Uber Eats and Concrete Playground to partner on live lunchtime series that puts local hospo personalities in the hot seat.
Technology platform Uber Eats has joined forces with culture and lifestyle publisher Concrete Playground for a live lunchtime panel series where notable foodies take part in unfiltered conversations about the state of the industry and the future of food.
The three-episode series, titled Hot Takes & Takeaway, will connect a live audience with the chefs, restaurateurs and culinary tastemakers dedicated to bringing our cities the best in food and entertainment to uncover the innovative solutions keeping our highstreet buzzing, our bellies full and the hospo sector alive and well.
The first episode launches on Monday 6 September from 1pm via livestream on Concrete Playground’s Facebook with a Sydney-based lineup of executive chef Julian Cincotta of fried chicken kingdom Butter and Cuong Nguyen, executive chef of contemporary Vietnamese restaurant Hello Auntie.
Comedian Gen Fricker will be firing off the questions and doing live giveaways with those tuning in.
The live format is a first of its kind regionally for both Uber Eats and Concrete Playground.
Head of restaurants at Uber Eats ANZ, Bec Nyst, said: “The resilience and grit of restaurants of all shapes and sizes have been on full display throughout the pandemic.
“The industry hasn’t been hoping for green shoots, they’ve gone out and planted them with their own creativity and resourcefulness which has flourished over the last 18 months.
“This live stream is designed to give restaurants a platform to share how they’ve been continuing to connect with customers, build their brand, and shape the future of the food scene.
“Uber Eats is delighted to partner with Concrete Playground to bring this Australian first platform to life.”
Concrete Playground’s editorial director Suz Tucker, said: “The local dining scene is a huge part of what we write about every day.
“Throughout the ordeal of this pandemic, the one thing that has consistently brought us joy is food.
“The creativity and adaptability local businesses have embraced in order to survive the past two years are bloody inspiring and with this show, we’re looking forward to having fun with people from the scene but also learning from their resilience.
“Uber Eats is known for doing bold, engaging work and from the beginning, they’ve been on board with making this more provocative than your average panel of talking heads.
“It’s unfiltered and unscripted and will put the spotlight on the ones who are usually back of house, running the pass. I’m nervous!”
Snackable’s managing director, Jack Phillips, said: “Hot Takes & Takeaway sees Snackable team up with a bold brand and leading publisher to achieve one goal; to bring support and insight to the benefit of our food community.
“Right now, we believe there is no better way to do that, than through authentic content and the sharing of experiences.
“This pioneering live stream series will meet people where they are right now; online looking for something inspiring to watch.”