A Table in the Corner
A Table in the Corner is the space where Russel Wasserfall chats to people in the food industry about their passion and their take on the business of eating. Russel has worked in the media and food space for over 3 decades. He's run bars, restaurants and a confectionery factory, written for dozens of food and travel publications and made a bunch of cookbooks. His show is about the nitty-gritty of the food trade in all its forms. Top chefs, food artisans, proprietors, bakers, farmers, foragers, cheesemakers, writers, photographers, bloggers... you name it. If they’re involved in the food industry, you will meet them with Russel at A Table in the Corner.
A Table in the Corner
S2-24. Rykaarts - Ella Rykaart
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On this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Ella Rykaart, the front-of-house force behind Rykaarts, the small, atmospheric restaurant she runs with her husband, chef Alex Rykaart, on Longridge Wine Estate.
While chefs often take the spotlight, this conversation turns the focus toward the other half of the restaurant equation: hospitality. Ella reflects on her path from studying winemaking to discovering the pull of restaurant life, working under respected restaurateur Neil Grant, learning the realities of kitchens with George Jardine, and later refining her understanding of service and restaurant logistics alongside Christophe and Susan Dehosse.
The conversation explores what front-of-house leadership really means: building teams, managing expectations, creating a relaxed dining environment, and balancing the fine line between attentive service and simply allowing guests to enjoy themselves. Ella also speaks candidly about changing perspectives on hospitality, authenticity in restaurant culture, and why not every dining experience needs a carefully narrated story.
Set against the sweeping vineyard views of Longridge, this episode looks at the quieter craft of running service, and the role hospitality and setting play in shaping the experience of a restaurant.
- www.rwm2012.com
- On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner
- Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson
- All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited
- Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay