Growing up by the coast in Portland, Victoria, Aaron studied graphic design before travelling and working overseas. In 2009 he opened his first restaurant, Loam, in Drysdale, which went on to win numerous awards including Regional Restaurant of the Year in The Age Good Food Guide 2012 and Regional Restaurant of the Year in Gourmet Traveller. Since closing Loam in 2013 Aaron has worked and consulted in Nashville and opened The Hot Chicken Project and IGNI in Geelong. In its first year of business IGNI has won Gourmet Traveller’s Restaurant of the Year and has been awarded two hats by The Age Good Food Guide 2016, as well as winning the guide’s awards for both Regional Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year.