Brendan Fong

Building a career in hospitality often means weathering intense kitchens, chasing recognition, and finding your identity along the way. Few stories capture that journey better than Brendan Fong’s. In this episode, Paul Ayyash sits down with Chef Brendan Fong to explore his evolution from uncertain beginnings to industry leader, mentor, and innovator.

Brendan shares:
▪️ His path through some of Australia’s most iconic kitchens, including Jordan’s Seafood, Merivale’s Wong’s, and high-volume venues serving hundreds nightly
▪️ The challenges of transitioning between cuisines at an executive level
▪️ The resilience it took to pursue a Good Food hat in Parramatta during COVID, breaking ground in a region with no fine dining recognition
▪️ How a leap of faith on a failed overseas business model turned into perseverance and reinvention back home in Sydney
▪️ Why mentorship, self-development, and even cutting back workdays to focus on growth became pivotal to his success
▪️ His reflections on purpose, values, and the importance of knowing why you show up every day If you’re navigating the highs and lows of a hospitality career, this episode is packed with real talk, lessons on resilience, and the mindset shifts that transform “just a chef” into an inspiring leader.

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