George Calombaris is a Greek-Australian chef, restaurateur, and former MasterChef Australia judge celebrated for his inventive approach to modern Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. Over the years, he built an empire of acclaimed restaurants under the MAdE Establishment Group and became one of Australia’s most influential culinary figures. Today, George continues to channel his passion for food, mentorship, and hospitality—focusing on creating meaningful experiences and sharing his love for cooking in new ways.
Connect with George Calombaris!
https://www.instagram.com/gcalombaris
CHAPTERS:
0:00 – Introduction
1:14 – Meet George Calombaris
1:54 – How many restaurants has George owned throughout his career
2:16 – How Andy first discovered George through watching MasterChef
3:36 – What George has been focused on over the past six months
5:29 – The catalyst behind George’s move and life change
7:12 – George talks about working with investors and building new hospitality ventures
8:55 – Can restaurants achieve consistent cash flow in today’s market?
11:55 – Would George prefer to build a pub from scratch or buy an existing one?
13:55 – George shares his approach to designing a pub menu
16:33 – Comparing cooking to artistry and creativity in hospitality
19:48 – What defines 80% of the customer experience in a restaurant
22:12 – How George builds and leads his long-term hospitality team
25:23 – The venues, pop-ups, and TV projects George is currently managing
28:01 – How George handles finances and stays focused on what he loves
29:21 – George talks about the real value of money for him and his children
31:33 – George discusses his kids and teaching them work values
35:12 – How George balances work, family, and his rest days
36:37 – What dinner looks like at George’s home and his approach to family meals
37:51 – How George has retained chefs and team members for over 15 years
39:52 – Do chefs need ownership or equity to stay motivated long-term?
41:30 – Why George believes social media is the modern-day agora
43:36 – George’s upcoming Australian and Indian TV projects
44:56 – How MasterChef Australia came into George’s life
46:44 – George’s advice for small restaurant owners and entrepreneurs
48:01 – George’s recent life discoveries
49:11 – George’s personal goals and focus for the next six months
50:30 – Connect with George Calombaris
51:21 – Outro
