Outback Chefs: The gourmet chefs turned station cooks | Wide Open Spaces #6 | ABC Australia

A couple of retired fine-dining chefs fulfill their long-held dream to cook for the hungry crew of an outback cattle station. But for staff used to plenty of plain food, there might be a few changes needed to the menu. Landline’s Pip Courtney filed this report in 2018.
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[@Lonewolfmike]

This station hit the LOTTERY with this couple. It isn't too often you get two people who know so much about cooking and can do so much for the people at the station.

[@gatherukinguru3829]

Truly

[@sami6393]

Too nice for those owners

[@4D2M0T]

Yeah I bet they miss them, the chefs helped them refine their palette and now they have to go back to mediocre tucker, it all looked so delicious 😋

[@indiana146]

Great folk regards adie uk

[@jody-annesullivan4547]

What a fantastic couple, and I imagine a blessing to the station family! I am watching this 2 years later.

[@ppastrana1672]

Wow I really love that.

[@John-kl3ue]

What a brilliant couple of older people.Absolute legends

[@christhong7421]

I didn't realise you could tell 'good people' simply from the sound of their voice. Her voice is so soothing and sincere.... You just want to hug her and love her.

[@KalaFull]

As soon as I heard "it's not just cooking it's looking after a group of people, a family" I knew they were in good hands, you'll never have to work a day in your life living by those kind of words.

[@usamabashir2271]

Kudos to ABC Australia, it's refreshing to see such humble and truly genuine people in these troubling times.

[@stephenslideways9690]

They look so happy together, wish the couple all the best.

[@deltavee2]

Retired, doing a job they obviously enjoy and still walking hand in hand.

[@petalgirl9960]

This ladies speech/accent is so crisp and glorious. Wow.

[@consciousbeing1188]

Our cattle and sheep stations are the heart and soul of the country... What better compliment than for this one to have two amazing salt-of-the-earth chefs. Great story!

[@annsutherland7286]

Hats of to this couple. I worked as cook and general hand on a cattle station in Queensland 20 years ago (in my 50’s) and loved every minute of it, including frogs in the toilet.

[@yvonneost12]

That station owner scored a winning pair with these cooks .I hope they pay them well . They are " solid gold " .

[@judydyer]

The pay is VERY good!

[@JustAThought155]

The couple are in their mid-70s and working those hours and producing meals like that??? Wow! Gratitude extended to them on all levels. The workers are too young to truly understand what they are witnessing. You don’t find two people like that too often. I’d try and eat everything they prepared, probably. They are gourmet.❤️

[@margo8956]

What a lovely couple, living life to the full. Could learn so much from them. Great story.

[@patriciamorrison5867]

What a story. Such a brood range of experience these two have, and they do it with love and respect. Amazing people, all of them.

[@nickinportland]

I love Australians they are basically Texans like me. Love the bush, talk funny, farm stuff. What’s not to like!

[@trevorhart545]

From UK. ABC, great, shows us all that there is life after the government says you are too old. One of my Uncles used to be an engineer on Oil Tankers from Nigeria to the UK. They had a chef called Brian Turner from Yorkshire, late 60s/70, and he created a different dish for each meal throughout the journey, never repeated a dish. UK Brian Turner, in his 70s is still an amazing chef, though haven't seen him on TV for a year now.

[@southo69]

Beautiful and heartwarming - both from the Chef's Point of view, but also the station owners and staff who have been able to experience top quality food.

[@Biloxiblues77]

A combination of experience, passion and true partnership. Unbeatable!

[@gthreesix]

That is definitely the best bang for your buck, true old school cook that have traveled the world and controls every single aspect including growing and butchering!

[@santillbrezon2161]

These two people are wonderful, top quality chefs.

[@misterwizz5690]

What an amazing couple, total respect!

[@johnwest194]

give the couple of chefs their own show as they were precious!

[@paulreynolds9003]

Wow. I’ve just turned 60 and kind of thought my days of been able to work abroad are well over because who would want someone my age. But it just goes to show you people of all ages still have value.

[@kerlyn3582]

Such a simple story but so beautiful...what an inspiration the couple was ... my favourite part - watching the 'pied piper' chicken run, those chickens running after the truck was so classic - WONDERFUL video

[@abcaustralia]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@enja001]

This couple are awesome, bet the meals are the highlight of the day

[@polljones8921]

Oh bless her. See-yah-bah-ta bread. Cha-bar-ta

[@cameraman655]

Much love from Texas! Queenslanders and Texans are siblings separated by 9,000 miles/14,000 km. I lived in QLD (Brizzie) for a year and a half but always felt more at home the towns much further west, so much like West Texas and the Hill Country.

[@relaxbodymind8229]

The station owner and staff are so lucky to have these couples who cook quality food for them

[@miriam2909]

I like to see them go into teaching. Training other couples to do the same . So much to be learnt from them and Australia will benefit!

[@askarindarto664]

worked for a cattle station down in WA few years back and that was one of the loveliest moment of my life. God i miss Australia

[@banksiasong]

Delightful and talented chefs. Was very surprised by plainness of the five choices for last orders at the end. Happy travels and good health to them both.

[@merledoughty5787]

Good on you two while you are able do it, what an adventure hard work but again that is what keeps you young

[@billythekid8333]

These two remind me of my grandparents. Amazing. Amongst everything else, gravy should only come from one place, and that’s the beast in question

[@lima105able]

Feeding & serving is the supreme service. Respect to the couple.

[@lesfox2010]

Love Landline, so many great stories. A real icon.

[@jeffreywerner6574]

Beautiful story..What a great couple and the station owners so humble.i love our country..

[@beachobsession29]

The food looks amazing. There lucky to have such good cooks. Retirement is only a number. I hope i can still cook like this in my 70's. Im only 40 now.

[@shortymcfox2251]

What a lovely couple and how lucky the working family was to have them. It’s nice to see how grateful they were for each other.

[@jamesmok4426]

Simply amazing to have such good chefs who both like jack of all trades. Wishing them both happiness & pink of health.

This was a wonderful documentary! What a lovely couple with awesome food skills. I love it that they spend quality time together. Even the animals love them!

[@howgoodisit]

Man i hope im that happy in my relationship when im your age. You guys are killing it! your motivation and drive for life is admirable.

[@rhys5567]

Lovely story. All of them gems.

[@michaelgarland6468]

I grew up on remote places, my dad owned two, shearing time was the best couple of weeks of my life, got a bit of a change although I still love the staples!

[@kaze987]

I wonder what happened to this couple, since this was filmed in 2018. Lovely souls inside and out, and certainly legends on this station.

[@matthewrinehart2367]

Fusion cooking broadens our palate. Cooks learning from the indigenous people and also adapting recipes from home using available ingredients have made the world of cooking a more interesting and enjoyable place. I so loved Anthony Bourdain's take on regional cuisine.

[@Automedon2]

Exotic and unusual food is ok once in a while, but on a daily basis, I like basic foods. Give me a beef gravy over a reduction any day.

[@shanechostetler9997]

What a blessing to have people who truly enjoy their jobs!

[@seanpereira6961]

This is an amazing story, thank you ABC

[@Mububban23]

If an older workers wants to work, they either A) really need the money, or B) don't need the money but love what they do. Either of those is a good motivator to work hard and do a job well. So if you've gone through lots of younger workers who haven't worked out, give an older worker a go.

[@bh2861]

what a beautiful couple. So lucky to have them helping you :)

[@christopherdale7017]

These are the stories I like rural property Australia seeing people coming from Another part of the world and giving it ago especially this couple at their age with their experience for what they do and great to see the station owners and their workers and kids show their appreciation towards the couple that feed them it's given to me a goal of doing this one day with the right women.

[@jacquelinewilson2279]

What a fabulous couple. Intelligent and hard working. Real artists too - the bread etc.

[@ront2424]

What a fantastic story and a beautiful couple.

[@pete_bluscorp7718]

Great story, everyone looks very happy.

[@slaktriffid]

It shows you are never too old....:)

[@costernocht]

What a lovely couple. And thank G_d I watched this on a full stomach!

[@jwdickinson643]

what a lovely couple! how better to share love & friendship than by delicious food!

[@skonenblades]

First I've heard of 'afternoon smoko.' I love it.

[@johnnunn8688]

What a wonderful pair. The Station will be super-lucky to find a replacement.

[@sdbplumbing5595]

White sauce with corned beef is the best

[@Handleyman]

Good tucka! 😋 I’ve just had dinner and I’m hungry again watching this!!

[@sheilam4964]

Two lovely and amazing couples. Thx for doing this, filming it and sharing it with us.

[@tomkitchen2764]

They really are an amazing, dedicated couple.

[@StrongFlatWhite]

Amazing couple!! A lifetime of skill put to valuable and much appreciated use. Well done!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@nigelmorgan3449]

I’ve watched this many times I would say this is one of the best ABC Land line has done Thank you for sharing

[@halfabee]

It is good being a chef with unlimited budget. With all that beef around. My son is currently a cook on a fishing vessel in the Atlantic.

[@jeevesponzi5257]

I guess your son has an unlimited budget For fish?

[@jennyc1846]

Lovely couple, lovely family. For all the fancy foods its always the basics which win out in the end but what an experience for that couple.

[@rheffner3]

I hope this couple is paid well. Holy moly, how lucky you are to have them.

[@FAZZRSPC]

I really enjoyed watching this I could have watched them cook for hours it was wonderful to see how happy they were and too see everyone around them being fed like one big happy family all the best you's certainly made my day thank you's

[@best7best711]

Those rump steaks look incredible 😍

[@sharonlanteri2537]

❤❤❤❤Oh my goodness, their energy and work ethic is putting me to shame. Never again will i complain there arnt enough hours in the day. Good on them.👏👏👏👏🥰🥰🥰

[@PS-Straya_M8]

Amazing work ethic I wish the very best for this lovely couple! 😁

[@lesliedevlin8501]

Best show on tv thanks land line 👍🖖🖖

[@isabellecompton]

I loved this story !

[@jimmyjohnstone5878]

What an amazing pair. All the food looks delicious. I bet the staff are very happy with what they get.

[@gregknight293]

Very interesting the daily life of those living and working on a cattle station in Australia. Especially like the cooking and feeding of the hands there.

[@clubsport9334]

Having all that beautiful beef to work with and eat. Epic. Fantastic attitude and solid workers. That's some big hours for any chef let alone a semi retired couple. Super impressive.

[@giannirocco7492]

A retired chef myself I now have a very small catering service for well off clients...I couldn't be happier!

[@anniegregan494]

Omg what a gorgeous vlog, these people are fab chefs, so glad everyone enjoying and valuing these two wonderful chefs

[@michaelbutler1557]

Great part of the world. I love the Gulf area of Queensland. Great people. The role of good chefs with nutritious food and good hygiene is critical on properties. Great video. Nice story.

[@jaredsharpe5576]

need more ppl like this in the world such a good old cpl

[@grahamlwilson]

What a terrific story. Loved it.

[@paulbradbury7166]

When you see how refined and beautiful there food is it makes me proud to of been a chef for 30 years

[@BlueJazzBoyNZ]

Brilliant. What a great couple...!

[@indiana146]

As you aussies say it looks good tucker regards aidie a pom God bless you all

[@charlesdickens6706]

Forget Ramsey , a TV series could have been made involving this theme and more considering all the characters on the he station from different backgrounds. Different situations for each episode along the lines of MASH series - a melange of MASH, Ramsey n Big Brother. At least I hope a couple of station hands did a brief apprenticeship to em before departure .

[@crescentwing568]

Wow amazing couple il tell you how hard to get qualified chefs out to these places I hope they recognise and appreciated which I think they are....well done chefs

[@peterthornton8254]

Very professional and charming couple. The gravy alone made properly is testimony to their common sense and respect for tradition. As for their ability to adopt and adapt, once again excellent. Food is often fetishised nowadays despite many offerings being chemically-laden scoff in the name of convenience. The Steffen's and graziers Anita and Campbell are demonstrating what can be done with a bit of dedication.

[@skar5541]

Gotta be the best outback cooks out there. Big respect and much love ✌️❤️

[@adsincairns]

So glad they had a wonderful experience. I did a season on a sheep farm in western Queensland about twenty years ago and couldn't leave quick enough. It wasn't the location or isolation as much as the people there.

[@Automedon2]

How awesome to have a life partner to work beside every day. They are certainly doing it right.

[@internationaldirector2917]

Couple remain productive even after 70's prayers for their health God bless.

[@lukeduke3001]

what lovely people

[@bradsvidsetc]

Great people. Top story

[@1Molehill]

In a world of such negative attitudes. This is such a lovely, gentle story. Made me smile whilst watching it

[@indiana146]

Bloody hell im hungry now They couple are amazing

[@nigelmorgan3449]

To the ABC this is one of your best shows I’ve watched it many times always enjoy landline

[@colinmayes9446]

Lovely video, a real pleasure to watch people making people happy with food, brilliant, thank you.

[@stuartkcalvin]

Great Ep, thanks. Wonderful couple and very appreciative owners.

[@ciarankelly4338]

These guys know their cooking!

[@StephenKiely-y3j]

What a great story love it and love all the people on the Land