Season 9 -Episode 8 - Troy Payne - Crafting Culinary Memories !
04/24/25 • 100 min
What happens when comfort food meets the desert?
In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco sits down with the inspiring and outspoken Chef Troy Payne for a deep, personal, and unfiltered conversation.
From his Melbourne food roots to launching Craft by Side Hustle, the first brewery concept in the MENA region, Troy opens up about the highs and lows of his culinary career. The episode touches on mentorship, his powerful connection with the late Chef Greg Malouf, the mental health challenges of the industry, and finding identity in the Dubai food scene.
Tune In To Learn:
👩🍳 How Troy’s journey from Australia shaped his food philosophy
👩🍳 The emotional toll and importance of mental health in kitchens
👩🍳 What it’s like to launch a brewery-meets-comfort food concept in the Middle East
👩🍳 How innovation, failure, and purpose intersect in modern hospitality
00:00 Chef JKP Podcast Live Announcement
03:58 Meet Chef Troy Payne
04:29 Growing Up in Melbourne & First Taste of Cooking
06:50 Childhood Food Memories & Influences
11:13 The Path to Professional Cooking
15:34 Mentorship and Growth in the Culinary World
22:47 Finding Confidence and Voice as a Young Chef
30:24 The Influence of Greg Malouf & Their Bond
42:30 A New Adventure: Opening a Restaurant in the Middle East
47:27 Returning to Dubai: A New Beginning
54:38 Innovating Mobile Kitchens
01:00:07 Craft by Side Hustle: The First Brewery in MENA
01:05:22 The Reality of Entrepreneurship in F&B
01:10:56 The Importance of Mental Health in the Culinary Industry
01:17:55 Family, Food, and Balancing Personal Life
01:22:12 Lessons from Failure and Reinvention
01:28:47 Quick Fire Questions & Final Reflections
Follow Troy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trotskie/
A huge thank you to our partners Luvv Fits – luvvfits.com
🚨Catch more unfiltered conversations like this one at Timeout Market Dubai. Live recordings continue on April 27th - don’t miss your chance to be part of the audience!
Stay sharp and hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos bottle - available at chefjkp.com or via DM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcast/
Please leave us a review on Spotify - it’s the best way to support the show!
Food is memories! Enjoy the episode! 🍴
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What happens when comfort food meets the desert?
In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco sits down with the inspiring and outspoken Chef Troy Payne for a deep, personal, and unfiltered conversation.
From his Melbourne food roots to launching Craft by Side Hustle, the first brewery concept in the MENA region, Troy opens up about the highs and lows of his culinary career. The episode touches on mentorship, his powerful connection with the late Chef Greg Malouf, the mental health challenges of the industry, and finding identity in the Dubai food scene.
Tune In To Learn:
👩🍳 How Troy’s journey from Australia shaped his food philosophy
👩🍳 The emotional toll and importance of mental health in kitchens
👩🍳 What it’s like to launch a brewery-meets-comfort food concept in the Middle East
👩🍳 How innovation, failure, and purpose intersect in modern hospitality
00:00 Chef JKP Podcast Live Announcement
03:58 Meet Chef Troy Payne
04:29 Growing Up in Melbourne & First Taste of Cooking
06:50 Childhood Food Memories & Influences
11:13 The Path to Professional Cooking
15:34 Mentorship and Growth in the Culinary World
22:47 Finding Confidence and Voice as a Young Chef
30:24 The Influence of Greg Malouf & Their Bond
42:30 A New Adventure: Opening a Restaurant in the Middle East
47:27 Returning to Dubai: A New Beginning
54:38 Innovating Mobile Kitchens
01:00:07 Craft by Side Hustle: The First Brewery in MENA
01:05:22 The Reality of Entrepreneurship in F&B
01:10:56 The Importance of Mental Health in the Culinary Industry
01:17:55 Family, Food, and Balancing Personal Life
01:22:12 Lessons from Failure and Reinvention
01:28:47 Quick Fire Questions & Final Reflections
Follow Troy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trotskie/
A huge thank you to our partners Luvv Fits – luvvfits.com
🚨Catch more unfiltered conversations like this one at Timeout Market Dubai. Live recordings continue on April 27th - don’t miss your chance to be part of the audience!
Stay sharp and hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos bottle - available at chefjkp.com or via DM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcast/
Please leave us a review on Spotify - it’s the best way to support the show!
Food is memories! Enjoy the episode! 🍴
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Previous Episode
Season 9 - Episode 7 - Hospitality & Headspace with Scott Armstrong !
Can hospitality thrive without mental wellness?
In this very special live episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Scott Armstrong, journalist-turned-mental-health-advocate and founder of MENTL, to have an unfiltered, honest conversation about the state of mental health in the workplace - particularly in high-pressure industries like hospitality.
This episode dives deep into psychological safety, breaking down stigma, and how investing in mental health isn’t just the right thing to do - it’s good for business.
Scott shares his journey from global editorial roles to launching a platform that challenges cultures of silence and burnout. We also explore how leadership, open dialogue, and structural changes can drive well-being at every level of the team.
Tune In To Learn:
👩🍳 The critical link between mental health and team performance
👩🍳 Scott’s personal journey from journalism to wellness advocacy
👩🍳 The red flags of anxiety, burnout, and toxic leadership
👩🍳 How businesses can create a culture of psychological safety
👩🍳 What the upcoming Mental Health Awards mean for the industry
00:00 Live Podcast Announcement
03:02 Meet Scott Armstrong & His Journey
21:20 Global Journalism to Leadership Challenges
36:03 Shifting from Media to Mental Health Advocacy
46:36 Why Mental Health is a Business Imperative
01:04:09 Addressing Toxic Cultures & Workplace Stress
01:10:08 Mental Health in High-Pressure Environments
01:16:52 The Mental Health Awards & How to Nominate
01:23:34 The Power of Open, Honest Conversations
01:29:52 Quick Fire Round with Scott Armstrong
01:40:26 Final Thoughts & Farewell
You can learn everything about Scott's organisation by heading to - https://mentl.space/
A huge thank you to our partner Luvv Fits – luvvfits.com
🚨Catch more unfiltered conversations like this one at Timeout Market Dubai. Live recordings continue on April 20th and 27th - don’t miss your chance to be part of the audience!
Please leave us a review, it’s the best way to support the show!
Food is memories!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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