Johnny Korkou
Chief Operating Officer
As a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in the hotel and hospitality industries, Johnny is a recent addition to the Cookes family. He is a true hospitality professional with experience spanning across Operations, Sales, Marketing and Event Management disciplines.
Johnny will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the business, developing new strategies to improve efficiency, and driving revenue growth.
JAMES VARDIS
HEAD CHEF
James is a highly talented and experienced Head Chef at Cookes Food & Events, where he has been an integral part of the team for the past decade. With over 20 years of experience in the culinary arts, James is known for his exceptional creativity, his passion for using the finest ingredients, and his commitment to excellence.As Head Chef, James works closely with Sophie on menu planning, recipe development, and culinary team management. James takes pride in using the freshest and highest quality ingredients, and he is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest trends. He works closely with his team of chefs to ensure that every dish is executed to perfection, and he is committed to providing an exceptional culinary experience for every event.
MARWAN ACHERRAT
SENIOR EVENT MANAGER
Originally from Morocco, Marwan has always had a passion for food and hospitality, and he has turned this passion into a successful career.
Having worked with Cookes Food & Eventrs for the past four years, Marwan is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company's events, from planning and coordination to execution and delivery. He works closely with clients to understand their needs and preferences, and he uses his expertise to create bespoke events that are unique, stylish, and unforgettable.
TIFFANY VREYSEN
EVENT MANAGER & STYLIST
Tiffany is an event manager and stylist originally from Spain. With a passion for design and a natural talent for organization, she discovered her love for event planning where she quickly demonstrated her creativity and attention to detail. Her ability to take a client's vision and turn it into a stunning reality has made her an invaluable member of the team. Tiffany's approach is always personalized, ensuring that each event is tailored to the client's specific needs and vision creating bespoke events that are unique, stylish, and unforgettable.
About Us
Crafting unforgettable moments through delicious food & exceptional service
At Cookes Food & Events, we understand that exceptional hospitality service is what sets us apart from our competitors. That's why we take the time to focus on training our staff to ensure that we consistently deliver exceptional and seamless service to our clients.
We believe that providing excellent customer service is key to building long-lasting relationships with our clients and to the success of our business.
Our training programs cover all aspects of hospitality service, including communication skills, teamwork, attention to detail, and customer care. We believe that by investing in our staff and providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to excel in their roles, we can provide our clients with an unforgettable experience that they will want to repeat time and time again.
At Cookes Food & Events, we understand that each event is unique and requires a tailored approach to ensure that our clients' visions are brought to life. That's why we pride ourselves on providing a truly unique event experience by adapting our style of service to suit the occasion.
Our team of experienced professionals works closely with our clients to understand their needs and preferences, and to create a customised service plan that reflects their style and taste. We believe that the key to providing a unique event experience is in the details, and our team pays close attention to every aspect of the event, from the food and drinks to the styling and ambiance, to ensure that everything is perfectly executed.
By adapting our style of service to suit each event, we are able to create a memorable and personalised experience for our clients and their guests, leaving a lasting impression and ensuring their event is a success.
Sophie Storen (née Cookes)
Creative Director
Sophie Storen (née Cookes) studied at the esteemed le cordon bleu, in Paris – an institution known for its opulence and painstaking gastronomic training.
After graduating, Storen travelled to London and found her mentor at Petersham Nurseries – Skye Gyngell’s culinary institution.
Her time in London wasn’t just about cooking. Here she learned from Italian foragers, local butchers, and Wendy Fogarty, the head of slow food London, who ingrained a deep appreciation of sourcing and sustainability. Every menu Storen has designed since
Has sought to champion local produce.
On return to Australia, Storen founded Cookes Food & Events and has since then curated thousands of events, designed menus for dizzying high-fashion events, brought heart and gastronomy to intimate milestone birthday parties, and carefully crafted unforgettable events for brides and grooms who wanted something more than the average.
For each event, Storen creates a tailored menu inspired by the brief, the venue, conversations with the client, and the seasonal produce available.
Storen has a simple philosophy: food without thought is an opportunity missed.
MILLA NORDIN
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER & HEAD OF PEOPLE
With a passion for leadership and a natural ability to connect with people, Milla, who hails from Sweden, has built a reputation for creating thriving and productive workplaces. With a keen interest in business development and growth, she will be responsible for identifying new opportunities, developing strategies for growth, and building relationships with clients and partners. Milla's unique combination of people skills and business acumen has proved to be a winning formula, and she has been instrumental in driving growth and success.
FEDERICO MARTINEZ
SOUS CHEF
Federico is a talented sous chef with several years of experience in the culinary industry. Originally from Argentina, Federico has been part of the Cookes family for over three years.
Having worked in several restaurants and hotels throughout Europe and in Melbourne, he gained valuable experience in both classic and modern cuisine.
In his current role as a sous chef, Federico works closely with James to develop new menu items, supervise the kitchen staff, and ensure the quality and consistency of each dish. He takes pride in using fresh, seasonal ingredients and creating visually stunning and delicious plates.
MICHAEL HASAN
TALENT & LOGISTICS. COORDINATOR
Michael has worked as an Events Supervisor with Cookes for over two years and has built a reputation for delivering outstanding results for our clients. He quickly developed a deep understanding of logistics and planning, and in his current role, Michael is responsible for coordinating all recruitment, talent management, logistics, and scheduling. Michael is known for his exceptional communication skills, his attention to detail, and his ability to stay calm and focused in high-pressure situations. He is dedicated to ensuring that each event runs smoothly and seamlessly.