The City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters is packed with world-class food manufacturers – you just need to know where to look.

As the new face of the council’s celebrated Food Secrets initiative, Jane Reilly OAM reveals the family-owned suppliers she loves and why we should shout out loud about our local food ecosystem.

Tell us more about your role as Food Secrets’ ambassador. What does this position mean to you?

I’m really excited to be the ambassador! When you drill into some of the history, many of the manufacturers we have are third or fourth-generation. I love that rich history of promoting these people and their stories. A lot of them live on-site or close by to where they’re producing, and many have grown to employ dozens of people, which promotes a different depth to this council area that you don’t get anywhere else. I can’t think of anywhere so close to the city and so rich in culture that makes amazing food in such a concentrated area.

You also host some Food Secrets bus tours that visit celebrated independent food businesses in the area. What is the goal of these?

The first thing is to have fun! But it’s really about learning the culture behind these businesses. When you go on the tours, you meet the owners, you meet the families, you try samples, you have a lovely meal and you meet new friends. We all go to the supermarket, but these manufacturers – these families – give food a different meaning. That’s how I see my role as food ambassador – helping promote these important stories.

You’re a foodie yourself. What flavours do you lean towards in the kitchen?

I love Italian food. I make really good lasagne, and I always say
a proper lasagne is an act of love. However, I was addicted to making sourdough during the pandemic. I had to cut back because you just can’t resist it when it comes out of the oven!

Your ambassadorship has also opened opportunities to collaborate with your son Eddie, who is the head chef at popular restaurant HNLY. How have you found that experience?

We work really well together. We’ve made a series of 10 online videos [for Food Secrets], which feature 10 recipes using ingredients from the suppliers in the area. When we filmed those, it was apparent we’re kindred spirits.

He’s the expert and by comparison, I’m at the bottom of the class. But he’ll use some chef terminology and I’ll say, ‘Hang on, what does that actually mean?’ because people don’t know those words. We bring out the best in each other.

You’re also working together on the upcoming Rivals Long Lunch, hosted by the council during 2025 AFL Gather Round. What should we expect from the pair of you?

I’ll be MCing and introducing some of the manufacturers behind [the lunch’s] ingredients and hopefully Eddie when he has a moment. Eddie is also constructing the menu. I’m helping to fine-tune a few things, but he has free rein. We even went on a [Food Secrets] tour together to investigate what ingredients were out there!

Rivals Long Lunch takes place on April 12. Purchase your ticket or find out more about the Food Secrets initiative here.