Our Story

Where Food Meets Feeling

Rustica Viva began, not with a business plan, but with a shared reverence for simple meals, made well.

The kind that fill your belly and still linger in your heart.

Rob and Kylie — one a scientist, the other a nurturer — crossed paths just after covid and fell in love.

With different tools in hand, but the same hunger for something more soulful. Together, they turned that hunger into a kitchen, and a kitchen into a calling.

Rob’s Path: From Lab to Ladle

Rob started in science — a chemical engineer who built and ran food industry and biotech start-ups and internet communities.

But life changed course during a month in Italy. He wasn't born there, but something ancient stirred in him: the slow pace, the seasonal tables, the reverence for produce and people.

He came home to Australia and bought not one, but two pasta shops — with recipes passed down by four local nonnas.

Twelve years later, after waking to the seriousness of climate change and the impact of reducing food waste as a solution , he poured urgency into a startup called Climateers.

It was at the first Victorian Food Waste Action Summit event run by Climateers, where he met Josh from Farmers Pick and other Rustica Viva food waste collaborators.

The seed was sowed and recently his pasta and food waste worlds came together to create something tangible. Rustica Viva became Rob's love letter to tradition, taste, and a better food future.

Kylie’s Kitchen: Intuition and Heart

Kylie’s food journey began in the heart of her childhood kitchen, where her mother taught her that love is best expressed through a simmering pot or a warm loaf. Though not Italian by heritage, her spirit belongs at a family table — her cooking is instinctive, generous, and full of soul.

Before Rustica Viva, Kylie built a career in corporate logistics and customer service, leading large teams and complex operations with clarity and heart.

Her background gave her a deep understanding of systems, people, and performance — and a knack for turning chaos into care.

When she met Rob, the pasta dreams began to rise. Kylie unearthed her inner nonna and began crafting the recipes that would define Rustica Viva — from pillowy potato gnocchi to beetroot, spinach-kale-broccoli blends, and soulful sauces like garden veg Napoli and kale-walnut pesto. She brings a rare blend of flavour intuition and operational precision, anchoring Rustica Viva in both warmth and performance.

She doesn’t follow trends. She follows flavour and loves to bring people together for joyful food experiences.

Together: A New Kind of Kitchen

Rob and Kylie haven’t just started a business — we are building a table long enough for farmers, food rescuers, chefs, neighbours, and strangers to sit around.

We're hoping you'll accept our invitation to join us on a journey of deliciousness and impact.

Every Rustica Viva recipe is a reflection of what we value most: nourishment, connection, and the magic of amazing simple food made slowly.

Explore Our Food System

Meet our collaborators and discover how rescued veg, local farms, and loving hands have come together to make every meal matter.

Explore the Full Circle →