we have at Trader House is phenomenal and there’s always more to learn from people around you. Here, it’s the in-built culture of the team that makes it successful. People bond and people who stay, stay.’

‘There’s so much brilliance around at Trader House, people like Leanne Altmann (Beverage Director) and Chris Young (Guest Services Executive) are a font of knowledge. Really, you can take a little from a lot of people every day here.’

‘It’s the people across the board — whether that be connecting with guests or building a team and creating a culture. I genuinely love wowing our guests, exceeding expectations and creating an emotional bond with people.’

‘There are so many facets that are so joyful. There’s the satisfaction you get when you know a guest has had an amazing experience and returns for more. There’s also the creative side of it. I love seeing an idea turn into a drink in someone’s glass.’

Over the course of June, sommeliers, wine leaders and wine buyers from across Trader House visited many of Victoria’s distinct wine regions to celebrate Drink Victorian with Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.

With a dill-packed house-made sauce, juicy meat patty and fluffy potato bun, it’s got to be one of Melbourne’s best. It’s only available two nights a week, and only after 10pm.

‘When I had my daughter, people said I couldn’t continue my path as a chef. Determined to prove them wrong, my role shows that with the right support, at work and at home, this is absolutely possible.’

‘Seek out businesses that have strong women in leadership roles – that says a lot about the culture of a business.’

‘I’ve never really thought about doing anything else, and even though I’ve seen the hard side of it, it’s still magical to me.’

‘Allow yourself to be strong but also emotionally connected. Emotions are not a weakness – they are an asset.’

‘Do it. Whatever it is, do it. It’s important to experience things even if you decide down the track that it’s not for you.’

‘Invest in yourself, pick a direction in which you’re wanting to head; immerse yourself, learn as much as you can.’

‘You can combine a passion for food and wine with other skills to create a career path. There are so many great roles in this industry that are not just about being in the kitchen or working the floor.’

‘Nothing’s set in stone. Just because there’s a perception of what it might be like that’s not always the case – you can choose your own path. Hospitality is full of opportunities.’

‘Lean on (and learn from) the women around you. We are one another’s greatest asset.’

‘We love Melbourne, and many of our team members are from Melbourne, so it’s especially gratifying for us to receive this award. It’s been a real pleasure.’

Trader House restaurants are transforming their food waste into fertiliser and high-protein feed for animals, with the bonus of reducing methane emissions and turning rubbish into a resource.