Donna Carrier - Proprietor and Restaurant Manager
Donna is the proprietor of Bent on Food Cafe and Regional Produce Store and Bent on Life Homewares store. Donna started Bent on Food in December 2004 and the business has grown from strength to strength. Donna grew up in the region on acres where she enjoyed gardening and looking after the animals. She has always enjoyed food and cooking and spent 18 years in the wine industry where she completed her Associate Diploma in Wine Marketing at Roseworthy Agricultural College. She is proud to have worked for wonderful family owned companies such as Brown Brothers Wines, Yalumba Wines, and Cassegrain Wines, she also worked with many small producers in the wine industry and her passion for food and wine is evident.
In 2017 Donna was awarded Myall Lakes Woman of the Year for her contribution to the Wingham community and tourism in the region. Donna spent 5 years as a Board member at Destination North Coast NSW, was a committee member at Barrington Coast Tourism and in 2019 mentored a group of business owners on Norfolk Island. She was president of her local business chamber four times.
In 2021 Donna was awarded the Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber award for Business Leader.
In 2022 she was the recipient of the Local Hero Award for Barrington Coast Tourism and in November 2022, she was awarded the prestigious Dean Gorddard award for Outstanding Contribution to NSW Tourism.
Donna is now a judge for Tourism and NSW Business Chamber awards.
Fun fact - Donna trekked to Everest Base Camp Nepal in 1999 on a self help mission where a film crew followed the group as they took medical equipment to Lukla. She is extremely scared of heights so every part of this trip was a challenge, from the flight into Lukla, which is a small single landing strip high in the Himalayan mountains, to the steep terrrain on the trek. To get herself more comfortable with heights, she trained by abseiling off the cliffs at North Bondi Beach.
Maciej Karski - Head Chef
Maciej Karski is the culinary maestro of our kitchen! Joining us in 2023, he has already spiced up our kitchen.
A former globetrotter, he’s now rooted in our beautiful region, though he’s dubbed “Hobo” by friends, likely because his origins are as mysterious as the perfect recipe for a soufflé! When he’s not whipping up delicious dishes, you can catch him dominating board games or table tennis.
If you get him started on science or psychology, good luck shutting him up— he’s the perfect blend of geek and nerd!
Maciej credits his mum for sparking his love for cooking, and he’s journeyed up and down the east coast of Australia, honing his craft. He’s excited about the local produce here and loves concocting dishes with all that’s on offer in our beautiful region.
His go-to comfort foods are beef goulash and lentil soup, and he enjoys washing them down with Polish potato juice (vodka) or a B-52.
Brandon Everett - Front of House Supervisor
You know him as Brandon, the best barista in the land, but his friends affectionately call him Brandy, a nickname so cherished he had it tattooed on his hand in tribute to their role in his life. Brandon's journey in hospitality began very early, securing his first job at the age of 11. You could say it it in his blood.
With a profound love for pizza and pasta, Brandon honed his skills in the kitchen, eventually becoming lead chef at a pizza and pasta parlour in Port Macquarie for 2 years. Despite not being Italian, his passion for these culinary delights is undeniable, having worked in three separate pizza parlours.
Brandon's unwavering advocacy for mental health is a core part of who he is. His go-to comfort foods, fresh sashimi, and dumplings, reflect his refined palate and appreciation for culinary experiences.
Inspired by his grandparents, who were like parents to him, Brandon's passion for hospitality was nurtured from a young age. Despite life's twists, including a detour into a career in individualized support, Brandon found his way back to what he does best, driven by the desire to make his grandparents proud.
A true Wingham boy, Brandon's roots trace back to Wingham Brush from year 2 to year 6, followed by his time at Wingham High before transferring to Chatham High.
Outside of work, you'll find Brandon cruising in his car, a practice he lovingly refers to as "Highway therapy," indulging his passion for exploration and discovery. And yes, he does drive really fast.
