Annie Smithers (Du Fermier, Trentham) - watering her carrots
As Dirty Linen celebrates 5 years, we return to the airwaves with chef, restaurateur and author Annie Smithers, owner of Du Fermier in Trentham, Victoria. Last time we spoke to Annie, we lamented the loss of her water rights. Suddenly, her small farm was imperilled. Now she’s once again able to water her carrots but the overall picture for local food is still a patchy one.
Previous podcast with Annie:
https://deepintheweeds.com.au/podcast/annie-smithers-du-fermier-babbington-park-kitchen-sentimental/
Story about the water rights ban:
https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/eating-out/archaic-law-prevents-beloved-chef-from-watering-her-vegetables-20241018-p5kjfv.html
Annie mentioned Jono from Brooklands talking abattoirs:
https://deepintheweeds.com.au/podcast/jono-hurst-brooklands-farms-abbatoir-access-issues/
And we chatted about Simon Schulz:
https://deepintheweeds.com.au/podcast/simon-schulz-schulz-organic-dairy-sharing-tough-realities/
I mentioned Living Culture:
https://www.livingculture.org.au/
And Growing on Country:
https://yuruwan.teachable.com/p/growing-on-country
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https://www.instagram.com/dirtylinenpodcast
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https://www.instagram.com/danivalent
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https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/
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https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/
LISTEN TO OUR OTHER FOOD PODCASTS
https://linktr.ee/DeepintheWeedsNetwork
Dirty Linen is a food podcast hosted by Australian journalist Dani Valent. A respected restaurant critic and food industry reporter in her home town of Melbourne, Dani is a keen, compassionate observer of restaurants and the people who bring them into being. Whether it’s owners, waiters, dishwashers, chefs or members of ancillary trades from tech to pottery, Dani interviews with compassion, humour and courage. Dirty Linen goes deep, both in conversations with individuals and in investigating pressing issues.
Dirty Linen is an Australian food podcast produced by the Deep in the Weeds Podcast Network.
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39:09
Emma Sheahan (Lumen People) - Illuminating Lumen episode 5
Illuminating Lumen episode 5: We’re keeping an eye on Lumen cafe & wine bar in North Melbourne in our Illuminating Lumen series. Today we have a quick catch up with co-owner Emma Sheahan on the eve of the Victorian government raising the payroll tax threshold. It means Emma might be able to pay herself.
LISTEN TO THE ILLUMINATING LUMEN SERIES
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2z0EVQvpqPohmYrUGcbLf7
News item:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-22/victoria-payroll-tax-budget-business/105446614
Melbourne Coffee Weekend:
https://events.humanitix.com/melbourne-coffee-weekend-2025
Australian Chocolate Festival:
https://events.humanitix.com/the-australian-chocolate-festival-by-bean-to-bar-makers-2025
Mould x PinotPalooza:
https://pinotpalooza.com.au/pages/mould-x-pinot-palooza-melbourne-2025
Little Food Market
https://thelittlefoodmarket.com
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16:27
Anthony Drew (Good Company Bar Group) - popping off
How does a bar group find its way when people are drinking less and all eyes are on workplace culture and keeping staff and patrons safe?
We chat to Anthony Drew, GM of Good Company Bar Group, which has 11 Melbourne venues and more in the wings.
https://www.gcbg.com.au
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Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/dirtylinenpodcast
Follow Dani Valent
https://www.instagram.com/danivalent
Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer)
https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/
Follow Huck (Executive Producer)
https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/
LISTEN TO OUR OTHER FOOD PODCASTS
https://linktr.ee/DeepintheWeedsNetwork
Dirty Linen is a food podcast hosted by Australian journalist Dani Valent. A respected restaurant critic and food industry reporter in her home town of Melbourne, Dani is a keen, compassionate observer of restaurants and the people who bring them into being. Whether it’s owners, waiters, dishwashers, chefs or members of ancillary trades from tech to pottery, Dani interviews with compassion, humour and courage. Dirty Linen goes deep, both in conversations with individuals and in investigating pressing issues.
Dirty Linen is an Australian food podcast produced by the Deep in the Weeds Podcast Network.
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31:26
Dani's Friday on My Mind - 5 years old, wheat, Tacos, Cafes, French gastronomy and the modern pub.
Friday on my mind, an occasional series where I share what I’ve been eating, drinking, doing and thinking. Dirty Linen is five years old! I talk about Bendigo Taco Trail, cafes opening nights, a French gastronomy festival and the modern pub. Then I read out my story about wheat, published recently in Good Weekend magazine. Hope you enjoy!
Bendigo Taco Trail
https://www.bendigoregion.com.au/explore-bendigo/the-taco-trail
Cafes & more
https://www.theage.com.au/goodfood/by/dani-valent-hven6
So France So Good
https://www.sofrance-sogood.com/
Pubs for A Plus
https://aplusinsights.com.au/articles/the-great-pub-renaissance
Wheat Story
https://www.theage.com.au/national/in-100-years-one-wheat-farming-family-had-never-tasted-their-own-flour-until-now-20250428-p5luos.html
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Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/dirtylinenpodcast
Follow Dani Valent
https://www.instagram.com/danivalent
Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer)
https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/
Follow Huck (Executive Producer)
https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/
LISTEN TO OUR OTHER FOOD PODCASTS
https://linktr.ee/DeepintheWeedsNetwork
Dirty Linen is a food podcast hosted by Australian journalist Dani Valent. A respected restaurant critic and food industry reporter in her home town of Melbourne, Dani is a keen, compassionate observer of restaurants and the people who bring them into being. Whether it’s owners, waiters, dishwashers, chefs or members of ancillary trades from tech to pottery, Dani interviews with compassion, humour and courage. Dirty Linen goes deep, both in conversations with individuals and in investigating pressing issues.
Dirty Linen is an Australian food podcast produced by the Deep in the Weeds Podcast Network.
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28:14
Troy Wheeler (Meatsmith) - the art of butchery
What’s it like breaking down a beast in front of 6000 whooping butchery fans? Troy Wheeler from Meatsmith knows, because he was recently part of the Australian team that went to Paris to compete in the World Butchers’ Challenge, coming home with an impressive podium finish. We talk about the art of butchery, why it’s still motivating and engaging, and the unfortunate lack of rabbit in home kitchens and on restaurant menus.
https://www.instagram.com/troythebutcher/?hl=en
https://meatsmith.com.au
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES, NEWS, GIVEAWAYS AND BEHIND THE SCENES
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Follow Dirty Linen on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/dirtylinenpodcast
Follow Dani Valent
https://www.instagram.com/danivalent
Follow Rob Locke (Executive Producer)
https://www.instagram.com/foodwinedine/
Follow Huck (Executive Producer)
https://www.instagram.com/huckstergram/
LISTEN TO OUR OTHER FOOD PODCASTS
https://linktr.ee/DeepintheWeedsNetwork
Dirty Linen is a food podcast hosted by Australian journalist Dani Valent. A respected restaurant critic and food industry reporter in her home town of Melbourne, Dani is a keen, compassionate observer of restaurants and the people who bring them into being. Whether it’s owners, waiters, dishwashers, chefs or members of ancillary trades from tech to pottery, Dani interviews with compassion, humour and courage. Dirty Linen goes deep, both in conversations with individuals and in investigating pressing issues.
Dirty Linen is an Australian food podcast produced by the Deep in the Weeds Podcast Network.
About Dirty Linen - A Food Podcast with Dani Valent
Dirty Linen goes behind the scenes in restaurants, cafes and bars, covering issues the hospitality industry finds hard to share in public - it's all up for grabs and everything is on the table. Your host is food journalist Dani Valent. For 20 years, Dani has been writing about restaurants and the people who give them life. But she's an outsider, a critic, a tourist, a fan. Despite hearing the stories and writing the tales, she's never really understood what happens behind the scenes. Now it's time to get stuck in, with compassion, humour and fearlessness. Dirty Linen goes deep, both in conversations with individuals and in pressing topics. We ask the hard questions and discuss the big issues, bringing a unique perspective to a world that we all intersect with but often don’t understand. Dirty Linen is a Deep in the Weeds Production.
Australia