Your Cart (0)

Total

Checkout

, Option
Home About Maida Pineda Articles Contact Work with Me Substack


Food & travel writer Master of Arts in Gastronomy

Food & Travel Writer Author of Two Books Master of Arts in Gastronomy

For over 25 years now, Maida has promised to go where her writing takes her. It has brought her all over the Philippines to all over Asia, Bhutan, Argentina, Spain, US, Canada, and many delicious adventures in between. 

Her work has been published in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, Australian Financial Review, SBS, Reader's Digest Asia, CNN... and many more prestigious publications. 

Read More

My Published Articles

Restaurant Business •

Is finding a restaurant roommate the way to maximise rent? - Restaurant Business

Melbourne prides itself in having an outstanding café culture. But with most cafes trading only until 2 or 3pm, the space is wasted the rest of the day and night.


Three years ago, in my search for the best Bingsu in the city, I found Scoopy in Guildford Lane with a devoted clientele flocking here for Korean shaved ice from 4pm onwards. A few days later, I return to the same spot to find Brick Lane Café, a busy brunch and coffee destination. As it turned out, Scoopy was leasing from Brick Lan...
Restaurant Business •

The Time Out Effect: What makes a great food story - Restaurant Business

There’s no denying that Melbourne is a top food and drink destination in the world. In fact, in a study by British company Travelbag, Melbourne ranked the world’s top foodie destination in 2025. 


TimeOut Editor Leah Glynn agrees with that sentiment: “Melbourne is a city of secret spots and wonderful hidden gems. Discovering them is half the fun about dining in Melbourne.”


Glynn’s full-time job is to find all the delicious offerings for TimeOut Melbourne.


“Basically, we are out there ea...
Restaurant Business •

Beyond Pizzerias: Why more restaurants are banking on the ROI of pizza ovens - Restaurant Business

Australia experienced a 9.7% drop in dedicated pizza restaurants and takeaway businesses last year. According to IBIS World data, there were 3,329 dedicated pizza restaurants in 2023 and 3,005 in 2024, a drop from $4.4bn in 2023 to $4.1bn in 2024. While these numbers reflect dedicated pizza restaurants and takeaways, Cristina Molinaro Passilongo, Chief Strategy and Operations Officer for Marana Forni Australia, is witnessing a different trend. 


More and more Australian restaurants are investi...
Restaurant Business •

Rescuing restaurant food waste one surprise bag at a time - Restaurant Business

Australians waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year, 70% of which is perfectly edible.While it’s unclear exactly how much Australian restaurants contribute to the nation’s food waste problems, a 2016 report found that Australian cafes and restaurants produce more than 260,000 tonnes of food waste annually. They estimate about 120 grams of food binned for every plate served. Food waste in Australia accounts for $36.6 billion each year.Food waste means revenue loss for restaurants. Aside...
Restaurant Business •

Rescuing restaurant food waste one surprise bag at a time - Restaurant Business

Australians waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year, 70% of which is perfectly edible.While it’s unclear exactly how much Australian restaurants contribute to the nation’s food waste problems, a 2016 report found that Australian cafes and restaurants produce more than 260,000 tonnes of food waste annually. They estimate about 120 grams of food binned for every plate served. Food waste in Australia accounts for $36.6 billion each year.Food waste means revenue loss for restaurants. Aside...
SBS Food •

Is Colombian cuisine finally having its moment in Australia?

As recently as three years ago, it took me a visit to an acupuncture doctor in a faraway suburb for my first encounter with Colombian cuisine. Today, I don't have to go far from my home to find as many as four Colombian restaurants in South Melbourne, nearby Windsor, Docklands and St Kilda East, plus a Colombian food truck in Footscray. “Southbank, South Melbourne, and the surrounding areas, this is where most Colombians live,” says Paula Gomez, the chef and owner of La Colombianita. And it's no...
The Age •

For years, I rarely saw my culture in the media. The Wiggles helped change that

While scrolling on Instagram recently, I saw John Adamo Pearce – the purple Wiggle – teaching kids how to sing Bahay Kubo, the Filipino song I sang as a child that names vegetables growing in a backyard. Pearce, a proud Filipino-Australian, often showcases his culture through fun Instagram reels with his mum, Flordeliza.When I see my culture represented in the media, I still experience a “pinch-me” feeling. Growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, it was rare to see it depicted in mainstream Western med...
The Age •

I don’t own a puffer jacket or drink coffee. But this is how I know I’m a legit Melburnian

As I was walking my dog this morning, I looked into my local cafe and saw every single person wearing black puffers. For a moment, I thought about pulling my phone out to snap a photo. But then who would need evidence? This is Melbourne.It’s the cliche Melbourne scene; people in black puffers queuing up for coffee. Outside, I stood in the cold wearing a cream-coloured jacket, a cream-coloured beanie and a mustard-yellow scarf. I was a vision in a sea of black. Nearly five years after moving here...

Foodservice Consultants Society International Asia Pacific Division

There is a growing demand for dairy substitutes in Australia. According to The Australian Bureau of Statistics, the amount of dairy and meat substitutes purchased from food retailers jumped another 14% in 2020-2021, following a 14% increase between 2019 to 2020.

Consumption of dairy milk substitutes rose 4g per day between 2018 and 2019 and 2020-21, mirroring a 4g per day fall in milk in the same two-year period. Almond milk had a particularly rapid rise, up 31% in the last two years. Soy milk
MiNDFOOD •

Five Soothing Yoga Asanas to Help Alleviate Anxiety

Yoga offers a serene refuge, providing not only physical benefits but also powerful tools for calming the mind. Follow these five soothing Asana movements to find calm in the chaos.

Kneel on the floor. Touch your big toes together and sit on your heel, then separate your knees about as wide as your hips. Lay your torso down between your thighs and either reach your hands back toward your feet and rest the arms on the floor or stretch the arms forward for extended child’s pose.

Lie on your back
Australian Financial Review •

Why it’s getting harder to find a designer label op-shop bargain

A quick search on salvostore.com.au shows RM Williams is one of the most searched for items. There are four pairs on offer, ranging from $265 to $330. There is also a Celine women’s handbag at $980, and Herve Leger dresses ranging from $98 to $250.

If you are looking specifically for designer brands, there are an increasing number of second-hand boutiques. They have done the sourcing and pre-sort for you and are priced accordingly.

Melbourne is probably the country’s centre for this type of st
The Age •

Why no one goes to church anymore

I grew up in the Philippines, where 86 per cent of the population is Roman Catholic. During my first stint in Australia, I lived in a Catholic dorm at my university in Perth. Each block segregated males from females. I never really asked the priests why that was the case. That was nearly 29 years ago.

When I attended graduate school in Adelaide, one of my tutorial lecturers said: “The families that play together, stay together.” I giggled, thinking she had made a mistake. All my life, I heard t
The Age •

Whether you’re a pet owner or fur parent, puppy love is real

On Mother’s Day, as I struggled with the cold autumn morning in Melbourne, I walked my dog Spark to the nearby garden. A fellow dog owner smiled at me with her pug in tow, saying, “Happy Mother’s Day, Fur Mum.” I was surprised by the greeting. It was the first time I’ve ever been greeted on Mother’s Day. I smiled at her and awkwardly responded, “Happy Mother’s Day too.” I have been a dog owner most of my life. But now I have a title: a fur mum. Yet I still felt uncomfortable with the Mother’s Da
The Age •

Most of my life my friends were much older than me. Now it has flipped

When I moved to Melbourne, I was thrust into a community of yogis who were all younger than I was, including my teacher. In their 20s and 30s, they lived their lives freely following their passion. One was a contortionist who left yoga training to join the circus to showcase her acrobatic skills. One yogi friend in her 30s moved from Melbourne to Perth to Byron with ease and lightness, no drama. As we get older, we shed our carefree ways. We become caught up with the seriousness of living. We be
The Age •

What do I eat when no one else is watching? Two-minute Mi Goreng

In this age of Instagram, people have tons of photos of their meals on their phones. I have no doubt this is the most documented generation that has ever lived, with an insane number of photos of latte art, oatmeal bowls, and egg porn – yolks oozing – as proof of our existence. But what I’m curious to see is what people eat when no one is watching. I’m a food and travel writer of 25 years, I’ve met Ferran Adria, the father of molecular gastronomy and interviewed many of the world’s best chefs. N
The Age •

Puffer, thermals, layers, stew: How a girl from the tropics learned to survive Melbourne winter

It’s not yet officially winter. But Mother Nature insists it is. Melbourne began the month with its coldest May weekend in 23 years. There was widespread rain, hail and snow. It seems like we skipped autumn altogether.

The single-digit temperatures have arrived. It means waking up to 6- or 7-degree mornings and rugging up. As I bundle up to walk the dog in my long puffer coat, scarf, beanie and thermals, there they are – the hardy Melbourne men in shorts and a thin sweatshirt.

Surely, I am ove
The Age •

I’ve gone cold turkey on caffeine, and this is how I’m surviving in Melbourne

When I moved to Melbourne some three and a half years ago, I wasn’t fully aware of the depth of the city’s coffee culture. I had previously lived in Adelaide in 2005-06. At that time Starbucks opened three outlets, which quickly closed in July 2008. Australians take their coffee seriously, and somehow Starbucks just didn’t seem to make the cut. But little did I know, Melbourne takes their love for coffee even a notch higher. With a large Italian and Greek immigrant population settling in Melbour
The Age •

A young man called me ‘auntie’. It was a mark of respect, but I was taken aback

When I lived in Singapore, “auntie” was the respectful term for an older woman. We often fondly called the vegetable vendor in the market or our favourite laksa hawker “auntie.” They are the women pulling their shopping trolleys to the market. While shopping for shoes in Singapore, I tried on a comfortable pair of shoes. Turning to the sales lady for her opinion she replied, “It looks very ‘auntie’.” She did not hold back her opinion that it did not look fashionable for a then 30-year-old. Maida
Australian Financial Review •

Who let the dogs in (Canva and Amazon, for two)

Amazon isn’t unique in allowing dogs in the office. Google, Legal Vision and Canva are also dog-friendly. But not everyone is a fan of such policies.

Having dogs in the office does require some rules. At Amazon Australia, dog owners need to first ask the people who sit near them if they are comfortable about the prospect of having a dog in proximity before they can bring their canine companion. They also need to register the animal with the “Dogs-At-Work” program, which requires information suc
The Age •

I’ve only been to Chadstone once – I’ve found my bliss away from malls

A few weeks ago, my best friend, Rissa in Manila, asked how my weekend was. “I just got back from a picnic in the gardens with some friends,” I told her. “Wow, how nice you get to do things outdoors,” she replied. Maida Pineda with her dog, Spark, in the Royal Botanic Gardens. One thing I love about Australia is the outdoor lifestyle. Having lived in Asia and the US, I am awed by how parks and gardens are the central setting for Australian life. I grew up in Manila in the Philippines and later l
The Age •

Soaring rents and limited leases make for tenant anxiety

I have an email alert for rental properties in my neighbourhood. Each day I get sent a listing of all the available apartments that fit within my ceiling price. I usually get a list of several places nearby within my budget. In the past few weeks, however, the only thing available is a car park rental. Ouch! I live in Southbank, a short skip away from the CBD. Rent in Southbank has soared. In January 2023, the average apartment in Southbank cost 40 per cent more to rent than a year ago, accordin
The Guardian •

‘What is this flavour?’: why Australian desserts have turned bright purple

Filipinos have long had a love affair with ube, but it’s only recently the rest of the world is catching on to the allure of the vivid purple yam. Pronounced “oo-beh”, ube is often mistaken for purple sweet potato, but while the latter is dry and starchy, ube is moist with an earthy, nutty, vanilla-like flavour.

Ube’s distinctive heliotrope hue contributes to its broadening appeal. Trend forecaster WGSN earmarked ube as a top food trend for 2023, though it’s been building for years. In 2022, an
The Age •

Joining a ‘Buy Nothing Group’ changed my life. Here’s how it works

It all started a few months ago, with a group suggested to me by Facebook. I joined “The Buy Nothing Group”, a community covering my suburb and the neighbouring suburbs. There I would find people posting: a chair they no longer need, packing cartons, books, plates, a tent, and all sorts of things for free. It is a gifting economy. Instead of Facebook Marketplace’s frantic first-come, first-served rule, the gifter can ask a question or a fun way of choosing who to gift the item to. Say you post w
Load More

Restaurant Business •

The Time Out Effect: What makes a great food story - Restaurant Business

There’s no denying that Melbourne is a top food and drink destination in the world. In fact, in a study by British company Travelbag, Melbourne ranked the world’s top foodie destination in 2025. 


TimeOut Editor Leah Glynn agrees with that sentiment: “Melbourne is a city of secret spots and wonderful hidden gems. Discovering them is half the fun about dining in Melbourne.”


Glynn’s full-time job is to find all the delicious offerings for TimeOut Melbourne.


“Basically, we are out there ea...
Restaurant Business •

Beyond Pizzerias: Why more restaurants are banking on the ROI of pizza ovens - Restaurant Business

Australia experienced a 9.7% drop in dedicated pizza restaurants and takeaway businesses last year. According to IBIS World data, there were 3,329 dedicated pizza restaurants in 2023 and 3,005 in 2024, a drop from $4.4bn in 2023 to $4.1bn in 2024. While these numbers reflect dedicated pizza restaurants and takeaways, Cristina Molinaro Passilongo, Chief Strategy and Operations Officer for Marana Forni Australia, is witnessing a different trend. 


More and more Australian restaurants are investi...
Restaurant Business •

Rescuing restaurant food waste one surprise bag at a time - Restaurant Business

Australians waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year, 70% of which is perfectly edible.While it’s unclear exactly how much Australian restaurants contribute to the nation’s food waste problems, a 2016 report found that Australian cafes and restaurants produce more than 260,000 tonnes of food waste annually. They estimate about 120 grams of food binned for every plate served. Food waste in Australia accounts for $36.6 billion each year.Food waste means revenue loss for restaurants. Aside...
Restaurant Business •

Rescuing restaurant food waste one surprise bag at a time - Restaurant Business

Australians waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year, 70% of which is perfectly edible.While it’s unclear exactly how much Australian restaurants contribute to the nation’s food waste problems, a 2016 report found that Australian cafes and restaurants produce more than 260,000 tonnes of food waste annually. They estimate about 120 grams of food binned for every plate served. Food waste in Australia accounts for $36.6 billion each year.Food waste means revenue loss for restaurants. Aside...
The Age •

For years, I rarely saw my culture in the media. The Wiggles helped change that

While scrolling on Instagram recently, I saw John Adamo Pearce – the purple Wiggle – teaching kids how to sing Bahay Kubo, the Filipino song I sang as a child that names vegetables growing in a backyard. Pearce, a proud Filipino-Australian, often showcases his culture through fun Instagram reels with his mum, Flordeliza.When I see my culture represented in the media, I still experience a “pinch-me” feeling. Growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, it was rare to see it depicted in mainstream Western med...
The Age •

I don’t own a puffer jacket or drink coffee. But this is how I know I’m a legit Melburnian

As I was walking my dog this morning, I looked into my local cafe and saw every single person wearing black puffers. For a moment, I thought about pulling my phone out to snap a photo. But then who would need evidence? This is Melbourne.It’s the cliche Melbourne scene; people in black puffers queuing up for coffee. Outside, I stood in the cold wearing a cream-coloured jacket, a cream-coloured beanie and a mustard-yellow scarf. I was a vision in a sea of black. Nearly five years after moving here...

Foodservice Consultants Society International Asia Pacific Division

There is a growing demand for dairy substitutes in Australia. According to The Australian Bureau of Statistics, the amount of dairy and meat substitutes purchased from food retailers jumped another 14% in 2020-2021, following a 14% increase between 2019 to 2020.

Consumption of dairy milk substitutes rose 4g per day between 2018 and 2019 and 2020-21, mirroring a 4g per day fall in milk in the same two-year period. Almond milk had a particularly rapid rise, up 31% in the last two years. Soy milk
MiNDFOOD •

Five Soothing Yoga Asanas to Help Alleviate Anxiety

Yoga offers a serene refuge, providing not only physical benefits but also powerful tools for calming the mind. Follow these five soothing Asana movements to find calm in the chaos.

Kneel on the floor. Touch your big toes together and sit on your heel, then separate your knees about as wide as your hips. Lay your torso down between your thighs and either reach your hands back toward your feet and rest the arms on the floor or stretch the arms forward for extended child’s pose.

Lie on your back
Australian Financial Review •

Why it’s getting harder to find a designer label op-shop bargain

A quick search on salvostore.com.au shows RM Williams is one of the most searched for items. There are four pairs on offer, ranging from $265 to $330. There is also a Celine women’s handbag at $980, and Herve Leger dresses ranging from $98 to $250.

If you are looking specifically for designer brands, there are an increasing number of second-hand boutiques. They have done the sourcing and pre-sort for you and are priced accordingly.

Melbourne is probably the country’s centre for this type of st
The Age •

Why no one goes to church anymore

I grew up in the Philippines, where 86 per cent of the population is Roman Catholic. During my first stint in Australia, I lived in a Catholic dorm at my university in Perth. Each block segregated males from females. I never really asked the priests why that was the case. That was nearly 29 years ago.

When I attended graduate school in Adelaide, one of my tutorial lecturers said: “The families that play together, stay together.” I giggled, thinking she had made a mistake. All my life, I heard t
The Age •

Whether you’re a pet owner or fur parent, puppy love is real

On Mother’s Day, as I struggled with the cold autumn morning in Melbourne, I walked my dog Spark to the nearby garden. A fellow dog owner smiled at me with her pug in tow, saying, “Happy Mother’s Day, Fur Mum.” I was surprised by the greeting. It was the first time I’ve ever been greeted on Mother’s Day. I smiled at her and awkwardly responded, “Happy Mother’s Day too.” I have been a dog owner most of my life. But now I have a title: a fur mum. Yet I still felt uncomfortable with the Mother’s Da
The Age •

Most of my life my friends were much older than me. Now it has flipped

When I moved to Melbourne, I was thrust into a community of yogis who were all younger than I was, including my teacher. In their 20s and 30s, they lived their lives freely following their passion. One was a contortionist who left yoga training to join the circus to showcase her acrobatic skills. One yogi friend in her 30s moved from Melbourne to Perth to Byron with ease and lightness, no drama. As we get older, we shed our carefree ways. We become caught up with the seriousness of living. We be
The Age •

What do I eat when no one else is watching? Two-minute Mi Goreng

In this age of Instagram, people have tons of photos of their meals on their phones. I have no doubt this is the most documented generation that has ever lived, with an insane number of photos of latte art, oatmeal bowls, and egg porn – yolks oozing – as proof of our existence. But what I’m curious to see is what people eat when no one is watching. I’m a food and travel writer of 25 years, I’ve met Ferran Adria, the father of molecular gastronomy and interviewed many of the world’s best chefs. N
The Age •

Puffer, thermals, layers, stew: How a girl from the tropics learned to survive Melbourne winter

It’s not yet officially winter. But Mother Nature insists it is. Melbourne began the month with its coldest May weekend in 23 years. There was widespread rain, hail and snow. It seems like we skipped autumn altogether.

The single-digit temperatures have arrived. It means waking up to 6- or 7-degree mornings and rugging up. As I bundle up to walk the dog in my long puffer coat, scarf, beanie and thermals, there they are – the hardy Melbourne men in shorts and a thin sweatshirt.

Surely, I am ove
The Age •

I’ve gone cold turkey on caffeine, and this is how I’m surviving in Melbourne

When I moved to Melbourne some three and a half years ago, I wasn’t fully aware of the depth of the city’s coffee culture. I had previously lived in Adelaide in 2005-06. At that time Starbucks opened three outlets, which quickly closed in July 2008. Australians take their coffee seriously, and somehow Starbucks just didn’t seem to make the cut. But little did I know, Melbourne takes their love for coffee even a notch higher. With a large Italian and Greek immigrant population settling in Melbour
The Age •

A young man called me ‘auntie’. It was a mark of respect, but I was taken aback

When I lived in Singapore, “auntie” was the respectful term for an older woman. We often fondly called the vegetable vendor in the market or our favourite laksa hawker “auntie.” They are the women pulling their shopping trolleys to the market. While shopping for shoes in Singapore, I tried on a comfortable pair of shoes. Turning to the sales lady for her opinion she replied, “It looks very ‘auntie’.” She did not hold back her opinion that it did not look fashionable for a then 30-year-old. Maida
Australian Financial Review •

Who let the dogs in (Canva and Amazon, for two)

Amazon isn’t unique in allowing dogs in the office. Google, Legal Vision and Canva are also dog-friendly. But not everyone is a fan of such policies.

Having dogs in the office does require some rules. At Amazon Australia, dog owners need to first ask the people who sit near them if they are comfortable about the prospect of having a dog in proximity before they can bring their canine companion. They also need to register the animal with the “Dogs-At-Work” program, which requires information suc
The Age •

I’ve only been to Chadstone once – I’ve found my bliss away from malls

A few weeks ago, my best friend, Rissa in Manila, asked how my weekend was. “I just got back from a picnic in the gardens with some friends,” I told her. “Wow, how nice you get to do things outdoors,” she replied. Maida Pineda with her dog, Spark, in the Royal Botanic Gardens. One thing I love about Australia is the outdoor lifestyle. Having lived in Asia and the US, I am awed by how parks and gardens are the central setting for Australian life. I grew up in Manila in the Philippines and later l
The Age •

Soaring rents and limited leases make for tenant anxiety

I have an email alert for rental properties in my neighbourhood. Each day I get sent a listing of all the available apartments that fit within my ceiling price. I usually get a list of several places nearby within my budget. In the past few weeks, however, the only thing available is a car park rental. Ouch! I live in Southbank, a short skip away from the CBD. Rent in Southbank has soared. In January 2023, the average apartment in Southbank cost 40 per cent more to rent than a year ago, accordin
The Guardian •

‘What is this flavour?’: why Australian desserts have turned bright purple

Filipinos have long had a love affair with ube, but it’s only recently the rest of the world is catching on to the allure of the vivid purple yam. Pronounced “oo-beh”, ube is often mistaken for purple sweet potato, but while the latter is dry and starchy, ube is moist with an earthy, nutty, vanilla-like flavour.

Ube’s distinctive heliotrope hue contributes to its broadening appeal. Trend forecaster WGSN earmarked ube as a top food trend for 2023, though it’s been building for years. In 2022, an
The Age •

Joining a ‘Buy Nothing Group’ changed my life. Here’s how it works

It all started a few months ago, with a group suggested to me by Facebook. I joined “The Buy Nothing Group”, a community covering my suburb and the neighbouring suburbs. There I would find people posting: a chair they no longer need, packing cartons, books, plates, a tent, and all sorts of things for free. It is a gifting economy. Instead of Facebook Marketplace’s frantic first-come, first-served rule, the gifter can ask a question or a fun way of choosing who to gift the item to. Say you post w
Foodservice Consultants Society International •

Anyplace, anywhere, anytime

When the National Restaurant Association (NRA) unveiled its Restaurant Industry 2030 report in November 2019, they had little idea how much the world would change due to the Covid pandemic.

The 2030 projections expected restaurant industry sales to reach $1.2trn. Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the research and knowledge group for the association said: “Restaurant owners are swiftly adapting across their businesses to meet the wants and needs of guests. The radical transformation of the
SBS Food •

Summer is one of many reasons to cool down with bingsu

The Australian sun can be heavy in the summer months. So we arm ourselves with a layer of sunblock, a hat and sunnies. We cool down with milk teas, iced coffees and gelato. There's another way to stay refreshed, too: or bingsoo is a Korean shaved ice dessert, often topped with fruits, red beans, syrup and condensed milk.



Bingsu dates back to the early period of the Joseon Dynasty (which began in 1392). Government records document officials eating crushed ice topped with various fruits dist
Load More

Work with Me

So, you want to write your story but don’t know how to get started. Let me help you.

With over 26 years experience as a food and travel writer and author, I am a gifted story teller and published in top publications like The Age, The Guardian, Australian Financial Review, SBS, CNN, Reader’s Digest, inflight magazines, my own Substack, and so much more.

Every body has a story to tell. And trust me, there’s a story within you waiting to be told. Book your sessions below.  

Let’s go! The world is waiting to hear your unique voice.