Hello!
My name is Wendy Hargreaves and I’m the founder of Five of the Best.
I’m a Melbourne journalist, broadcaster and documentary maker who has worked for major media companies since 1986.
I created Five of the Best in 2012 after several years as a food writer and restaurant critic. The concept was simple: celebrate the best of our local food, drink and travel experiences – five at a time.
Five of the Best evolved into a love letter to Australian makers and growers, from hidden cafes and artisan producers to country bakeries and farm gate experiences. If you’ve a story idea or want to get in touch, please email me on wendy@fiveofthebest.com.
What’s happening now?
Five of the Best remains as an archive of those early discoveries (surviving several years in hiatus after the dreadful pandemic lockdowns). I’m building on more than a decade of content with a new focus on road trip destinations.
I’m also…
TALKING ON RADIO: Hear my “On the Road Again” segment on 3AW every Sunday afternoon, taking listeners on road trips through country Victoria. I’m on air with Peter “Grubby” Stubbs sharing stories about the makers, growers and characters who make small towns so special.
MAKING DOCUMENTARIES: My content agency Bread and Butter Media works with local government and tourism organisations to tell the stories of people who make and grow our food. We’re a team of media professionals making documentaries and social content to build authentic connections. Check out our documentary series Your Neck of the Woods. We’ve got a third episode coming up soon.
TELLING STORIES IN CLAY: During the COVID pandemic, I taught myself pottery. Now, I make functional pieces, taking inspiration from the makers and growers I meet in the course of my work. Each piece tells a story. If you’d like to see my work, it’s sold at Phoenix Pottery Studio, 278 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy (where I teach beginner wheel throwing classes… come and have a try).
Whether I’m writing, broadcasting, filming, or working with clay, there’s a common thread – connecting people to the makers and growers who feed us. There’s a huge divide between the country and the city and it’s my mission to close the gap.
Find My Current Work
Website (launching soon): wendyhargreaves.com – telling stories in words and clay.
Radio: Listen to 3AW live at 3.30pm Sundays here or dive into past episodes of On the Road Again.
Documentaries: Bread and Butter Media and YouTube
Instagram: @wendy_hargreaves
Facebook: wendy.hargreaves
If you’d like to share a story or connect, email me at wendy@fiveofthebest.com.
Thanks for reading.
Wendy x