Pepis - Authenticity in Italian Cooking and Sourcing the very best Ingredients

Welcome to Episode 32 of the Wed.Co Podcast. Today, we're excited to have Joe from Pepi's on the podcast with us, filmed at the stunning Redleaf Wollombi. Joe from Pepi's shares his journey in the wedding catering industry, from his early experiences working in wedding event centers to starting his own business. He emphasizes the importance of food at weddings and how Pepi's focuses on creating a memorable food experience for guests. Joe discusses the sequencing of food throughout the event and the significance of menu tastings for couples. He also highlights the role of client ideas in driving innovation and the importance of investing in talented chefs. Joe discusses the importance of having a dedicated and passionate team in the catering industry. He emphasizes the need for a team that is fully invested and understands the work at hand. Joe shares his experience of building a team that includes individuals with no prior hospitality experience, who are now running weddings for him. He highlights the importance of patience and enabling his team to do their best job. We also discuss the authenticity of Italian cooking and the challenges of sourcing ingredients in Australia. He shares his passion for exploring different regions of Italy and finding inspiration from local produce. Joe talks about the process of building partnerships with venues and the significance of delivering restaurant-quality food in the wedding catering industry.   If this episode sparked inspiration, don't forget to hit that subscribe button, share it with friends or colleagues in the wedding industry, and consider leaving us a review.  Your support enables us to bring more enriching conversations and insights to both engaged couples and wedding professionals. Stay connected with us on Instagram at @wed.copodcast and watch all your favorite wedding professionals on our YouTube channel @wed.copodcast.  Catch our episodes on major podcast platforms like Apple, Spotify, and IheartRadio, all under WedCo Podcast. Join us for our next episode on the Wed.Co Podcast, where we continue to explore the mesmerizing and ever-changing landscape of weddings. Toga + Joel xx   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 09:14 Entering the Wedding Market 16:09 Menu Tastings and Client Engagement 20:25 The Shift in Wedding Food Focus 23:17 Sequencing the Food Experience 25:43 Late Night Bites and Dancing 27:39 Innovation and Investing in Talent 29:01 The Importance of a Dedicated and Passionate Team 36:04 Authenticity in Italian Cooking and Sourcing Ingredients 45:35 Building Partnerships with Venues 54:23 Delivering Restaurant-Quality Food in Wedding Catering