Five Minutes with Hannah Costello and Vanessa Brettell, Cafe Stepping Stone and Australian Local Heroes of the Year

Who are you?

Hannah Costello: I’m a co-founder of Cafe Stepping Stone and head of food and beverage. I’ve been in Canberra about five years and I absolutely love it.

Vanessa Brettell: I’m a local Canberran, and I’m the founding CEO of Cafe Stepping Stone.

Tell me about Stepping Stone.

Vanessa: It’s a work integration social enterprise cafe, which exists to provide employment and training to migrant women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who face multiple barriers to employment. We are economically empowering women who are often isolated and might slip through the cracks of other services.

How did you get started in the hospitality industry?

Vanessa: We’ve both worked in hospo since we were in high school. I started at Piccolo in Yarralumla which was run by a Portuguese couple who worked extremely hard!

Hannah: Hopsitality has always been my backbone. I found it quite hard to get a job out of uni but I moved into management roles in hospitality quite easily. I didn’t always see it as my career but when the opportunity of Stepping Stone came along I was so excited to keep working in hospitality.

What is the food philosophy at Stepping Stone?

Hannah: We just try and take as many ideas from our staff and get them incorporating their traditional dishes into meals while also prioritising fresh produce, as locally as we can. We are very environmentally conscious, and we knew that starting a cafe would create waste and take from our surroundings, which is why we wanted to be vegetarian.

Vanessa: Making everything from scratch is healthier and fresher but it also gives new skills to our staff. We try to maximise our social impact while minimising our environmental impact.

What’s an underrated Canberra venue that you love?

Hannah: Muku Ramen Bar in Scullin. Every time we go back there it’s exactly the same high quality. Everywhere else I go the meal is slightly different each time, even the same dish, but Rina makes it the same every time.

Vanessa: They make their own noodles and you can really taste it.

Hannah: Another hidden gem we haven’t been in ages is Uyghur Cuisine in Belconnen. The food there is great every single time you go. The Ma Po Tofu is to die for and the dry pan friend green beans; I could eat a plate by myself. It’s always a bit crazy, and kind of a fever dream of an experience but everyone should go!

Who do you admire in the Canberra food scene?

Hannah: The guys that run Pilot and Such and Such; they really pioneered a new way of dining in Canberra and I think really pulled the local food scene forward. And sommelier Caitlin Baker is doing great things for hospo work environments for women and everyone in the industry. It’s needed and its refreshing and I hope a lot of other venues can get around it.

Where’s the best place for a drink in Canberra?

Hannah: Bar Rochford. It’s the best; you can’t top it. There’s a reason why everyone brings it up! The vibes are good, you can have a quick drink or a fantastic meal.

Vanessa: Or on a hot summer’s afternoon once Stepping Stone Dickson is closed we often walk over to Gang Gang for a bowl of chips and a cold beer.

Who is your dream dinner party guest, and what would you make them?

Hannah: I think it would be my Grandma, who has passed. To have her come and see Stepping Stone and taste my food would be great. For the conversation we would have but also her insight into what we’re doing, I think it would be really beautiful to bring her into it. I’d try and replicate her spaghetti, or “s’ghetti” as she called it!

Or maybe Peter Dutton or someone like that! We could sit down to eat the great food from the staff we employ to have a chat and try to change their mind. This is why we run a food business; food is a great equaliser and it bridges a lot of gaps.

What is your current food obsession?

Anything with kimchi – making our own kimchi and kimchi toastie, kimchi scrambled eggs, kimchi stew.

What’s the best thing you ate this week?

We went to Flavours of Ethiopia at the Multicultural Festival. They have great injera.

What’s a food that reminds you of your childhood?

Vanessa: Daal, rice and okra. We ate that most nights growing up but my siblings and I still love it; it’s our comfort food.

Hannah: Scones – my grandma would make them on Sundays. That’s why they’re on the menu here. Traditional butter scones.

Where do you go for breakfast on a day off?

Vanessa: Mame is a real hidden gem. I love the quality and vibe; it’s really cute.

Hannah: They’ve worked in high quality restaurants but wanted a different quality of life. And you can tell, everything is executed beautifully.

When you can’t be bothered to cook for yourself, where do you go and what do you eat?

Vanessa: Pizza Artigiana in Jamison is how we treat ourselves. Their pizzas are absolutely delicious.

Where have you travelled recently?

Vanessa: We recently went to India for a friend’s wedding so we had lots of great food. We went to bed full every day.

Hannah: I tried to eat every samosa I could (all equally good) and Vanessa had Masala Chai every day. Eating the food in Rajasthan tasted like Vanessa’s grandma’s food! All the things you can only find in people’s homes; it was totally delicious.

Tell me something you love about living in Canberra.

Vanessa: I love being surrounded by trees everywhere I go. Being in Canberra is peaceful, the culture is really nice too – outdoorsy and down to earth.

Hannah: I love that I can be in the city with the ease of being in a big country town. Strathnairn is like 20 minutes from the city centre and we have this unobstructed view, but you can be back in the city with your bubble tea so quickly.

What media have you been enjoying lately?

Hannah: I’ve been listening to Sharon Van Etten’s new album on repeat. It really helps me relax.

Vanessa: I’ve been listening to the audiobook of Butter by Asako Yuzuki which is really great so far.

An easy one to finish – what’s your go-to coffee order?

Vanessa: Double shot oat flat white.

Hannah: Same, or sometimes an iced long black.

Find out more about Cafe Stepping Stone, and follow it on Instagram.