Podcast host Savva Savas celebrated his 50th birthday with special recording of Three Food Memories before an audience of 300 guests. The special guest was Ita Buttrose AC OBE, at the home of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Savva’s nine year old twin boys Leo & Dane (below) introduced the evening to rounds of applause.

Savva told the audience that it was a dream come true to interview Ita and as Ita shared her three significant food memories, guests were served each dish to enjoy.

The first course was a nod to her childhood days spent at the fish markets with her father at Watson’s Bay where she grew up. Next was a humble serving of sliced ham with raisins; a memory of romantic train trip she took through Canada with her late husband, Alasdair. Finally, her signature dish, ‘three thousand dollar chicken’, a cheeky homage to when she was paid $3,000 to cook for a group of fans in Townsville in the 90s.

As a surprise, Savva tracked down lifetime fan, 80-year-old Beryl Lane (below), who flew to Sydney especially for the occasion. She was invited on stage to interview Ita herself, and spoke of the significant impact Ita has had on women all over Australia, especially those in regional areas.

Savva shared Ita’s journey across eight decades: starting as a teenage copy girl and eventually becoming Editor of the Daily Telegraph; holding her own with the Packers and the Murdochs; launching the Cleo and Ita Magazines and most recently as ABC Chair.

You can listen to the recording below:

Special guests included Savva and Ita’s immediate family, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Yasmine Ghoniem, Scott Tweedie, Victoria Morish and Gemma Oldfield. Photos by Jay Patel.