Tom Opie Panelist
I am Tom Opie, proud Wiradjuri man and born and raised in the gong! I love running, callisthenics, video games and obviously flavour. I have been obsessed with flavour and texture for a long long time and I guess that is how this all began.
Started at a restaurant in Wollongong and immediately became fascinated with this bartending thing. From there, my stubbornness led me to ensuring literally nothing went in the bin. Would not matter if it were citrus pulp, I wanted to eat or drink it. Hundreds of hours in the dojo took me to Italy, France and all sorts of places around the country just to make drinks. Now I am at the Waratah learning from one of my true heroes in life.
I thought being 30 would make me feel washed up but I think 5 years of chronic depression and anxiety has spurred on this undying journey for knowledge and how to better the world, the people around us and our palates: to create and sustain life. The journey never ends but this is a brief summary.
