Season 9 -Episode 8 - Troy Payne - Crafting Culinary Memories !

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/

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Food is memories! Enjoy the episode! 🍴

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