Founder / Mary's
Jake Smyth

The first burger patty Jake Smyth ever smashed, was as a pimply 14 year old at Singleton McDonalds. Falling in love with the frenetic energy of service, he devoted the following 16 years working across all aspects of the hospitality industry from dish pig, short order cook, bartender and restaurant manager.

In 2013 he opened Mary’s with business partner Kenny Graham. Located in a former STD clinic, Mary’s is a love letter to debauchery & home to the one of the most influential, infamous and iconic burgers in Australia’s food history.

In the subsequent 13 years Jake has continued to create exceptional moments across both the culinary and cultural as an operator of some of Sydney’s most celebrated live music venues, pubs and casual restaurants including the Unicorn Hotel, Mary’s Underground, the Lansdowne, Liberty Hall and most recently Mary’s Hot Pizza.

I L Y
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Australian Pizza Championships Day 1 - Classic/Creative
Monday 25 May 2026
8:00 am - 3:50 pm
Australian Pizza Championships
australian pizza championships johnny di francesco
Johnny Di Francesco
Head Judge
Gradi Group | AVPN
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Lorenzo Tron
Owner
SHOP225
Francesco Spataro
AVPN-certified Pizzaiolo & Chef
AVPN
Lucio De Falco
Owner
Lucios Pizzeria
Jake Smyth
Founder
Mary's
Nicholas Kalogeropoulos (Moderator)
Global Hospitality
Winner Announcement: Australian Pizza Championships Day 1 - Classic/Creative
Monday 25 May 2026
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Australian Pizza Championships
australian pizza championships johnny di francesco
Johnny Di Francesco
Head Judge
Gradi Group | AVPN
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Lorenzo Tron
Owner
SHOP225
Francesco Spataro
AVPN-certified Pizzaiolo & Chef
AVPN
Lucio De Falco
Owner
Lucios Pizzeria
Jake Smyth
Founder
Mary's
Nicholas Kalogeropoulos (Moderator)
Global Hospitality
Australia's Best Burger Competition Day 1
Monday 25 May 2026
9:15 am - 4:30 pm
Australia's Best Burger Competition
Jesse Freeman
Blogger - The Burger Guy
Food Coma Eats
Jimmy Hurlston
Founder & CEO
Easeys
Ross Kemp
Founder
Super Nash Brothers
Jake Smyth
Founder
Mary's
Shannon Walker
Australian Pizza Championships Day 2 - STG
Tuesday 26 May 2026
10:30 am - 2:20 pm
Australian Pizza Championships
australian pizza championships johnny di francesco
Johnny Di Francesco
Head Judge
Gradi Group | AVPN
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Lorenzo Tron
Owner
SHOP225
Francesco Spataro
AVPN-certified Pizzaiolo & Chef
AVPN
Lucio De Falco
Owner
Lucios Pizzeria
Jake Smyth
Founder
Mary's
Nicholas Kalogeropoulos (Moderator)
Global Hospitality
Winner Announcement: Australian Pizza Championships Day 2 - STG
Tuesday 26 May 2026
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Australian Pizza Championships
australian pizza championships johnny di francesco
Johnny Di Francesco
Head Judge
Gradi Group | AVPN
Daniel Semrani
Gigi's Pizzeria
Lorenzo Tron
Owner
SHOP225
Francesco Spataro
AVPN-certified Pizzaiolo & Chef
AVPN
Lucio De Falco
Owner
Lucios Pizzeria
Jake Smyth
Founder
Mary's
Nicholas Kalogeropoulos (Moderator)
Global Hospitality
Australia’s Best Burger Competition Day 2
Tuesday 26 May 2026
8:15 am - 3:00 pm
Australia's Best Burger Competition
Jesse Freeman
Blogger - The Burger Guy
Food Coma Eats
Jimmy Hurlston
Founder & CEO
Easeys
Ross Kemp
Founder
Super Nash Brothers
Jake Smyth
Founder
Mary's
Shannon Walker
Winner Announcement: Australia’s Best Burger Competition
Tuesday 26 May 2026
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Australia's Best Burger Competition
Jesse Freeman
Blogger - The Burger Guy
Food Coma Eats
Jimmy Hurlston
Founder & CEO
Easeys
Ross Kemp
Founder
Super Nash Brothers
Jake Smyth
Founder
Mary's
Shannon Walker