From cruise ships and restaurant kitchens in the Philippines, Chef Jovan Arias turned his dream into reality with the support of his corporate lawyer wife, Sandra. Together, they built a Filipino-Australian-inspired café in Elizabeth Bay, NSW.
Key Points
- Both from Batangas, Chef Jovan and his wife Sandra, a former corporate lawyer in the Philippines, arrived in Australia in 2015 with a shared dream of building a new life.
- Combining their skills in cooking, marketing and leadership, with guidance from their mentors, the Arias couple built Greenknowe Café in Elizabeth Bay, NSW, in a predominantly Australian-born community.
- Their Filipino favourites, from arroz caldo and pork adobo to tapsilog and healthy options—have become popular with locals across Elizabeth Bay and Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
One of our proudest moments is seeing the café full house, with Filipino and local customers sitting side by side, talking, enjoying our food and simply having a good time. That’s when we know the café is truly alive, and more importantly, that we’ve brought both markets together. That’s something we’re truly proud of.Chef Jovan and Sandra Arias, Cafe Owner
Some of our regular customers used to come in carrying their baby grandchildren. Now, those same children are grown enough to chat with us at the café, and when they had a birthday, they invited us to celebrate with them. In just four years, we can truly say, 'We belong.' And for that, we’re incredibly grateful.Chef Jovan and Sandra Arias, Cafe owner
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