For Massimo, the best food is often the simplest, a dish where quality ingredients speak for themselves. He knows that one tomato, grown with love and patience, can outshine a dozen without flavour. That’s why you’ll often find him side by side with local growers and makers, celebrating their craft and letting their produce take centre stage on the plate.

Good food starts long before it hits the plate. It’s in the soil, the sea, and the hands that tend to them. Massimo believes every tomato, every fish, every loaf of bread carries a story, and it’s our job to respect it. By caring for the land and the waters, we make sure the next generation can gather around the table and enjoy it too.

Food, for Massimo, is a language of love. It’s the laughter around a kitchen table, the bustle of a farmers’ market, the smoky joy of a backyard barbecue. Every meal is a chance to bring people closer, to honour the hands that grow and cook, and to celebrate the culture that turns simple ingredients into moments of connection.

Massimo’s story is woven between two worlds: the fertile soils of Tasmania and the sun-soaked traditions of southern Italy. These roots ground him, but they never hold him still. With humility, curiosity, and creativity, he honours where he comes from while always learning, always evolving — carrying the flavours of his heritage into each new dish.

Massimo believes food is at its best when shared. Beyond the kitchen, he pours this belief into his community, from collaborating with local producers and mentoring young chefs, to supporting charities and creating spaces where people come together. For him, every contribution is a way of giving back to the place and people who have given him so much.