Culinary double-act and couple Matt Stone and Jo Barrett have announced they will be hanging up their chef hats at renowned winery restaurant Oakridge to focus on their latest zero-waste project, Greenhouse with Joost Bakker.

“Like many of our peers in the hospitality industry, the past few months of closure has allowed us to take stock and develop new projects outside of our day-to-day jobs,” Stone and Barrett said in a statement.

“One particularly big project is the Greenhouse – Future Food System, which is currently being built by our friend Joost Bakker at Federation Square.

“Greenhouse has been a dream of ours for many years and we are thrilled to see it finally becoming a reality. The project has evolved quickly over the past few months and we have realised that it will require significant input of time and energy. It is with this in mind that we have made the decision to step down from our positions at Oakridge.”

Oakridge has been left in good hands. Taking over as executive chef will be Aaron Brodie, who has been on the team as head chef for four years. Aaron will continue with many of the culinary traditions set out by Matt and Jo, while adding his own inspirations along the way.

Oakridge owners Tony D’Aloisio and Ilana Atlas said: “We have every confidence in Aaron and the depth of talent of our kitchen and restaurant teams to continue to provide first-rate food offerings not only for the restaurant but for functions and family events and to complement tastings at our cellar door.”