It is always lovely to catch up with chefs and see what they are up to. I first met Salvatore Giorgio when he was at Bar Bambi and then I had my 300th chef chat with him out at Marnong Estate. Salvatore has been working in kitchens since he was 11 years old. He loves the adrenaline rush of service and appreciates a well organised kitchen and he is certainly always up for a challenge. Since starting at Bar Rosella, he has changed the menu and upped the food ante. Wine was already well sorted by owner Rocco Esposito, who was Group Director of Wine at Vue de Monde as well as owning his own hospitality businesses. He lives and breathes hospitality and Spaghetti all'Assassina may well be on your radar since Stanley Tucci’s Puglia episode came out, but Rocco is from Puglia and has been serving it every lunchtime at Rosella. It remains on Salvatore’s menu. What an absolute delight to sit down with these two men and chat about food and wine, stories and connections. Rocco even gave me a bottle of his 49 Chardonnay to take home with me. The label bears a beautiful image of the number 49 adorned with flora from his land in Beechworth as well as a bright and poignant rosella on the brink of flying away. Rocco’s motto is ‘food, wine and telling stories,’ and I think that is perfect.