About
Food has always brought people together. Somewhere along the way though, we got busier, life
sped up, and cooking became something we outsource instead of something we experience. I
really believe some things are meant to be made at home - a little slower, by hand, with a bit of
care. That’s what drives me. I want you to feel capable in the kitchen. I want you to try
something new, understand why it works, and actually enjoy the process instead of feeling
stressed by it.
Get to know Andy Hearnden
I grew up in New Zealand and my earliest memories are in the kitchen with my mum. I must’ve
been about three when I first put an apron on and started “helping.” I wasn’t exactly built for the
classroom (I was a terrible student) so in year 10 I made the call to unenrol from school and
enrol in chef school instead. It wasn’t the conventional path, but it was the right one for me.
Fast forward to now
Since then, I’ve cooked in some incredible restaurants across Auckland, London, Singapore,
Sydney and Melbourne. I’ve seen different food cultures, different pressures, different ways of
running a kitchen. I’ve also worked on the business side of hospitality managing restaurants,
cafés and bars, and developing recipes using some of the best Australian beef and lamb. All of
it taught me discipline, flavour, systems and respect for ingredients.
But honestly? What I love most is cooking at home. A meal for Katelyn (aka Babe), for family,
for friends around the table. No ego. No tickets printing. Just good food and people you care
about.
Being able to share what I cook with you now is something I don’t take lightly. Every comment,
every question, every “Hey, can you show us how to make this?”, that’s what makes it worth it. If
what I share helps you feel more confident, more curious, or just a bit more excited to cook
dinner tonight, then we’re doing it right.
If you’re reading this and you’ve watched the videos and made a recipe or two, I want to say
thank you and I hope you’ve learnt a few things to improve how you cook at home.