In this Happy Hour episode, Tim Varney, Michael Bascetta, and Loren Daniels crack a Bridge Road non-alc and wade into award season — where Michelin, Good Food, and the ever-turning wheels of recognition are all up for debate. After a bumbling beginning, they take a sharp left and look at validation in Australian hospitality: who gives it, who needs it, and who’s over it.With Michelin reportedly asking Tourism Australia for $7.5 million to bring its stars Down Under (and being politely declined), the trio unpack what that price tag says about how we measure worth. Would a French tyre company’s approval really put Australia on the global dining map — or are our chefs, restaurateurs, and local guides already telling a richer story? They weigh the trade-offs: prestige versus independence, hype versus substance, imported frameworks versus home-grown identity.Along the way, they touch on Visit Victoria’s domestic push, the quiet power of listicles and SEO in shaping travel itineraries, and the growing overlap between culinary tourism, AI search results, and how diners actually find a meal. There’s attempts at humour — “no stars, no worries” — but also a deeper thread about what it means for an industry to stand on its own feet, proud but still hungry.The PAX Hospitality Podcast is produced by PAX and Craate Creative. Support for this podcast comes from Square and Brunswick Design and Innovation. Our music is produced by Patricia Heath and Mattias Westergren. PAX acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we operate. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging and to all First Nations People.

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