We all deserve to eat tasty food

While I’m not a professional chef, it’s fair to say in my 25-plus years in food and hospitality, I’ve learnt a few things along the way and I have two big takeaways – recipes are ideas, not a set of instructions and we all deserve to eat tasty food.

photo of a lot of colourful fruit and vegetables laid out ona bench
photo of strands of pasta on a white bench

Meet the Free Ranging Foodie

Mandy Kennedy is the Free Ranging Foodie. She’s been a barista, bartender, cheesemonger, caterer, gin slinger, regularly cooked paella for 100 people and is a life-long hospo queen.

These days, you can hear Mandy on 774 ABC Radio as the Sunday Mornings ‘Free-Ranging Foodie’, spot her at Queen Victoria Market guiding tours, or read her work with City Larder, Harper and Blohm Cheese Shop, One Hour Our, Broadsheet, Festival 21 and more.

photo of a woman with dark hair wearing a coloufrul top and glasses

Recipes

You enjoy cooking – mostly – and take care about where you source your ingredients. You’re just as likely to buy artisan cheese at a farmer’s market as you are to pop into the local supermarket ‘cause it’s on the way home but now and then you lose their mojo.

You need inspiration for how to cobble together a meal from what’s in the pantry and, just occasionally, you fancy being one of those meal prep people. You want to be reassured by achievable, results-driven recipes and also be inspired to sometimes stretch your comfort zone a little further.

Welcome to the recipe section!

Cheese and Leek Pie

Cheese and Leek Pie

This pie uses my cream cheese pastry as its base. You can always use shop-bought pastry if you'd rather.

Chicago Style Pizza Pie

Chicago Style Pizza Pie

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I reckon this pizza pie is a beautiful thing.…

Boneless Chicken Roast

Boneless Chicken Roast

If you have the skills then by all means go ahead and bone out the chicken yourself, otherwise ask your…

Listen to the Free Ranging Foodie on ABC Radio 774

I enjoy a recurring guest spot on ABC Radio 774 Melbourne on Sunday mornings with Lisa Leong talking about all things food.


Topics free-range all over the place. We’ve covered everything from Gravestone Recipes to What Makes a Great Sandwich as well as Christmas in July and shared our Best Kitchen Tips.

Topics free-range all over the place. We cover everything from Gravestone Recipes to What Makes a Great Sandwich as well as Christmas in July and Best Kitchen Tips.

Blog

Here be monsters! 

Here you will read thoughts on life, the universe and everything in between though mostly about food and travel.

Dawn Train to Copenhagen

Dawn Train to Copenhagen

Jet trails scar the pale sky above. It’s before dawn and we’re onboard a train making our way towards Copenhagen…

Celebrating Birthdays

Celebrating Birthdays

Birthdays come around once a year and how you choose to celebrate is totally up to you. For my brother,…

What Makes a Great Sandwich?

What Makes a Great Sandwich?

Do you have a favourite sandwich or, conversely, something that should never be seen between two pieces of bread? From…

FREE RANGING FOODIE

© Copyright Amanda Kennedy 2025