Brenda Fawdon, Founder of Mondo Organic

Brenda is currently CEO of Mondo Organics Restaurant in Brisbane. Her 23-year career as restaurateur/chef began at Primavera Restaurant in Brisbane for 11 years and then at The Soup Kitchen for 7 years. Throughout her career she has also made a valuable contribution to the food industry by speaking and presenting ideas on organics to a broad audience, including high school students, Primary Industries representatives, tour groups, teachers and to delegates at the 2003 National Organic Conference in Adelaide. Mondo Organics restaurant is Brisbane’s first fully organic licensed restaurant in the city’s West End. The restaurant’s style is fresh and organic, modern Sicilian/Italian. Brenda began the restaurant after seeing a TV program about GMO foods, but wholesaler concerns about supply initially stalled proceedings. Consistent supply is still a problem, yet Brenda feels the biggest issue is lack of understanding about organics, from their customers to food reviewers. “This is about the planet, not me” says Brenda of her passion for Mondo. “Our aim is to use our professionalism, style and experience to further the cause of organics.” Mondo runs cooking classes and catering, as well as making their own in-house stocks, breads, cakes, and pre-prepared organic meals.