Chef JKP sits down with Glen Ballis, chef, restaurateur, and one of the most influential figures in modern hospitality.
Glen shares his journey from a Greek family in Melbourne to leading kitchens across Thailand, Indonesia, China, Russia, and Dubai. He reflects on the chefs who shaped him, the lessons that came from failure, and how different cultures transformed the way he cooks and leads.
They talk about opening restaurants, surviving financial crises, building teams, the realities of running hospitality businesses, and why great food will always be about product, simplicity, and people.
This is a conversation about resilience, leadership, travel, and a lifetime spent chasing great food.
WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE
• Growing up in a Greek household and the food memories that shaped him • Why a dream of becoming a professional cricketer led him into kitchens • The tough lessons learned in Australia's restaurant industry • Moving to Thailand and the leadership mistake that changed his career • Building restaurants across Asia and adapting to different cultures • Opening concepts in Moscow and spending more than two decades in Russia • The philosophy behind INA and cooking with fire in Dubai • Why chef-led restaurants and great produce are the future of hospitality
CHAPTERS
03:31 Childhood food memories, Greek family traditions and his mother's cooking 11:58 From aspiring cricketer to finding his place in professional kitchens 17:52 Moving to Thailand and the leadership lesson that changed everything 27:31 Indonesia, Malaysia and how Asia shaped his cooking style 37:31 Moscow, Novikov and building a career in Russia 47:03 Financial crises, sanctions and the rise of local produce 56:34 Why he moved to Dubai and the philosophy behind INA 01:15:15 Masters of Fire, the future of restaurants and chef-led hospitality 01:29:29 Quick fire round 01:41:05 Advice for young chefs entering the industry
FOLLOW THE GUEST
Glen Ballis
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/glen_ballis/
FOLLOW THE BUSINESS
Fundamental Hospitality https://www.instagram.com/fundamentalhospitality/
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