Luke’s story begins on the Coromandel Peninsula, where a childhood shaped by the ocean, small community living, and hands-on learning laid the foundation for everything that followed.

In this episode, Luke shares how his pathway into hospitality wasn’t driven by academic success, but by practical skills, people, and a willingness to work hard. Navigating school with dyslexia and struggling in traditional classroom settings, he found confidence in hands-on environments - from woodwork to cooking - eventually discovering a passion for the kitchen while working part-time washing dishes.

That early experience grew into a career built through real-world learning. Luke takes us through his journey from local kitchens to working across New Zealand, Samoa, and Australia - learning from different chefs, environments, and cultures along the way ...