ABC Radio Melbourne

Avoiding Single Use Plastic While Travelling: ABC RADIO

My sustainable travel kit

My sustainable travel kit

I love my regular food and travel segment with Richelle Hunt on ABC Melbourne! Aside from being hilarious, warm and well versed on every subject under the sun, she lets me talk about anything I’m into. A huge focus for a while, has been creating less single use waste while on the road, so we talked about my tips for travelling a bit more consciously as a human. The good news is that it isn’t cumbersome, or difficult, it’s totally doable!

All you need is:

  • A reusable water bottle (an insulated one is great for keeping things hotter or colder for longer). Go through international security with it empty so you can take it through, then refill on the side, or ask your air host to do it while in the air. If you can nab a lemon wedge from the lounge, a cafe, or the bar cart, even better!

  • A reusable straw for smoothies, juices and other slurpables (mine is from Melbourne brand Toko Eco)

  • A sleeve with reusable cutlery, and YES, the knife is TSA friendly!

  • A travel coffee cup (so you don’t to use the disposable ones on the plane)

  • (not pictured) a stainless steel, leak proof bento, for snacks. It’s obviously fine to eat what you are served on a plane, but if you want to eat healthier and make sure everything you use isn’t wrapped in plastic, then this is a great way to go!

    My favourites are things like jerky, almonds, dark chocolate, seaweed crisps, fruit, or konjac noodles with a dressing. Vegan food is great because you don’t have to worry about it spoiling at room temperature for a few hours, which is also a good call, no matter how much meat you eat.

Tune in here to listen to the piece, and while I am most certainly not evangelising this way to travel, I can highly recommend it for convenience, deliciousness, and a tiny contribute to being a responsible human for the planet. Tiny changes by many, add up.



Melissa Leong Joins ABC Radio Melbourne Afternoons as a Regular Guest

Afternoons with Richelle Hunt Wednesday 23 January, 2019

Afternoons with Richelle Hunt Wednesday 23 January, 2019

Throughout 2018, I had such fun occasionally popping up on the ABC Radio Melbourne with Richelle Hunt on her Afternoons program. So I am THRILLED to announce that in 2019, I will be a series regular on her show, to talk about food, social politics and the media. Click the above link to hear our chat this week; from the #10yearChallenge, to why it’s more than just trivial that Sandra Oh is having her time in the Hollywood sun, we talk about Lo Mai Gai, our favourite home cooking recipes…and our shared nostalgia over the local neighbourhood pharmacy.

All About Slovenia on ABC Radio

Image: Luxury Escapes

Image: Luxury Escapes

When you tell people you get to travel for work, people usually ask “How do I get that job?” To which I usually answer… “You’ll have to fight me for it!” For as long as I have thought about what I want to do for work when I grew up, I have wanted travel to be a part of that. Recently, Luxury Escapes sent me to Slovenia to write a story for Delicious Magazine and, spoiler alert, it was bloody amazing. You’ll be able to read about it in an upcoming issue in 2019 but for now, I spoke to Richelle Hunt on ABC Radio Melbourne about my trip - good notes for my upcoming deadline!

It is an excellent place to road trip, but if you want a more curated tour of this incredible country, click here to find out how you can skip the queue for Hiša Franko (and get an inside look at this magical place from the experts who know everyone on the ground).

Click below to listen.

Aired November 26, 2018 2.00pm

Aired November 26, 2018 2.00pm


Melbourne Farewells A Hospitality Legend

Image: ABC News

Image: ABC News

Many of us have taken a moment to absorb some meaning and sentiment from the tragic loss of Sisto Malaspina, co-owner of Melbourne icon Pellegrini’s. Almost every visitor to, or resident of this city has a story, a memory of Sisto’s hospitality, warmth and generosity. If nothing else, this is the stuff that connects us and makes the industry of hospitality so crucial, especially in times of uncertainty, fear and doubt.

You of watermelon granitas and spaghetti bolognese and big smiles, thank you for living the benchmark of what true hospitality is about.

Joe Jones and I headed into the ABC Radio Melbourne studios today to talk about what Sisto’s passing has meant for the hospitality community and for the city in general…and how should all be a little more like Sisto.

Click below to listen to the podcast.

November 12, 2018

November 12, 2018