🎙 Welcome to Owners Outlook – the show that goes beyond the highlight reel.
This week’s guest is a chef, operator, and visionary who turned hard-earned lessons in some of the world’s toughest kitchens into two of the most exciting dining destinations in regional Western Australia.
👨‍🍳 Ben Jacob is the driving force behind Lagoon and Masseria. From 20-hour shifts in Gordon Ramsay’s Michelin-starred restaurants to leading high-end catering, Ben’s journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless pursuit of excellence. What began with a high-pressure apprenticeship at 15 evolved into a career defined by grit and growth.
In this episode, Ben opens up about:
Learning discipline and leadership in elite kitchens
How burnout shaped his pivot from chef to operator
Starting Lagoon with no signage and a kiosk window
Balancing creativity and profitability in a fast-changing economy
Building a life and business with his wife as true partners
We also talk about his second venture, Masseria, a collaboration with winemaker Larry Cherubino, and how he designs menus inspired by seasonal produce and local suppliers.
💡 If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to transition from chef to entrepreneur—or what it means to truly own your success—this episode is packed with wisdom.
And in our Aim for Aid segment, Ben supports the Balu Blue Foundation, an Australian charity focused on marine and wildlife conservation.
