Our Story

Born in cosmopolitan Melbourne, Victoria.

Enjoyed trawling Victoria Markets with her Mum and Dad on the search for hot jam-filled donuts on Sunday mornings. Also known to frequent iconic Pellegrini's for their delicious minestrone when the mood grabbed.

Dragged up to sunny Surfers Paradise for an early sea change.

Early hospitality career begins at McDonald's Coolangatta — where the eye candy competed with the view of panel vans parked along the esplanade.

Graduates from high school and commences a Biomedical Science Degree with a view to a career in medicine — a bad choice of degree, but it brings her to Brisbane.

Takes over her mother's café in Cleveland, and the love affair with food service begins.

Her beloved mother — responsible for much of her inspiration — passes away, and she heads overseas to eat her way around the world.

Returns home and meets her long-suffering soul mate Tim. Sitting around one night, they brainstorm the idea of selling jams and pickles and come up with "In a Pickle". Tim registers the business name — but the idea is shelved for now.

Settles in suburbia after buying a house on the same day she's due to give birth to their first child. Alice arrives — and not content to just play Mum, she starts a catering business from home. The business launched with no menus, which were hastily prepared upon receiving the first enquiry. The empire begins.

Finds a permanent site in Camp Hill after the business outgrows the home on the back of exceptional word-of-mouth. Doomsayers suggest the shop is too risky — she puts the house on the line anyway.

Tim joins the business, having realised that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Second child Harriet arrives in 2005, Max in 2006, and a fourth child in 2009. The large and growing family ensures healthy staffing levels for the next 20 years.