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