5 minutes with…Matt Stone & Jo Barrett

We caught up with our favorite chef duo Matt Stone and Jo Barrett from Oakridge Wines and this is what we found out! 

What are you looking forward to most about coming back to Margaret River Gourmet Escape? 

Matt: Visiting Margaret river, one of the best food festivals in the country. 

Jo: Going to the Margaret river farmers market

You are cooking at the Regional Flavours at Amelia Park dinner in collaboration with local chef Blair Allen, what can guests expect from the menu? 

Some of our signature dishes from Oakridge as well as lots of local western Australian produce. We have thrown in a few native ingredients too.

Who in your life inspires you to follow your passions and learn new things? 

Jo: Shaun Quade really pushes me to follow my goals and seek out new ingredients and methods of cooking. He is encouraging and thought provoking. Matt also is a great person to be around. We draw a lot from each other and push each other to keep moving forward.

Matt: Joost Baker, he constantly pushes the way I think about food, agriculture and waste.

The sun is setting, we are in beautiful the Margaret River region, what are you sipping on? 

Chardonnay

Matt, you grew up in Western Australia, what’s your top tip or secret location for visitors to explore in the region?

Take a picnic to the Booranup forest. 

If you could collaborate with any chef in the world, who would it be?

Dan Barber

If you were not a chef, what would your profession be, and why?

Jo: Florist

Matt: Market Gardner 

It’s time to party, what song is guaranteed to get you to the dancefloor?

Client Liaison 

What is your guilty food pleasure? 

Lollies

Who would be your ideal dinner party guests, dead or alive?  

Joost, Jennie and the girls (The Bakker family) are always the best.