Fred Mora of Long Prawn jokes that sometimes he’s the prawn’s head and sometimes, the tail. He’s not quite artist, not quite cook, somewhere in between.

Fred and his creative collaborator Lauren Stephens are Long Prawn, a collective using food as a springboard to start conversations that traverse big ideas and observe parts of culture that have fallen out of focus. They have held various events and happenings over the past 8-10 years, working with chefs, artists, musicians and growers of food.

Growing up, the energy at the Mora family table was theatrical, warm and chaotic. Yum cha every weekend was a solid ritual and cheekiness was a core value for some family members. Fred’s grandmother, (treasured artist Mirka Mora) was apparently treacherous at the dinner table, especially when dining out. She would demand dessert first, then steak.

It makes sense then that Fred has pursued his own creative food interests. Tax Vinegar is a project he toiled away at for some time, with beginnings as curious experiments during one of Melbourne’s numerous pandemic lockdowns. He tells us that the breadth and depth that vinegar can add to your meal is huge - “it’s like turning the brightness up on your phone screen”.

Fred’s recipe is mayonnaise and you can hear our genuine excitement in the interview - we were so delighted by this as we had seen the film ‘Monsieur Mayonnaise’ by Fred’s uncle years ago and loved it.

The film is the true story of Fred’s grandfather Georges during the French resistance. His spy name was Monsieur Mayonnaise, due to his rescuing and smuggling of children over borders using mayonnaise as his weapon. With artist Marcel Marceau, he discovered that if you could put enough mayonnaise on a baguette you would be able to hide documents in it and smuggle it past the gestapo. As the gestapo were fastidious about not getting their uniforms dirty, every time Georges passed a check point he was able to smuggle documents through. The trick was that there needed to be a certain amount of mayonnaise on the baguette - if you passed a certain threshold of it, the guards wouldn’t bother to check it.

You can find Fred's mayonnaise recipe on our website!

Find us @whatartistseat on Instagram and our website www.whatartistseat.com.au

Support What Artists Eat on Patreon!

Links to anything we chatted about:

• Long Prawn
• Tax Vinegar
• Australian Food Timeline
• Collingwood institution Raffles
• Stefanino Panino
• Ruthie Rogers and Rose Gray of River Cafe

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Jess Ribeiro is a lover of many things, including creation myths, deep sea creatures and fancy European service stations.

Jess’ upbringing in a small country town, steeped in the energy of Chinese restaurant kitchens, provided a unique backdrop for her artistic and culinary evolution. Her Hong Kong-born father found solace in these kitchens, where Cantonese was more than a language—it was a connection to his roots in a place far from home. This blend of cultures and cuisines laid the foundation for Jess's appreciation of diverse narratives and flavours.

During our chat, Jess challenges the stereotype of the starving artist, emphasising the richness of spirit that creative pursuits bring. In her own words, "We are communicators. We feed the soul of human beings." This ethos underscores her belief in the profound impact of art—be it a poignant song or a captivating painting—to inspire, provoke thought, and ignite new possibilities.

Her album ‘Summer of Love’, made during one of Victoria’s numerous lockdowns whilst staying solo at the Point Lonsdale Guesthouse is out now.

You can find Jess's recipe on our website!

Find us @whatartistseat on Instagram and our website www.whatartistseat.com.au

Support What Artists Eat on Patreon!

Links to Jess's work and anything else we chatted about:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Youtube
• Bandcamp
• Merch
• Spotify
• Apple Music
• Tour
• Leah Senior
• Amy Chaplin: macrobiotic chef in NYC
• “The UK’s best service station”
• The Point Lonsdale Guest House

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In the vast tapestry of human experience, there are those who traverse the realms of imagination with paintbrushes in hand, and others who concoct culinary masterpieces with a dash of creativity and a pinch of tenderness. Yet, nestled within this intricate mosaic lies the story of Charlotte Alldis—a multifaceted creator, a fierce lover, and a loyal protector of those in her orbit. Meet the artist, maker, storyteller, and mum to Buster the bulldog, whose life's journey has been as colorful and captivating as the worlds she paints.

Childhood, for Charlotte, was a self made kaleidoscope of wonder and whimsy. Art wasn't the initial muse; instead, it was the enchanting realm of storytelling that captured her imagination. Raised by parents who were educators deeply immersed in the realms of play, writing, and literature, she was steeped in a culture of creativity from an early age.

The focus wasn’t fine art—it was playfulness, experimentation, and joy. As a child, Charlotte transformed mundane meals into fantastical feasts, crafting blue pancakes, purple pasta, and dyed vegetables with unabashed delight. Cooking wasn't about following recipes; it was about embracing the magic of the moment and relishing in the act of creation.

You can find Charlotte's recipe on our website!

Find us @whatartistseat on Instagram and our website www.whatartistseat.com.au

Support What Artists Eat on Patreon!

Links to Charlotte's work and anything else we chatted about:

• https://www.charlottealldis.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/charlottealldis

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.