Jim Berardo & Greg O’Brien
Owners
Starting berardo's restaurant & bar over ten years ago, Jim and Greg, have a passion for food along with a passion for Noosa. With both berardo’s restaurant & bar and it’s casual dining sister, berardo’s bistro on the beach, Jim and Greg offer the Noosa food scene a unique recipe of sensational food mixed with style and panache – “ the theatre of dining”- with something for everyone.
In addition to their eateries, Jim and Greg are also the founders of the fabulous Noosa Food and Wine Festival which has become Australia’s favourite gourmet weekend, celebrating the very best Australia has to offer in the food and wine arena in one of the world's most beautiful settings. Attracting the cream of Australia’s chefs, leading winemakers, awarded food producers, premium restaurateurs, restaurant critics and media, the event is a must for all foodies each year.
Tracy Whitbread
Events Manager
Tracy is devoted to the hospitality industry and as a very long term Noosan, has seen Noosa develop from the small town of the Seventies to what it is today. Her knowledge of the local area and experience dealing with all situations in the hospitality environment is undisputed. She will ensure your event become something very special and will always go that one step further so that all details are attended to.
No matter how small or how large, your event will be absolutely memorable whether it be at berardo's restaurant & bar or berardo’s bistro on the beach.
Lorraine Copley
Newly appointed co-director of Noosa Food & Wine Pty Ltd Lorraine has a passion for food (eating not cooking!) and is in foodie heaven now she is involved in both berardo’s restaurant & bar and the Noosa International Food & Wine Festival. A relative newcomer to Noosa, her background is in marketing, PR and Arts Management.
Shane Bailey
Executive Chef - berardo’s restaurant & bar and berardo’s bistro on the beach.
Shane Bailey grew up in the ‘hearty meals’ Victorian country town of Hamilton, famous for its quality lamb and beef. Surrounded by family and friends, dinner parties and barbecues were the norm and life revolved around food. Shane completed his apprenticeship in various restaurants in the coastal town of Warrnambool and on the day he qualified Shane moved to the culinary capital of Melbourne and began a nine-year association with one of Melbourne’s top restaurants, Donovan’s. Nestled on the beach at St Kilda, Shane was promoted to sous chef within two years under Robert Castellani.
After traveling the world and working with Mario Batali at Babbo in New York, it was in 2004 that Noosa restaurateur Jim Berardo lured Shane to the Sunshine Coast, where he fell in love with it. After a stint in the UK working with fellow Australian, Michael Smith, at the Portminster Beach Café in Cornwall for the Discovery and Travel Lifestyle Channel series “Beach Café”, Shane returned to the iconic berardo’s and luckily for Noosa, has been there ever since.
For the last 5 years, Shane has been responsible for and orchestrated all of the on-site catering for the Noosa Food & Wine Festival.
Shane has a passion for Queensland produce and sustainable seafood. He is setting up Kitchen Gardens with local farmers, growing exclusively for berardo's restaurants. Most recently, Shane has become a Queensland judge for the delicious. Produce Awards.
Geoffroy Marcq
Head Chef - berardo’s restaurant & bar
Geoffroy was born in the north of France into a large family surrounded by relatives and friends where everyone cooked. He started his apprenticeship at 14 in Alexandre Restaurant (two Michelin Stars), mentored by Michel Kayser cultivating in Geoffroy the essentials of French cooking setting the foundations for a promising career. After five years there, Geoffroy moved to Bordeaux, working with Michel Portos at restaurant St James, also with two Michelin stars and continued for one year at his bistro as head chef. He then commenced travelling arriving in Australia, to learn the ‘Aussie’ culture and explore the local produce Australia has on offer and has been at berardo’s restaurant & bar as sous chef for three years before recently being promoted to head chef.
Shane Harvey
Recently appointed co-director of Noosa Food & Wine Pty Ltd, Shane is also responsible for logistics and finance. As site manager for the past five years of the Noosa International Food & Wine Festival, he is instrumental in the site planning and smooth running of the event.