Ep 65: Jules Bagnato: How Brae is Leading the Future of Sustainable Hospitality

In this episode of Straight To The Source, host Lucy Allon is joined by Jules Bagnato, co-owner of Brae Restaurant in regional Victoria, one of Australia’s most celebrated dining destinations and the nation’s first three-star Food Made Good accredited restaurant. Jules shares her remarkable journey from a corporate background to shaping one of the world’s most respected hospitality venues, where regenerative farming, design, and storytelling converge to create an authentic sense of place. From her early experiences living in Spain during the rise of modern gastronomy to leading Brae’s sustainability and culture programs, Jules reveals how she and chef Dan Hunter built a restaurant deeply connected to its landscape, people, and purpose. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about: Building a hospitality business rooted in values, vision, and culture How European dining philosophies shaped Brae’s approach to Australian terroir Why sustainability goes far beyond composting and solar panelsCreating pathways for leadership, respect, and well-being in hospitality teams The behind-the-scenes systems that support creativity and consistency Whether you’re a chef, restaurateur, designer, or food lover, this episode offers rare insight into how one of Australia’s most thoughtful food and hospitality leaders is reshaping the future of dining. Episode Highlights [00:00] Welcome to Straight To The Source [00:27] Introducing Jules Bagnato and Brae Restaurant [03:40] The influence of Spain’s avant-garde dining scene [07:00] Building a sense of place at the Royal Mail Hotel [13:00] The vision and design philosophy behind Brae [18:00] Creating culture, clarity, and respect within a team [22:00] Defining sustainability and the Food Made Good framework [27:00] Lessons from achieving Australia’s first three-star sustainability rating Follow Brae Restaurant: https://www.instagram.com/braerestaurant  Learn more about Brae Restaurant: https://www.braerestaurant.com  Find out about the Sustainable Restaurant Association and Food Made Good Accreditation: https://thesra.org  Find out more about Straight To The Source: https://straighttothesource.com.au Follow Straight To The Source Food Podcast: @stts_podcast Follow Straight To The Source: @straight_to_the_source Connect with your hosts: Tawnya Bahr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr Lucy Allon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon @straighttothesourcepodcast: https://www.youtube.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.