Page 105 - Port Douglas Magazine 39

LUKE

HEADLAND

& ROISIN

HUDSON

Friendship is the single most important factor influencing
our mental health, well-being, and happiness, but a
bloody ripper of a sanga comes a close second.

That’s what’s between the slices at Toast Sandwich Bar Port The two hit it off like a house on fire, lives woven,
Douglas - next-level sandwiches, a cool spot for you and becoming long-time housemates until starting their own
your friends to enjoy, oh and of course ridiculously good families, Luke is Godfather to Roisin’s son.
coffee. Owners Luke Headland and Roisin Hudson have Their friendship is mirrored to the anatomy of a sandwich,
de-crowned peanut butter and jelly as the dynamic duo of two supporting ‘you can count on me’ pieces of wholesome
the sandwich world. bread, with a whole lot of goodness between; the sauce
Toast is a local favourite that has amassed a bit of a cult is the razzle, the banter, the fun each one brings. Then
following with its amped-up signature sangas, jaffles, there’s your favourite meat, the sustenance – trust, love,
bagels, breakfast possibilities, and highly anticipated and respect. Add a little cheese, it’s the layer of a friendship
rotating specials throughout the curated menu. Toast was that has been aged and forged, the shared highs and lows.
conceived when Luke and Roisin saw a need in the market Finished with a heap of fresh veggies, the growth of the
for a delicious twist on the humble handheld staple, great friendship through all the good, bad, and messy times.
food with passion, better than Melbourne coffee, and spot- So, it really was only a natural progression the two would
on hospitality. Over a few glasses of wine, the two hatched go into business together. Luke manages the day-to-day
a plan to pair a contemporary tropical vibe with retro running of the café, while Roisin takes care of all the fun
{ sandwich shop that could.” } Toast opened in 2019, just six months before that COVID
flavours in a deli-style setting.
numbery back-end stuff.
chestnut hit. A definite challenge to navigate for a relatively
“With a knack for the snack and a feel
new business, but that worked in their favour, a dollop of
for the meal they knew they had the
‘they didn’t know any better’ bliss, kept them moving and
right ingredients to make good on a
adapting as changes happened.
They are gratefully supported the whole time by their
amazing hardworking team, loyal customers, and an above-
and-beyond attitude. After the setbacks and learning on the
fly, the pickle on top of the Reuben is seeing the cafe where
The dynamic duo are no strangers to the efforts it takes to it is now from when they first sat down and discussed what
build a successful noshery. Between the two of them, they
have seen it all in the food and beverage sphere, having it was going to look like is, an almost surreal passage.
worked in a variety of different hospitality venues. On The two expats happily call the Douglas Shire home. Luke
passion and a prayer, plus their combined experience they is expecting his first child and bracing for sleepless nights,
were determined to give it a red-hot crack. while Roisin’s family adds another wee baby to the mix.
The two good friends have supported each other through For them, it’s the blend of people from all over the world
many of life’s sweet and sour moments, upon their with an amazing community spirit where everyone rallies
solidified foundation of friendship they weren’t messing around each other in times of need, that makes Port
around. This unwavering base along with a knack for the Douglas special.
snack and a feel for the meal they knew they had the right It’s an easy place to balance work and life. Each day is a
ingredients to make good on a sandwich shop that could. celebration in paradise, so grab the picnic basket loaded
Like any great friendship, it started over a pint of Guinness. with sandwiches and watch the sunset in Rex Park with
Luke from the UK and Roisin from Ireland initially family and friends while the boats go by. Nothing better
bonded over the stresses of their precarious visa situations. than the simple things in life done well.
Soon discovering they had similar outlooks on life, both
are very family orientated and value their relationships with toastpd.com.au
friends they have made in Port who have become more like
family.